Midhurst Railways
Encyclopedia
The Midhurst Railways were three Branch lines which were built to serve the market town
of Midhurst
in the English
county of West Sussex
. The three lines radiated from the town; south to Chichester
, west to Petersfield
, and east to Pulborough
.
to Petworth
on 10 October 1859, as part of the line from Three Bridges
which would later become part of the Arun Valley Line
through Arundel
. Later arriving in Midhurst on 15 October 1866. This line was operated by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. There were three stations (from east to west), Fittleworth
, Petworth
, and Selham
.
The line was closed in stages, first to passenger trains from 5 February 1955, then goods services were withdrawn from Selham and Fittleworth Stations May 1963. The Midhurst to Petworth section was closed completely on 18 October 1964, leaving Petworth surviving until 20 May 1966. Petworth station survives as a hotel using former Pullman dining carriages, Fittleworth and Selham in private use. Midhurst Station however has been destroyed to make way for a housing estate.
This line was opened on 1 September 1860 by the London and South Western Railway
(LSWR), beating the London Brighton and South Coast by 6 years to Midhurst. This line had two stations on its route, Elsted
and Rogate
. The LSWR line also had its own separate station at Midhurst, however the Southern Railway
closed this in 1925 and moved all traffic to the former London Brighton & South Coast Railway station after strengthening the Bepton Road bridge which until then had not been safe for passenger use . The line closed on 7 February 1955.
Unlike the former 'Brighton' station, the LSWR station at Midhurst remains in being, but in use as offices. Rogate station also still stands, but Elsted has been demolished.
was built with four platforms and long sidings for the Goodwood Racecourse
traffic. However it all proved to be too much for the traffic involved. There were three stations, Lavant
, Singleton
, and Cocking
.
As part of the opening of this line, the station at Midhurst was replaced, in the same 'Country House' Style.
The passenger trains were withdrawn on 6 July 1935 by the Southern Railway, but freight services remained until 19 November 1951 when the section of line between Midhurst and Cocking was withdrawn due to damage by a washout of an embankment, leading to a train crashing into the resulting hole. The freight services to Cocking and Singleton were withdrawn on 28 August 1953 but Lavant lasted until closed to general goods on 3 August 1968 and sugar beet
traffic in January 1970. The line was cut back before Lavant station to serve gravel workings from 1972 but this was in turn withdrawn finally in 1991. The line between Lavant and the junction with the mainline is now a cycle path. The station buildings at Cocking, Singleton and Lavant survive, but in private ownership. Very similar buildings are still in Railway use at Sheffield Park
, Horsted Keynes
and Kingscote
stations on the preserved Bluebell Railway
famous 'Terriers'
took over. These were in turn replaced by D1 tanks
, the last survivor of which was used on the line during its last days. These were replaced by D3 tanks
, then ex LSWR M7s
which hauled the last passenger trains in 1955. A succession of ex LB&SCR designs were used on freight trains, including C2xs
and E4s
, together with occasional turns with Southern Railway tender enginesQ
& Q1
as well. The lines did see some diesel locomotives in the last freight days, mostly class 08
shunters, although Class 33
main line diesels ran to Midhurst in that station's last year. Also Class 73
electro-diesels
were used on gravel workings on the shortened spur of the branch until 1991.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Midhurst
Midhurst
Midhurst is a market town and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, with a population of 4,889 in 2001. The town is situated on the River Rother and is home to the ruin of the Tudor Cowdray House and the stately Victorian Cowdray Park...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
. The three lines radiated from the town; south to Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
, west to Petersfield
Petersfield, Hampshire
Petersfield is a market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is north of Portsmouth, on the A3 road. The town has its own railway station on the Portsmouth Direct Line, the mainline rail link connecting Portsmouth and London. The town is situated on the...
, and east to Pulborough
Pulborough
Pulborough is a large village and civil parish in the Horsham district of West Sussex, England, with some 5,000 inhabitants. It is located almost centrally within West Sussex and is south west of London. It is at the junction of the north-south A29 and the east-west roads.The village is near the...
.
The Pulborough line
This was opened in two stages, from PulboroughPulborough railway station
Pulborough railway station serves the West Sussex village of Pulborough. It is situated at the western end of the village, just off the A283 road.- History :...
to Petworth
Petworth
Petworth is a small town and civil parish in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. It is located at the junction of the A272 east-west road from Heathfield to Winchester and the A283 Milford to Shoreham-by-Sea road. Some twelve miles to the south west of Petworth along the A285 road...
on 10 October 1859, as part of the line from Three Bridges
Three Bridges railway station
Three Bridges railway station is located in and named after the village of Three Bridges, which is now a district of Crawley, West Sussex, England...
which would later become part of the Arun Valley Line
Arun Valley Line
The Arun Valley Line, also known as the Mid Sussex Line, is part of the Southern-operated railway services. For the initial part of the route trains follow the Brighton Main Line, and at a junction south of Three Bridges the route turns westwards...
through Arundel
Arundel
Arundel is a market town and civil parish in the South Downs of West Sussex in the south of England. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Worthing east southeast, Littlehampton to the south and Bognor Regis to...
. Later arriving in Midhurst on 15 October 1866. This line was operated by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. There were three stations (from east to west), Fittleworth
Fittleworth railway station
Fittleworth railway station served the village of Fittleworth in the county of West Sussex in England. It was on the London Brighton and South Coast Railway's line between Pulborough and Midhurst....
, Petworth
Petworth railway station
Petworth railway station was a railway station nearly two miles from the town of Petworth in West Sussex, England.It was located on the former London, Brighton and South Coast Railway single track Pulborough to Midhurst branch line...
, and Selham
Graffham
Graffham is a village and civil parish in West Sussex, England, situated on the northern escarpment of the South Downs. It is made up of the village of Graffham and the hamlet of Selham...
.
The line was closed in stages, first to passenger trains from 5 February 1955, then goods services were withdrawn from Selham and Fittleworth Stations May 1963. The Midhurst to Petworth section was closed completely on 18 October 1964, leaving Petworth surviving until 20 May 1966. Petworth station survives as a hotel using former Pullman dining carriages, Fittleworth and Selham in private use. Midhurst Station however has been destroyed to make way for a housing estate.
The Petersfield Line
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(LSWR), beating the London Brighton and South Coast by 6 years to Midhurst. This line had two stations on its route, Elsted
Elsted
Elsted is a village in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It lies within the civil parish of Elsted and Treyford. The village is on the Midhurst to South Harting Road 4.5 miles west of Midhurst....
and Rogate
Rogate
Rogate is a village and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England situated in the Western Rother valley. The village is on the A272 road seven miles west of Midhurst. The parish comprises the villages of Rogate and Rake and the hamlets of Haben, Fyning, Hill Brow, Langley,...
. The LSWR line also had its own separate station at Midhurst, however the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
closed this in 1925 and moved all traffic to the former London Brighton & South Coast Railway station after strengthening the Bepton Road bridge which until then had not been safe for passenger use . The line closed on 7 February 1955.
Unlike the former 'Brighton' station, the LSWR station at Midhurst remains in being, but in use as offices. Rogate station also still stands, but Elsted has been demolished.
The Chichester Line
Originally attempted in the 1860s, this was opened after much difficulty on the 11 July 1881, also operated by the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Built to a very grand style the line was built to a double track loading gauge, despite only being single tracked, in case there was ever a need to increase capacity, with the stations provided with large 'Country House' style station buildings. SingletonSingleton, West Sussex
Singleton is a village and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It lies in the Lavant valley, north of Chichester on the A286 road to Midhurst.The village name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon 'sengel', which means "burnt clearing"....
was built with four platforms and long sidings for the Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
traffic. However it all proved to be too much for the traffic involved. There were three stations, Lavant
Lavant railway station
Lavant Railway Station served the village group of Lavant in the county of West Sussex in England. It was on the former London Brighton and South Coast Railway line between Midhurst and Chichester. The station building design featured a booking office on the level of the road nearby, passengers...
, Singleton
Singleton (West Sussex) railway station
Singleton railway station served the village of Singleton in the county of West Sussex in England. The station was on the former line between Chichester and Midhurst...
, and Cocking
Cocking railway station
Cocking Railway Station served the village of Cocking in West Sussex, England. It was on the former London Brighton and South Coast Railway line between Chichester and Midhurst. The station building was built in the 'country house' style, which can still be seen in the station buildings on the...
.
As part of the opening of this line, the station at Midhurst was replaced, in the same 'Country House' Style.
The passenger trains were withdrawn on 6 July 1935 by the Southern Railway, but freight services remained until 19 November 1951 when the section of line between Midhurst and Cocking was withdrawn due to damage by a washout of an embankment, leading to a train crashing into the resulting hole. The freight services to Cocking and Singleton were withdrawn on 28 August 1953 but Lavant lasted until closed to general goods on 3 August 1968 and sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
traffic in January 1970. The line was cut back before Lavant station to serve gravel workings from 1972 but this was in turn withdrawn finally in 1991. The line between Lavant and the junction with the mainline is now a cycle path. The station buildings at Cocking, Singleton and Lavant survive, but in private ownership. Very similar buildings are still in Railway use at Sheffield Park
Sheffield Park railway station
Sheffield Park is the southern terminus of the Bluebell Railway and also the headquarters of the line. It is located on the southern bank of the River Ouse and is also situated on the Greenwich Meridian....
, Horsted Keynes
Horsted Keynes railway station
Horsted Keynes railway station is a railway station in Sussex. It was closed by British Railways Beeching Axe on 28 October 1963 with the cessation of trains from Seaford via Haywards Heath...
and Kingscote
Kingscote railway station
Kingscote railway station is a railway station on the Bluebell Railway. It is currently the northern terminus, pending completion of the extension to East Grinstead...
stations on the preserved Bluebell Railway
Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...
Locomotives used on the lines
On the London Brighton and South Coast Railway lines the Midhurst to Pulborough services were worked by various engines designed by J. C. Craven, until the 1880s when William Stroudley'sWilliam Stroudley
William Stroudley was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers of the nineteenth century, working principally for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway...
famous 'Terriers'
LB&SCR A1 Class
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway A1 Class is an English class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive. Designed by William Stroudley, 50 members of the class were built in 1872 and between 1874 and 1880, all at Brighton Works. The class have received several nicknames, initially being known as...
took over. These were in turn replaced by D1 tanks
LB&SCR D1 class
The LB&SCR D1 class were powerful 0-4-2 suburban passenger tank locomotives, designed by William Stroudley of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1873. They were originally known as "D-tanks" but later reclassified as class D1...
, the last survivor of which was used on the line during its last days. These were replaced by D3 tanks
LB&SCR D3 class
LB&SCR D3 class was a 0-4-4T tank locomotive design, by Robert J. Billinton, built for the London Brighton and South Coast Railway between 1892 and 1896...
, then ex LSWR M7s
LSWR M7 Class
The LSWR M7 class is a class of 0-4-4 passenger tank locomotive built between 1897 and 1911. The class was designed by Dugald Drummond for use on the intensive London network of the London and South Western Railway , and performed well in such tasks. Because of their utility, 105 were built and the...
which hauled the last passenger trains in 1955. A succession of ex LB&SCR designs were used on freight trains, including C2xs
LB&SCR C2 Class
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway C2 class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotives, intended for heavy freight trains. Fifty-five were built by the Vulcan Foundry between 1893 and 1902 to the design of Robert J. Billinton.-History:...
and E4s
LB&SCR E4 Class
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway E4 Class is a class of 0-6-2Tside tank steam locomotive designed by Robert Billinton. They were introduced in 1897 and were essentially a larger version of the E3 Class...
, together with occasional turns with Southern Railway tender enginesQ
SR Class Q
The Q Class, is a type of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed by Richard Maunsell of the Southern Railway and constructed immediately prior to the Second World War, for use on medium-distance freight trains throughout network. Twenty locomotives were built by Maunsell's successor, Oliver Bulleid, in...
& Q1
SR Class Q1
The SR Q1 class is a type of austerity steam locomotive constructed during the Second World War. The class was designed by Oliver Bulleid for use on the intensive freight turns experienced during wartime on the Southern Railway network. A total of 40 locomotives were built. Bulleid...
as well. The lines did see some diesel locomotives in the last freight days, mostly class 08
British Rail Class 08
The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes....
shunters, although Class 33
British Rail Class 33
The British Rail Class 33 also known as the BRCW Type 3 or Crompton is a class of Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives ordered in 1957 and built for the Southern Region of British Railways between 1960 and 1962....
main line diesels ran to Midhurst in that station's last year. Also Class 73
British Rail Class 73
The British Rail Class 73 is a United Kingdom model of electro-diesel locomotive. The type is unusual in that it can operate from a 750 V DC third-rail or an on-board diesel engine to allow it to operate on non-electrified routes...
electro-diesels
Electro-diesel locomotive
An Electro-diesel locomotive is powered either from an electricity supply or by using the onboard diesel engine...
were used on gravel workings on the shortened spur of the branch until 1991.