This section tells the stories about of those employed on the Hayling Branch line and their families. These stories provide an interesting glimpse into the past and how the railways impacted on the family life in early days. The railways not only fueled the industrial revolution but created a revolution of their own by expecting families to move with the job, something that is commonplace today.
Angela sadly does not remember much about her father, but has kindly shared the little she does know about his life and work on the Billy Line: My Dad, Robert William Welch (Known as Jack on the railway), was born on 30 November 1911; he lived his whole life in Portsmouth. From what I understand he [...]
Terrier inside Fratton depot I was born on 20 October 1930; at the age of 14 I began working on the railway. I worked at the Motor Power Depot in Fratton as a ‘Fitter's Lad’; I would have to run around getting tools and things for the fitter, his name was Bert Gibbs. I was with Bert until [...]
Ken and Mavis both lived in Portsmouth at the time Ken was working on the Billy (he was a driver). Ken started working on the railways in 1947. They married in 1954. Ken was based at the Fratton, Portsmouth Depot. He remembers working long hours and shifts operating from midday to midnight and vice versa. [...]
Memories related by his wife George was employed by the Southern Railway from 6th January 1940 and retired from British Rail 31st December 1989. We often have a laugh about this story which is just one of quite a few memories. My husband is now nearly 89 and the majority of his mates have passed on. My husband, [...]
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Driver Desmond (Taf) Lewis at the rear of the cab. Desmond was Brian Gilbert's uncle.
An old favourite Terrier, 32640. Herbert is at the front of the cab, the fireman is currently unknown. Herbert William Outen is the son of Herbert Outen and his Grandfather was Harry Outen, Robert Outen's brother. This family has a member on the railway near the start of the branch line opening (Robert Outen - [...]
A photocopy of a comic postcard relating to the speed of the railway engine on the Hayling Island line. The author of the message was clearly a friend of Samuel Walder, the Railway Guard. Samuel lived at 7 Lymbourne Cottages, not far from the Havant station with his wife Emily nee Cripps and his [...]
26 October 1963 Alan Bell produced this close-up from image reference 539, as a keepsake for Dave and George. Photo with kind permission of Alan Bell. Reference 539, Copyright A.A.Bell
26 October 1963 L-R: Fireman Dave Pallett, Driver George MacAskill, Fire irons 1 & 4, Fire shovels 2 & 3 (all normally carried on the LHS side tank), Coaling shovel, sand container lamps and oil can. Next to the boiler, on the loco are the discs used for day time. The '305' on one of [...]
This account was submitted by Jenny Odey. All images copyright Jenny Odey. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1Alf was born May 6th 1900 in Dorking, Surrey to George and Alice Stanford. George was a railway gateman at Dorking in 1900. The 1911 census has the family living at The Toll Gate, Langstone with father George,aged 42, as a Toll [...]
