Railways of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

The London & South Western Railway (LSW) was a railway company that operated in Hampshire and Dorset in the early 20th century. It began with a branch line to Salisbury and gradually developed its network, including routes to Bournemouth and Exeter. The LSW faced competition from four other companies in the county and also operated lines on the Isle of Wight. Patrick Bennett's book uses previously unpublished photographs to tell the story of the railways in the area.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2023
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

The London & Southampton, soon to be renamed the London & South Western, was the first to arrive on the scene. The branch to Salisbury marked the beginning of the LSW's ambitious endeavor to reach Exeter. Other routes followed, such as the Portsmouth Direct, designed to surpass the London & Brighton's attempt to capture Portsmouth traffic. The need to reach Bournemouth led to the construction of two separate lines by the LSW. Over time, the LSW gradually expanded its network, although some routes, like the Meon Valley or the Sprat & Winkle, were not particularly profitable and were closed early. The LSW faced competition in the county from four different companies originating from the north. These included the Midland & South Western Junction, the Didcot, Newbury & Southampton, the GWR from Reading to Basingstoke, and the South Eastern Railway in the far north-eastern corner. In the south-eastern corner, the LBSCR penetrated as far as Portsmouth and Hayling Island. The Isle of Wight had three separate railway companies controlling lines totaling fewer than 50 miles. Interestingly, the remaining line from Ryde to Shanklin has been operated for over fifty years by redundant London Underground trains. Patrick Bennett, using previously unpublished photographs, presents a captivating account of the region's railway history.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 165 x 234 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398110250