Although the majority of the branch lines of Hampshire belonged to the
London & South Western Railway, they offered the opportunity to see a
wide variety of locomotives serving both rural outposts and the major
towns. In the west of the county, the railway centred on Bournemouth and
Southampton. During the Second World War these two lines rose to become
important arteries carrying men and materials to south coast ports.
Other branches are interesting for their industrial and freight
services; among them Fawley, which served and continues to serve the oil
refinery. Some branches in Hampshire were shut down even before the
Second World War: Ringwood - Bournemouth closed to all traffic in 1935,
while the Hurstbourne - Fullerton line closed to passengers in 1931.
Freight lingered on until 1956. Many branches have been lifted, but a
few remain open today. A casualty in 1914 was the branch to the Royal
Pier, Southampton, which connected with the Isle of Wight ferry, while
another route to the Isle of Wight, that via Lymington, was eventually
electrified. All the Hampshire branches are described in detail, and the
text includes lively anecdotes of the trains and those who served them.
The book is illustrated with over 150 black and white photographs, maps
and ephemera, which capture the history of the county's railways.
