Hayling Island Branch Line Opens

1867

The Hayling Island branch line opened in 1867, running south from Havant station across Langstone Harbour to Hayling Island. The single-track line crossed the harbour on a wooden bridge and served stations at Langstone, North Hayling and Hayling Island. The branch was operated by small tank engines, as the bridge could not support heavier locomotives. The line carried passengers, goods and holiday traffic for nearly a century. The branch became famous among railway enthusiasts for its diminutive engines and its scenic crossing of the harbour. The line closed in 1963 as part of the Beeching cuts. The trackbed has since been converted into the Billy Trail, a popular walking and cycling path.