Havant and Bedhampton
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Looking west, the rusty rails of the remaining fast line seem
little used.
photograph by Paul Emery |
| A good overall view of the station. The date is now 22nd August
2009 and the remaining fast line shown above has been lifted. Class 377 unit
Nº377455 is waiting at the platform.
photograph by Gregory Beecroft |
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| Prior to 1858 the only railway routes from Havant to London were circuitous ones, via either Brighton to the east or Winchester to the north west, despite the Portsmouth Direct Railway from Godalming to Havant having been built and ready for use. The problem was, as always, political! The line, built speculatively by the well known railway contractor Brassey, was in dire need of being adopted. However, despite being geographically situated on the eastern flank of the LSWR territory, that railway was unwilling to upset its neighbour, the LB&SCR, by breaking their working arrangement for Portsmouth traffic. However, to upset the apple cart, along came the upstart South Eastern Railway with their line deep through LB&SCR territory from Redhill into the LSWR's territory at Guildford. In order to stop any further encroachment by the SER into LSWR territory the latter decided to adopt the PDR and were prepared, if necessary, to take passengers by road from Havant to Hilsea, on its line from Fareham to Portsmouth, should the LB&SCR try to block their line at Havant, thus preventing the trains of both companies from continuing on to Portsmouth. The Brighton company's response was to issue a warning on 23rd December 1858 that if the LSWR attempted to carry the traffic of the PDR into or from the joint station at Landport "this company would take measures to prevent them from so doing". Then the PDR announced that they would run a goods train (a LSWR one of course) on 28th December. War was declared! The LSWR train arrived early in the morning, double-headed, carrying officials from the PDR, the LSWR, and an army of police, navvies and "Victorian Rent-a-mob". The Brighton company, however, was ready and had it's own force awaiting them. An old engine, Nº99 Bury, was chained to the rails and part of the turnout on the down line junction was removed. The Brighton pointsman was ordered to give up the missing item or be liable for imprisonment for obstruction. Then the locomotive "Bury" was rushed and captured by a gang of some eight to ten men after which the LSWR train ran through the station on the wrong road, but the Brighton men were ready for this and had removed a rail, thus stopping the train. Then ensued what can only be described as a pitched battle until the LSWR contingent accepted defeat and withdrew around lunchtime. The Brighton contingent then went home victorious, having decorated its train with flags. |
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Straight on for Chichester and Brighton, left for Guildford and
Waterloo. This is most probably the site of the "Battle of Havant"
between the LB&SCR and LSWR over routes to Portsmouth in 1858.
photograph by Paul Emery |
| During the time of the stoppage passengers had to be ushered
from one end of the obstruction to the other. George Hawkins, the
LB&SCR's Traffic Manager, reported to his railway's Secretary that
although he regretted the state of affairs he had felt it necessary to prevent
the LSWR making a forced entry onto the Brighton company's line without the
permission of its directors.
This situation could not last, of course, so eventually an agreement was struck whereby the LB&SCR allowed the LSWR entry to the station. Having done this, there then followed a vicious fares war with each company successively undercutting the other's excursion fares in the hope that it would break them. In the end it didn't, of course, but it is said that the only ones to profit from the experience were the sailors who had ridiculously cheap tickets, and the lawyers! There was less cut-throat competition where the ordinary fares were concerned, and no racing to reach Havant first. The LSWR had the shorter, and a direct, route but the LB&SCR took only ten minutes longer on their route despite having a reversal and an engine change whilst negotiating their two sides of the triangle. |
| Although a separate station, Bedhampton Halt is very close to
Havant and comes under that station's control.
photograph by Paul Emery |
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Bedhampton crossing and footbridge.
photograph by Paul Emery |
| Bedhampton looking east toward Havant, the crossing gates are
operated via CCTV from the Havant box.
photograph by Paul Emery |
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This page was last updated 11 November 2009
