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Not many Railways managed to persuade the banks to give them some free advertising but in Cowes the National Provincial Bank had a sign directing people towards the station! photograph by Keith Harwood Cowes station opened with the Cowes & Newport Railway in 1862 and was closed when all traffic was withdrawn by British Railways in 1966. During that time it had served the town faithfully, though not necessarily speedily, with passengers being able to enjoy greater comfort than was available on the competing, and cheaper, road transport. Having climbed up the slope, passengers were faced with a further climb up the steps to the right of this picture to reach the booking office and trains. Two more Southern Railway signs still adorn the front of the building in 1963. Note the rather forlorn looking “Road Up” sign, despite no sign of roadworks! photograph by Keith Harwood Having finished their long climb passengers were greeted with this spacious and airy booking hall. The steps up from the road are on the far left of this picture. photograph by Keith Harwood Cowes platform ticket.. photograph by Richard Neal An overall view of the Cowes station layout. The two coaches on the right are standing in what was the Freshwater branch platform. photograph by Ron Hersey Looking the other way the signal is off for a train to depart. Note the semaphore shunt signal at the bottom left corne in this photos. photograph by Ron Hersey Between trains at Cowes. Although the station boasted three platforms, one was usually sufficient to cater for the traffic by the time this photograph was taken in 1963. Trains normally arrived and departed from the platform on the right - the wagons on the far right are in the dock road. The platform in the middle was hardly used after 1956 (except for mail trains) and that on the left could be used for departures, but not arrivals. photograph by Keith Harwood Cowes station taken from the footbridge and looking towards the buffer stops and booking hall. photograph by Keith Harwood Another view of Cowes Station showing the two main platforms and the two dock roads either side. The run-round practice at Cowes was interesting and was made possible by the station being on a slight incline. Trains would arrive at the main (left hand) platform and pull right up to the buffer stops. The locomotive would disconnect and, when all passengers had disembarked, would propel the carriages back beyond the points where the guard would apply the handbrake. The locomotive would pull forward to the buffer stops and reverse over the points out of the station. The guard would then release the handbrake and allow the carriages to slowly move down to the buffer stops. The locomotive would then rejoin the head of the train ready for the return journey to Ryde. Note the wartime paintwork on the “Cowes” running-in board, still in place in 1963. photograph by Keith Harwood Out of the peak season three carriages were usually sufficient for the Cowes line trains. Here 02 Class No 33 Bembridge arrives at Cowes with a typical set. photograph by Keith Harwood The run-round sequence at Cowes is described above. HereNº33 has set back the train, ready to run round. OnceNº33 has been released, the guard will release the handbrake and allow the three car set to run forward by gravity to the buffer stops. photograph by Keith Harwood º33 having been detached from its train has moved forward towards the buffer stops and will reverse across the points and out of the station. photograph by Keith Harwood Having completed its run-roundNº33 is approaching its train, ready to couple up and return bunker first to Newport and Ryde. photograph by Keith Harwood The signalbox and small coal merchant's depot. photograph by Ron Hersey This page was last updated 3 December 2002 |