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Ventnor
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Following an initial failure to build a railway in 1852 a further
attempt was made almost a decade later and this time, during 1860, a Bill
promoting The Isle of Wight Railway from Ryde to Ventnor was successful and an
Act was passed authorising the building of the line. Shanklin was reached by
1864 but then an impasse occurred with obstinate landowners successfully
objecting to the proposed route through Luccombe and Bonchurch. Eventually the
decision was made to approach Ventnor from the north, through Wroxall, which
required the construction of a tunnel some 1312 yards long under St. Boniface
Down and, despite delays, the line was completed through to Ventnor in 1866.
The IWR prospered during its early years (unlike the other railways built on
the Island) and ruled supreme in Ventnor until the Isle of Wight Central
Railway’s Merstone-Ventnor branch arrived on the west side of Ventnor in
1900.
The line from Shanklin to Ventnor closed in 1966 and despite re-opening proposals in recent years seems doomed to remain a distant memory!
One side of a running in board at Ventnor, 294 feet above sea level. It was a long walk down from the station to the front! photograph by Ron Hersey
O2 Class W24 Calbourne bursts out of the tunnel under St. Boniface Down to arrive at Ventnor. photograph: John Bradshaw collection
The main platform at Ventnor. photograph by Richard Neal
A busy moment at Ventnor. An unidentified O2 Class is just departing with set 500 whilstNº20 Shanklin is about to take water whilst running round having recently arrived with the train now standing in the platform, photograph by Ron Hersey
The lack of any footbridge or subway led to novel ways for passenger access to and from the island platform. It was not often that there were two trains at Ventnor at the same time, but when this did happen it was usual (in later years) for the first train to arrive at the outer face of the island platform. The engine would then run round, ready for departure, before the second train arrived in the main platform. Whilst the main platform road was empty, a wooden gangway was placed across to the island platform thus enabling passengers to cross and when the main platform road was occupied, then passengers simply used a convenient coach door to enter the train from the island platform and leave it on the main platform. Although this was the usual arrangement in the later years (during Monday to Friday afternoons) there was no reason why the first train couldn't arrive in the main platform and, indeed, this did happen. In this photograph the gangway is just visible to the immediate right of the supporting pillar on the island platform. photograph by Ray Soper
The wooden gangway "parked" beside a trolley on the platform awaiting its next being required. photograph by Ron Hersey
Ventnor station looking quite busy with W29 Alverstone ready for departure on the same date. photograph by Chris Knowles-Thomas
O2 ClassNºO2NºW24 takes water during the run-round, having arrived with SetNº492, one of the seven (490 - 494, 497 & 500) 6-sets allocated to the Ryde to Ventnor service in 1960. They all had an ex SECR brake at the Ryde end with an ex LBSCR one at the Ventnor end, as seen in the photograph. The vehicle is possibly S4165. In the early years there was a small turntable here but this was replaced by a turnout and headshunt. photograph: John Bradshaw collection
And makes its way toNº1 siding. No sign any more of the height above sea level. photograph: John Bradshaw collection
On a later occasion, with the weeds growing longer, an O2 and train depart Ventnor after a similar operation. photograph: John Bradshaw collection
O2 ClassNºW22 Brading at Ventnor on the final day of services, 17th April 1966. photograph by Ray Soper
AsNºW20 Shanklin and train arrive at Ventnor a small band of photographers rushes to capture the event for the last time. photograph by Ray Soper
WhilstNºW20 takes water on the run round, for the last time at Ventnor, a small crowd has gathered to witness the proceedings whilst a small boy stands in wonder. photograph by Ray Soper
The goods shed at Ventnor. photograph by Ron Hersey
Ventnor caves then..... ..... and now!.
Ventnor sidings.
Ventnor tunnel then..... ..... and now!. Above five photographs by Richard Neal This page was last updated 3 July 2010 |
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