1952 to 1955 Branch line closures
British Railways wasted no time in closing the loss-making lines to Ventnor West (1952), Bembridge (1953), Freshwater (1953) and between Newport and Sandown (1955). The lines from Ryde to Cowes […]
1948 Nationalisation
Following the Second World War in 1945, the railways generally were in a run down state. Heavy war traffic, lack of investment and manpower all taking their toll. As part […]
1923 Southern Railway
Britain’s numerous independent railways were grouped into four main companies on 1st January 1923. This was a Government measure in the early post First World War period to make the […]
1897 Newport, Godshill & St Lawrence Railway
The final railway on the island to be constructed ran from Merstone to Ventnor West. It reached St Lawrence on 20th July 1897 and Ventnor in 1900 on a rock […]
1889 Freshwater, Yarmouth & Newport Railway
This lengthy railway opened to passengers on 11 July 1889 to serve the sparsely populated West Wight. The line was mainly a speculative venture in the hope that new ferry […]
1887 Isle of Wight Central Railway
The amalgamation of the Cowes & Newport, Ryde & Newport and the I.W. (Newport Junction) Railways was a logical conclusion and took place in 1887.
1882 Brading Harbour Improvement Company
The short 2¾ mile branch from Brading to Bembridge was opened on 27th May 1882. It came about as a direct result of plans to reclaim Brading marshes, the railway […]
1880 Ryde Pier Head – Ryde St John’s Road
Dismayed at the treatment and inconvenience to its passengers once on the Island, the mainland railway companies who ran the ferry service built a new pier and railway to replace […]
1875 Ryde & Newport Railway
This new line ran from Smallbrook Junction, near Ryde on the I.W.Railway, through Ashey, Haven Street and Whippingham to Newport where it connected with the Cowes & Newport Railway. It […]
1875 I.W. (Newport Junction) Railway
This line was planned to link Sandown, on the Isle of Wight Railway, with Newport. However there were problems with finance and construction at the Newport end; the line only […]
