HISTORICAL LINES SOUTH OF THE SOLENT

Although associated with the development of aircraft, hovercraft, hydrofoils and wind turbine blades, since the birth of railways, the economy of the Isle of Wight – known to the Romans as ‘Vectis’ – has also benefited from tourism. Early proposals to construct lines on the island received very strong opposition from land-owners, but the Isle of Wight Railway (loWR) route between Ryde and Ventnor Town, survives in part and will feature in the proposed plan for a suitable model. Opened in 1866, the company was managed from Sandown, with its engineering facilities sited at Ryde St John’s Road. With plans for an extension from Wroxall to Newport – the island’s chief town – thwarted by financial difficulties, a branch-line to Bembridge with a junction at Brading proved to be the company’s only expansion.

At a time when Cowes remained the island’s chief port, it is not surprising that the first line to open in 1862, linked that town with Newport, a distance of 4¼ miles. Named The Isle of Wight Central Railway (loWCR), it handled passengers only and followed the course of the River Medina. The short tramway remained isolated until the Ryde and Newport Railway (RNR) opened in 1875. Forming a junction at Smallbrook, the new line ran via Haven Street to Newport, there connecting with the existing line onward to Cowes.

From first gaining an act of Parliament in 1869, the Isle of Wight (Newport Junction) Railway (IoWNJR) didn’t open its line linking Sandown with Newport until 1879. Following financial collapse a year later, the three companies involved in linking Newport and Cowes with the island system, amalgamated in 1887 and became known as the Isle of Wight Central Railway.

The final route operated by the IoWCR opened in 1897. Linking Merstone with Whitwell, the route was extended to Ventnor West in 1900.

The map shows that ‘West Wight’ didn’t receive much attention from the railway promoters, the population and main