Stations along the route Now a Grade II listed The original Southern Railway built a wonderful Art Deco Now Grade II listed, the main Station the south coast port night and day, every day, for weeks on b u i l d i n g , R o m s e y style south-side entrance. Parts of the original building still building is set well back from the opened in 1841 named end. Station* opened in platforms because it was intended remain, as does a redundant 1930’s signal box at the west ‘ Junction’. Shawford is now a busy commuter station but is also an T h e o r i g i n a l G r e a t 1847, and is a twin of to place two additional tracks end of the station. In 1889 it became access point for walkers visiting Shawford Down. W e s t e r n R a i l w a y ’ s station. through the station. However the ‘ B i s h o p s t o k e a n d terminus station called The booking hall once had a huge notice board showing The station had a small goods yard that closed to railway The famous children’s extra lines never appeared! Eastleigh’ and in 1923 ‘ (Fisherton)’ passengers the position of all the ships in the docks, and had use in 1960, but the site remained the location of a civil author, the Reverend The construction of a large, ramped i t b e c a m e s i m p l y was built by Isambard the wording ‘The Gateway of the World’ proudly mounted engineering contractor’s yard for many years. W. V. Awdry (1911-1997) over-bridge has been the only major ‘Eastleigh’. Kingdom Brunel and over the information. Prior to air travel, sea voyages were was born in on the outskirts of . His father, the main way of reaching distant destinations, and the alteration during the station’s opened in 1856. A railway Originally built as two island platforms with an overbridge, who was a local Vicar, had many railwaymen as station played an important part in handling this business. existence. the removal of the line nearest to the town in 1990 meant maintenance depot now Station parishioners. Inspired by his own childhood, Awdry wrote Unfortunately the grand entrance area was bombed during that level access could be made to the northbound stands on the site. was opened on 10 June the ‘Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends’ storybooks. WWII. platform. On platform 1 are canopy pillars cast for the The present day Salisbury Station opened in 1859 and its 1839 by the ‘London and During both World Wars, the station was a major Airport original station, bearing the words ‘W & J Lankester of Line Guide elegant facade has Grade II listed building status. A whole new integral office block was constructed on the Southampton Railway embarkation point for troops. north side of the station in 1966 as part of the modernisation (Parkway) Station is Southampton 1841’. The ‘Market House’ branch line once ran for a quarter of a Company’ (the company of the route, which included the replacement of steam in close proximity to, and Little more than a small settlement until the coming of the What you can see from the train when mile from the eastern end of the station to terminate at Redbridge Station name later changing to traction with electric trains in 1967. inextricably linked with railway, the town of Eastleigh is very proud of its railway travelling along the ‘Three Rivers’ route what is now the Corn Exchange in the centre of the city. opened in 1847. From the the ‘London & South heritage. A 1995 bronze sculpture entitled ‘Railwayman’ m i d - 1 9 2 0 s u n t i l t h e The word ‘Central’ was dropped from the station’s title after Western Railway’). ...and beyond. (36). can be found in the town centre. Dean Station* opened 1980s there was a large the Terminus station closed, but was reinstated to avoid in 1847. The station r a i l w a y e n g i n e e r i n g confusion with ‘Southampton Airport (Parkway)’. The first aviator to really Trains initially only ran between Winchester and use this location was Eric The original station at building matches the facility located here, Both the south-side and north-side entrances to the station Chandler’s Ford* Southampton Terminus station until the section of line north local church and ten oil manufacturing railway have recently been stylishly refurbished. Moon, and he was something of a local hero. His early flights o p e n e d i n 1 8 4 7 . to was completed in May 1840. The station was lamps originally used to tracks, points and cross- were made in a very simple monoplane called ‘Moonbeam 2’. A siding lead to a called ‘Winchester City’ between 1949 and 1967 to avoid light the platforms. The overs. It also produced The growing importance of aviation led to the fields of what nearby brickworks, confusion with ‘Winchester Chesil’ which was located at the St. Denys Station*. The station also had a small creosoted wooden railway sleepers, using ‘Jarrah’ was once Farm being developed as a which provided building foot of St. Giles Hill. (Eucalyptus) timber imported from Western Australia. first station near this military airfield and base during WWI. After the end of the goods yard with cattle materials for the local The former goods shed which closed in 1969 still stands location was opened in war, civil aviation gradually expanded, and in 1929 ‘Atlantic Includes: pens and a goods crane. a r e a a n d b e y o n d . behind platform 1. There were sidings for goods traffic on Travel Information 1861 as ‘’. After Park Hostel Halt’ on the railway line opened to serve ‘Atlantic The original railway cottages remain and are privately Millbrook Station* Unusually, this siding both sides of the line. The ‘Baltic Siding’, under Andover Station Facts only five years, the station Park’ as it had become known. In the 1930’s commercial occupied. opened in November used a horse and not a locomotive to move the wagon loads Road bridge, was built in 1918 with a long platform Tourist Information was moved owing to the flights from the airstrip started in earnest. The railway halt 1861. The Freightliner of bricks. The station closed in 1969 and the line became a specifically for use by troops based in camps in and around Nearby, the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Dean Hill was opening of the route to was then renamed ‘Southampton Airport Halt’. Ideas for Places to Visit the city. This siding remains in use to avoid passenger trains opened in 1938 to store ammunition and ordnance for use depot here was opened in . The name ‘St. freight-only route. After years of local campaigning, the Contact Information The world famous WWII Spitfire fighter aircraft was station was reopened for public use in 2003. starting or finishing their journey at Winchester having to during WWII. A network of underground storage tunnels 1967, and was one of the Denys’ was only adopted much later in 1876. St. Denys first in the country. Priory, established in the area around 1124, was named developed and built locally by the Supermarine company wait on the main line. were linked by an extensive narrow gauge railway. A main and first flown from the airfield in 1936. During the war H o w e v e r i t i s n o w after one of three different saints... nobody is quite sure Today, Winchester is a busy station used by commuters, line rail connection into the site closed in 1988. years, the airport was known as ‘HMS Raven’, and played its Stations from Eastleigh to Winchester overshadowed by the which one! students and tourists. Latterly, Dean Hill was the storage location for Cruise Station - built 1883 much larger Maritime Freightliner yard a little to the west. part in pilot training and aircraft testing. missiles and other nuclear warheads. It closed as a military Major alterations to the layout of the station were made in base in 2004 and was converted into Dean Hill Park (4) - 1899. At around this time a proposal for trams to use the Up until the 1960s the airfield was just a grass runway, but a Shawford Station Dukes Road level crossing just south of the station was concrete runway was constructed in 1965. In 1986, the opened in 1882 as Issue 1 386 acres of parkland, fields and conservation areas with Slightly to the east of The The Itchen Navigation thought far too dangerous, so a compromise was the rail station was renamed ‘Southampton Parkway’ and was ‘Shawford & Twyford’, Heritage Trail business units. Heritage Trail... by train or bus Southampton Central construction in 1904 of a large iron bridge. The ‘Horseshoe subsequently named much later than when ...by train or bus Station was the city’s Bridge’, as it is now known, was never actually used by ‘Southampton Airport the railway line was We have produced a handy leaflet original station called & trams! (Parkway)’ in the 1990s. originally built and about how to access The Itchen Station* opened in 1847. It once ‘ B l e c h y n d e n ’, w h i c h The main station building and booking hall at St. Denys, with T h e o p e n i n g o f t h e opened in 1839. The Navigation Heritage Trail by train had a busy local goods yard which opened in 1847. It was its many fascinating architectural details, is now Grade II nearby village of Twyford lies a f r o m W i n c h e s t e r, S h a w f o r d , closed in 1961. The rural station renamed ‘Southampton listed. offered good road links to short distance to the Eastleigh and Swaythling railway house, like that at Dean, is West’ in 1858 because the the already excellent rail east of Shawford. stations, and by bus from the privately occupied. main station at the time was called ‘Southampton Docks’, Swaythling Station* opened in 1883, and has remained connections, and the Originally the station had just two tracks, but a third line nearest bus stops. (later to become ‘Southampton Terminus’), of which some Thanks to our largely unchanged since. present station building was added in 1943 during the Second World War. This was to Includes a map with directions, and parts still remain today - alongside the South Western Hotel opened in 1997. from: local volunteers, The Old English word ‘swætheling’ meaning ‘misty stream’, allow the endless stream of trains coming from the north to Near Brambridge Winchester on Canute Road. lots of information about places to this station has could be a reference to ‘’, flowing nearby. In 2009 a new covered overbridge with lifts was built across avoid having to wait to join the main line at Shawford visit and wildlife to see along the Shawford In 1895 a new larger station was built on the current site, Built by a local firm, this little station nearly came to an Junction. This also avoided trains having to wait on the Eastleigh attractive art and the line augmenting the original concrete footbridge. In way. Swaythling flower displays which was further enhanced in 1935. Prior to major land unfortunate end when a German bomb fell into the main 2011 the approach to the station on Platform 1 side was Hockley Viaduct and be at increased risk of enemy air Produced in association with: C o m m u n i t y R a i l Partnership on the platforms reclamation when the Western Docks were built in the booking hall during an air raid in 1941. Very luckily, the redesigned and re-landscaped allowing better access for attack. The build-up of troops and military equipment in Visit our website to download a PDF, throughout the 1930s, the came right up to, and sometimes bomb did not actually explode, and the damage was soon passengers and buses. Waiting room and ticket hall facilities Southampton Docks ready for the D-Day landings on 6 June or contact us for a copy. year. flooded over the railway here! repaired. were also upgraded. 1944 meant large numbers of extra trains were coming to www.threeriversrail.com *Station currently cared for by our local volunteers.

For 23 years Netley was the terminus of the line from Romsey St. Denys Shawford https://comptonshawford-pc.gov.uk Contact Information Stations from St. Denys to St. Denys until the line was extended to in 1889. To plan your journey by bus, i Market Days - Tues, Fri and Sat 31. The Dolphin 023 8055 0277 48. The Bridge Inn 01962 713171 When the signalling was upgraded in 1957, Netley’s signal train, bike, car and walking Tourist Information Centre 32. Junction Inn 023 8058 4486 49. Shawford Down Nature Reserve Station, originally named ‘Bitterne Road’, opened box was saved from destruction and was relocated to Ropley go to 01794 512987 www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/ Salisbury on 5 March 1866 and is located close to where the Romans for use on the Mid-Hants Railway. www.myjourneysouthampton.com Swaythling thingstodo/countryside/finder/shawforddown Market Days - Tues & Sat 9. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens first colonised Southampton, or ‘Clausentum’ as it was then Hamble Station opened in 1942 during the Second World Information Centre and Art In The Garden 33. Fleming Arms 023 8058 4358 known. The name ‘Bitterne’ originates from the Ancient War as ‘Hamble Halt’ to serve staff working at three nearby English word for a ‘house near a (river) bend’. 01722 342860 01794 369318 Winchester www.visitwinchester.co.uk aircraft factories. A branch line to the nearby Oil Terminal www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/ is still visible, but has not been used for many years. 2. Salisbury Cathedral Eastleigh www.eastleigh.gov.uk Market Days - Wed (Food & Produce), Prior to the opening of the hilliergardens Thurs, Fri & Sat. Add local bus travel to your train 01722 555120 Market Days - Thur & Sat in 1977, cars Situated on the banks of the , where warships 11. King John’s House ticket with a PLUSBUS add-on. 36. Eastleigh Lakeside Railway 50. St. Catherine’s Hill and foot passengers had to for the British Navy were built for centuries, Bursledon www.salisburycathedral.org.uk 01794 512200 www.kingjohnshouse.org.uk 023 8061 2020 www.steamtrain.co.uk www.hiwwt.org.uk cross from Woolston to Station* was opened in 1889, and became famous as the Available with train travel to Salisbury, Southampton or • Stonehenge Eastleigh. For ticket prices, zone maps and a list of 12. Romsey Abbey ©.Shutterstock/kungverylucky fictional ‘Tarrant’ Station in the 1980s BBC TV series 37. Swan Centre 51. Hospital of St Cross Crosshouse via a chain- 0370 333 1181 01794 513125 www.romseyabbey.org.uk ‘Howards Way’. participating bus operators, please visit www.plusbus.info (, Vue cinema www.hospitalofstcross.co.uk operated floating bridge. www.english-heritage.org.uk 13. Broadlands House/Events • and tenpin bowling alley) Woolston Station* was *Station currently cared for by our local volunteers. ‘Stonehenge Tours’ 01794 505080 www.broadlandsestates.co.uk 023 8061 0811 www.winchester-cathedral. built in 1866 to provide an buses leave from Salisbury Station forecourt 14. Romsey Signal Box Project www.swanshopping.com org.uk interchange with this Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership 01202 338 420 www.thestonehengetour.info www.romseysignalbox.org.uk • City Mill ‘ferry’. Travel Information 40. Marwell Zoo www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ i • Salisbury Races • The Plaza Theatre In the past, Woolston served the ‘Thornycroft’, later to 01962 777407 winchester-city-mill Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership is a member of 01722 326461 www.salisburyracecourse.co.uk 01794 523054 www.plazatheatre.com become ‘Vosper’ Thornycroft, shipyards, and the Vickers 0345 6000 650 www.marwell.org.uk (South Downs Way start point (Association of Community Rail Partnerships). A free bus service operated by Salisbury Reds runs to aircraft factory. This made the area a www.southwesternrailway.com • The Point (multi-arts venue) www.southdownsway.co.uk) target during the Second World War and during an air raid in For more information visit www.acorp.uk.com and from Salisbury Station, on race days only, during 023 8065 2333 www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk For train times, you require: Redbridge November 1940 a train at Woolston Station was hit by a the racing season (May - Oct). Bus departure times vary, Timetable 25 Romsey to Salisbury Community Rail Partnerships are ‘not for profit’ organisations 17. Lower Test Nature Reserve bomb, killing a Polish airman. The goods yard closed in 1966 depending on the racing timetable. via Eastleigh and Southampton Central which provide a link between the railway industry and local and Isle of Wight Chandler’s Ford www.chandlersfordtoday.co.uk but the original station building remains and is twinned with • Salisbury Playhouse Walking from rail stations communities. Partners can be any individual, business or Wildlife Trust 023 8042 4206 41. Monks Brook 023 8025 3020 i the one at St. Denys. Timetable 26 Southampton Central to 01722 320333 www.salisburyplayhouse.com organisation wanting to positively develop local rail routes and www.hiwwt.org.uk These are available from stations along the route, or as PDFs stations. This includes practical initiatives to improve station • Station* opened on 1 August 1866, and was 18. The Anchor 023 8086 0456 from the South Western Railway website. Sholing www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/testway rebuilt in 1910 when the line was converted from single to facilities, services and access, enhance integration with other Dean forms of transport and create a better, more sustainable local 19. The Ship Inn 023 8086 2186 42. Sholing Valleys Study A 44-mile walk from the chalk downs at Inkpen, following the double track. Located near to the Miller’s Pond Nature 0345 7000 125 4. Dean Hill Park Great Western railway. 20. Eling Tide Mill 023 8086 9575 Centre and Miller’s Pond River Test to Eling. Join at Romsey or Redbridge Station. Reserve, the station was built through local residents’ www.gwr.com 01794 342246 www.deanhillpark.co.uk lobbying, as the railway company had not planned to stop at Local Nature Reserve • Clarendon Way For train times, you require Timetable B1 Three Rivers Community Rail Partners: 023 8043 2395 www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/clarendonway Sholing. The station was never as grand as others on the line and the modest buildings were replaced in 1990 by waiting • • A 24-mile walk from Salisbury Cathedral to Winchester 0345 127 29 20 Mottisfont & Dunbridge Southampton shelters on each platform. • CrossCountry • South Western Railway Netley Cathedral. Join the route at Salisbury Station. www.southernrailway.com 6. Mill Arms Information • Eastleigh Borough Council • Borough Council 01794 340355 www.discoversouthampton.co.uk 43. Royal Victoria Country Park • Mottisfont Estate Walk Netley Station* opened • Great Western Railway • University of Southampton www.millarmsdunbridge.co.uk 023 8045 5157 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont/trails/mottisfont-estate-walks on 5 March 1866 and is a • Hampshire County Council • Council

©.NTPL/Robert Morris 28. Shopping Centre www.hants.gov.uk/ Join the route at Mottisfont & Dunbridge Station. • Network Rail 8. Mottisfont Abbey 023 8033 6828 Grade II listed building. thingstodo/countryparks/rvcp www.west-quay.co.uk • Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail www.hiwwt.org.uk In April 1900 a branch line was opened to the Royal Call National Rail Enquiries on 01794 340757 29. Southampton Football Club Join the route at Winchester, Shawford, Swaythling For further information: Bursledon or Eastleigh Station. Victoria Military Hospital, www.nationaltrust.org.uk 02381 780 780 where nurse Florence 03457 48 49 50 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk · Talk to the member of the www.southamptonfc.com 44. Bursledon Brickworks • Hamble Rail Trail www.hamblevalley.com/walking-trails Nightingale worked. The Train times, fares and rail information partnership who gives you • The Museum A 4.5 mile walk along a disused railway track linking Hamble line was closed in 1963, this leaflet Call Train Tracker on Call National Rail Enquiries 023 8071 1811 www.mayflower.org.uk 01489 576248 Common, Royal Victoria Country Park, Way and and the hospital was · Visit www.threeriversrail.com the . and select Option 1. C o m m u n i t y R a i l Partnership www.bursledonbrickworks.org.uk demolished four years later, but the chapel and asylum 03457 48 49 50 · E-mail [email protected] For FREE copies of the Hamble Valley walking leaflets email Up to the minute times for today’s trains buildings remain: the Chapel now forming the iconic focal Calls to an 0345 number costs · Visit www.facebook.com/threeriversrail [email protected] Join the route at Hamble Station. point of the Royal Victoria Country Park. the same as a call to a normal Text station name to Train Tracker · Follow us on www.twitter.com/threeriversrail cont. home or business landline. 8 49 50 Call costs for mobiles vary · Look out for publicity in the local media Live next train departure and arrival times according to the calling plan · Phone 07900 103296 direct to your mobile. chosen.

Information correct at time of going to press. www.threeriversrail.com www.facebook.com/threeriversrail www.twitter.com/threeriversrail Leaflet design and photography (unless credited otherwise) by The Image Team (023) 8023 5606 for Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership. Printed using vegetable-based inks on 100% recycled paper, made in a chlorine free process. Line Guide - Upon departure from Eastleigh Station, we turn sharply left as we diverge from the main line, threading between On our way again, we quite often race aircraft taking off back gardens, industrial premises, a large cemetery, then from Southampton Airport’s runway! Hardly started, we under the M3 motorway. We are now using a section of Curving away from Swaythling, we pass above the slow for Eastleigh Station passing the Swan Centre line which was a freight route until the re-opening of Fleming Arms (33), and then travel alongside (37) and its leisure and restaurant complex on the left. Mountpark (34) - the Industrial Estate on what was the Chandler’s Ford Station in 2003. Just across the road Stations from St. Denys towards Fareham site of the Ford factory, once the home of the Transit van from the station is the Monks Brook (41) real ale pub. well get a view of one of the On the right we pass the The River Test soon comes and where Spitfire aircraft were first built. entrance to the locomotive On leaving St. Denys Station, the Netley line curves up Service and Fares Information huge cruise ships which use the On the outskirts of Chandler’s Ford the scenery becomes alongside us, and so becomes depot, and the now a steep gradient and crosses Adelaide Road level the second of the three rivers port. If you travel regularly, The M27 passes overhead once again, and we now arrive more rural in nature. A steady run along a straight length crossing. It then crosses the River Itchen on a low metal you can check out which ships rejuvenated Eastleigh Trains operate approximately hourly Monday - Saturday giving rise to our name. at Southampton Airport (Parkway) Station. of track soon brings us back to the junction at Romsey. bridge around 350 feet long. Construction of this bridge will be at the cruise terminals Railway Works (38) around 0600 - 2300. Sunday services start slightly later. Famed for its trout fishing, which the town of Eastleigh in 1866 was difficult and expensive owing to the soft river (23) by visiting Our train terminates at Romsey Station, before passing this chalk ‘stream’ is also of Southampton Airport (35) originally grew. bed, as cast iron cylinders had to be driven down to a Train travel is better value than you may think: discounts can special interest to naturalists. www.southamptonvts.co.uk. has one of the closest plane- back the way it has just come, all the way to Salisbury. depth of 60 feet and filled with concrete to act as be made by purchasing a season ticket, buying ‘Groupsave’ Watch out for herons and the to-train links of any European supports for the main structure. Today, the echoing tickets (for three or more people travelling together) or by Great Crested Grebe (above) - birds both partial to the airport and connects with over rumble of trains crossing the bridge is a feature of the using a suitable Railcard. You can buy your tickets on-line, at You will probably see Bus links: many species of fish in the river! 40 destinations in Europe, the Stations from Eastleigh towards Basingstoke nearby area, and can be heard for quite a distance, the station or - where permitted - on the train. Eastleigh Bus Station (39) is a 2-minute walk from thousands of brand new Channel Islands & UK. There especially at night. vehicles parked up ready Eastleigh Station. The bus station is a hub for all local is also the UK’s first airport On leaving Eastleigh Station the line to Chandler’s Ford for export (24) and many bus services. Salisbury - Romsey real-time travel information curves away sharply to the left. Freight and infrastructure After Bitterne Station the railway line hugs the eastern containers at the Millbrook system providing live On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from March to trains can be seen in the long sidings which form the East bank of the Itchen estuary, where the waters often lap at Avon Container Terminal (25). Locations described ‘to the left’ or ‘to the right’ of the information for rail, bus, road and ferry connections. September, and daily in the Easter and Summer School Yard on the right. Once these finish, and still looking to the track’s edge at high tide. Here, passengers get a view railway line are taken facing the direction of travel. To Bath, holidays, there is a dedicated bus link - Route ‘M1’ - from the right, we can enjoy views over the Water Meadows of back across to Southampton and its various riverside The view of the docks comes To Andover, Located just a short walk from the station is the the rail station and the bus station to Marwell Zoo (40) the meandering River Itchen. The pyramidal bright green wharves, before the train turns under the towering Our train usually starts from Platform 2 at Salisbury to an end, but just as we & South Wales Basingstoke Eastleigh Lakeside Railway (36), which offers (see www.threeriversrail.com for details). roof of a small brick-built building housing equipment to concrete Itchen Bridge and twists its way through Station. As we pull away from the station, glancing to enter Southampton Central & London miniature steam train rides around the leisure park and monitor water levels can be quickly glimpsed at Allbrook Woolston Station, climbing sharply to the next stop the right, in the midst of the thriving historic Mediaeval Station, we pass the Solent fishing lake. There is also a café, plus an extensive (45) on the former Itchen Navigation. The arrival of which is Sholing. From Sholing Station you can access city, you will see the distinctive castellated clock tower of Flour Mills building (26), programme of special events. the railway was a major factor in loss of business for the the Sholing Valleys Study Centre and Miller’s Pond the church of St. Thomas à Becket (1). opened in 1934 and still in To waterway, and within thirty years it had ceased to Local Nature Reserve (42). use today. Basingstoke, We then pass over the River Reading or London function and fell into a long period of dereliction before On leaving Sholing, the railway is carried on a high, Stockbridge Avon, shortly after which we Salisbury restoration and clearance work gave it a new lease of life. three-arched bridge spanning the valley bottom. enter the 445-yard long Fisherton • Winchester Winchester (See our leaflet - Itchen Navigation by bus and train). Cathedral Tunnel. On emerging, you will see 52. Royal The navigation runs alongside the railway much of the Less than two miles further Hampshire 54. the 404 ft high Salisbury • The Great Hall way between Eastleigh and Shawford, and then bears on we reach Netley, where County Christ Church Cathedral (2) spire if you look • The Westgate away towards St. Catherine’s Hill. Before this, you may Hospital nearby Royal Victoria back towards the city. To Tisbury, • King Alfred statue 51. Hospital of be lucky enough to see alpacas grazing in the fields - Country Park (43) can be St. Cross Sherborne, 8. Mottisfont Abbey (NT) • City Mill 53. The these belong to Hensting Alpacas (46) in Brambridge. accessed via a footpath. On We now head into pleasant open countryside. Glimpsed Yeovil, 5. Church of (for South University of 12 7. Church of leaving Netley Station, the briefly on the right is the entrance to East Grimstead Downs Way) Winchester The railway is now up on an embankment as we pass the Exeter mins. Dean St. John St. Andrew FREE BUS 50. line passes along the Quarry (3) . This closed in the early 1980s, having been • St. site of Waterworks (47) down to the left. & Plymouth Mottisfont & Summer Sundays & 6 boundary of the Hampshire a source of chalk, once carried by rail to the English 1. Church of St. Thomas à Becket Dunbridge • Clarendon Way mins. Catherine’s 2. Salisbury Cathedral certain Public Holidays • Itchen Navigation Hill Constabulary’s Netley Training China Clay works at Quidhampton, just to the west of 4. 49. Shortly we will call at, or pass through, Shawford • ‘Stonehenge Tour’ for Stonehenge 6 only. See our Heritage Trail Centre, much of which occupies the former Netley Salisbury. The china clay was processed for use in Dean Hill mins. 10. Shawford Station. The Itchen Navigation is at the foot of the website for (see ‘Walking from hospital asylum buildings. The next station is Hamble . making paper. • Salisbury Races Park former site of Down embankment alongside the station, and the trains are up • Salisbury Playhouse details. rail stations’ overleaf) Nat. Res M3 3. East Grimstead Quarry 6. Mill Arms Kimbridge Jct 48. level with the rooftops of the houses and that of The In the late 1860’s the Hamble Valley was the heart of the • Clarendon Way We then start to slow for Dean Station. The sight of • Mottisfont Shawford The Bridge Inn Bridge Inn (48) which was the location for the demise of strawberry growing industry - giving it the title of the low-flying Army helicopters from nearby Salisbury Plain (see ‘Walking from rail stations’ overleaf) Estate Walk 9. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens the Victor Meldrew character in the last episode of the ‘Strawberry Coast’. The railways played a vital part in bases is a regular occurrence. (see ‘Walking BBC TV series ‘One Foot in the Grave’. Shawford Down delivering the fruit to London and across the rest of the Romsey Station is our next from rail stations’ Nature Reserve (49) is on the left. country on ‘Strawberry Specials’. Before the war, 1,500 Dean Station serves a small village which once had a overleaf) 5 47. Otterbourne Waterworks pub called the Red Lion - famous for being located on stop. Romsey itself is a mins. After leaving Shawford acres were being used to grow strawberries; now around the border of Hampshire and Wiltshire. When licensing picturesque market town, 5 Itchen Station we pass over the busy 800 acres include a good number of ‘pick your own’ with a good selection of 8 mins. farms. laws varied between the two counties, you could choose Bus links: 11. King John’s House Romsey mins. 40. M3 motorway. Looking to the shops, , restaurants and 41. Monks Brook 46. to move from one bar to the other and be able to drink The ‘quayconnect’ bus shuttle to Town Quay for ferries 13. Broadlands House Marwell right at this point are views of cafés. It has a fascinating Hensting Walkers can alight at Hamble Station to access the later, once the bar in the other county had called ‘Time’! to Hythe (www.hytheferry.co.uk) and the Isle of Wight 14. Romsey Alpacas Zoo St. Catherine’s Hill (50) with history, with some historic Hamble Rail Trail linking Hamble with the Royal Victoria Sadly, the pub has now closed. (www.redfunnel.co.uk) departs from the south side of Signal Box its distinctive clump of trees on buildings well worth spending Chandler’s Route ‘M1’ Country Park via a section of the that hugs Southampton Central Station. • Plaza Theatre 12. 45. BUS See the top. This Iron Age hill fort Much of the scenery viewed the time to admire, including the coastline. From Hamble we travel to Bursledon. Uni-link buses (www.unilinkbus.co.uk) also call on the • Test Way Romsey Ford 5 Allbrook ‘Bus links’ is now a Nature Reserve. from the train window in the King John’s House (11) and mins. south side of the station. (see ‘Walking from Abbey Lock panel above On leaving Bursledon Station, as the railway crosses the beautiful Romsey Abbey (12), which is visible from rail stations’ overleaf) 39. Eastleigh Bus Station vicinity of Dean Station is First buses (www.firstgroup.com) call on the north side, The Hospital of St Cross above the busy A27, a glimpse of the M27 can be seen the train. Romsey is also home to Broadlands House for ‘M1’ buses to Marwell Zoo (40). for details. the vast acreage of as do many Bluestar services. (51) is seen very briefly in the close by as the curving metal viaduct carries the line over countryside and woodland (13). This was the residence of the late Earl Mountbatten 37. Swan Centre Eastleigh • The Point meadows, looking rather like the River Hamble. of Dean Hill Park (4). of Burma, and is famous for its royal connections. A host a small version of Winchester of events are held in the grounds throughout the year. 36. Eastleigh Lakeside Railway Boat and ship building on the Southampton - Romsey 38. Cathedral. As we carry on Continuing on, we run 8 banks of the Hamble go back mins. Southampton 4 Eastleigh To Botley,Fareham towards Winchester, we pass through sparsely populated mins.Works many centuries. It was Henry Before heading into the tunnel, which takes us right & Portsmouth Stanmore Estate on the left land, and picturesque countryside. Look out for the Romsey - Southampton Central Airport VIII who established the underneath , you may catch sight and St. Cross on the right. Church of St. John (5) on the left, which stands close (Parkway) 35. Southampton ‘Elephant Boatyard’ on the of the IKEA store (27), which is one of the city’s thriving 15. former site of Airport to the railway, near the village of . Soon we Leaving Romsey Station, we head south, and you will Test 3 The Victorian facade of Royal Hampshire County river where many wooden retail attractions. You will also see the large WestQuay Station mins. cross the , which heralds our approach to notice the former Romsey Signal Box (14) on our right, Hospital (52) can be seen high up on the left, with the warships were constructed for shopping centre (28) which opened in 2000. The huge 34. Mountpark Mottisfont & Dunbridge Station. As at Dean, the which is now used for educational purposes. We then have buildings of The University of Winchester (53) below it the Royal Navy. glass building was constructed on the site of the 33. Fleming Arms station building is now a privately-owned residence. a brisk run through open fields. We hurry past the former 17. The Anchor on the hill. Just as we enter a deep cutting, the tall spire site of Nursling Station (15) as we pass under the M27 Mediaeval West Quay waterfront area, next to the 18. The Ship Inn Swaythling of Christ Church (54) can be seen on the right. After Today, the river is used by a variety of small boats, and Mottisfont & Dunbridge still has a lovely country pub, motorway bridge, and again meet the River Test as we extensive remains of the Old Town walls, on land there are boatyards, moorings and marinas at this popular 16. Lower Test • Test Way 25. Millbrook 3 • Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail passing under three high road bridges, we then arrive at previously reclaimed from the sea in the 1930s. mins. the Mill Arms (6), right next to the station. American run alongside the Lower Test Nature Reserve (16). Nature Reserve Container (see ‘Walking from rail stations’ overleaf) Winchester Station. location. President Jimmy Carter once stayed here. In addition to Redbridge Terminal St. Denys liquid refreshment, the pub has an excellent reputation for We now call at Redbridge Station. Nearby are two local We pull away from Southampton Central Station, and Just beyond the river on the eastern bank there used to 31. The Dolphin its food and accommodation. real ale pubs; The Anchor (17), and The Ship Inn (18). almost immediately enter a tunnel that runs deep under 3 be a siding leading to Bursledon Brickworks Museum Millbrook 32. Junction Inn More adventurous passengers can alight here for a 30 the city centre. 2 mins. Bitterne (44) which can be glimpsed through the trees. 19. mins. From Mottisfont & minute walk to the historic Eling Tide Mill (19). 30. Northam Traincare Facility In commercial use from 1898 As we emerge into a narrow cutting, which in fact was Eling 3 3 Dunbridge you can walk mins. 5 mins. 29. St. Mary’s Stadium until 1961, it survives today built to be a , we glimpse sight of Southampton FC’s Tide Mill mins. to the village of Mottisfont, After joining the main London to Weymouth railway line, Southampton Woolston Hamble under the control of the which features the Grade I you can see on your right the massive Maritime impressive St. Mary’s Stadium (29) tucked away behind 44. Bursledon Central 42. Sholing Hampshire Buildings listed 12th century Church Freightliner Terminal and a large gas-holder. We then pass the Northam Traincare 21. Marchwood 3 Brickworks Town Quay mins. Valleys Preservation Trust as the last 20. Maritime Incinerator Hythe of St. Andrew (7), and locomotive sidings (20) Facility (30) on the right. This was built on the site of a Museum remaining example of a Freightliner 22. Marchwood Ferry Sholing & Mottisfont Abbey (8). which handles much of the former railway workshop, which closed way back in 1903. To Brockenhurst, Bursledon Terminal Power Miller’s Victorian steam-powered country’s imported goods. Bournemouth, Pond brickworks in the country. The Abbey is owned by the National Trust, and has within Station 3 C o m m u n i t y R a i l Partnership Watch out for the huge dock We then skirt the edge of the Poole mins. its stunning grounds a famous walled rose garden. You can 4 Open days are held throughout the year, and you can tidal section of the River Itchen; & Weymouth also join the Mottisfont Estate Walk from the station. cranes and tall ‘straddle- mins. 2 To Swanwick the last of the three rivers walk to the brickworks from Bursledon Station. carriers’, which move mins. and Fareham Bus links: containers around the port. making up our Community Rail A free bus leaves the station forecourt on Sundays and Partnership title. You may see Netley Hamble From Bursledon, the train takes you on to Swanwick, • Hamble Rail Fareham and beyond. certain Public Holidays during the summer, serving Heading into the suburbs of people strolling or cycling along Landmarks along the route are marked 26. Solent Flour Mills Isle of Wight Ferry Trail (see overleaf) Mottisfont Abbey (8), Horsebridge, Stockbridge, Southampton we run alongside the huge Western Docks the boardwalk that follows the with reference numbers. 27. IKEA Sir Harold Hillier Gardens (9) and Romsey Station. complex. shoreline. Please refer to the corresponding references 28. WestQuay 43. Royal Victoria (See www.threeriversrail.com for details). Country Park overleaf for further information. • Mayflower Theatre The silver-domed building, seen through the gaps in the Passing under ‘Horseshoe Bridge’, we arrive at St. Denys Leaving the station, we head southwestwards, passing containers, is Marchwood Station. Nearby are two local pubs; the The Dolphin Places in italics are close to the route, but the former site of Kimbridge Junction (10) where the Incinerator (21) located on (31), and the Junction Inn (32) - both a short walk cannot be seen from the train. 23. Cruise Terminals ‘The Sprat & Winkle’ line from Stockbridge and Andover, the other side of the river away. Approximate journey times between stations 24. Vehicle exports used to join. The trackbed is now converted to a estuary. Right next to it is the The original station here was once called ‘Portswood’, until are shown in red. footpath and cycle track forming part of the 44-mile long Marchwood Power Station that caused so much confusion with nearby Portsmouth, Test Way from Inkpen Beacon to Eling. (22). that the name was changed. We very soon arrive at another small suburban station - Our next stop is Millbrook Swaythling. Station, from which you may C o m m u n i t y R a i l Partnership

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