Hayling Island branch line

The line would continue to Sinah Point, at the extreme western tip of the island; it would cross mudflats passing some distance to the west of the hard ground, and enabling the reclamation of substantial areas of land.Nevertheless, a limited start was made, and by August 1864 the first part of the line, as far as Langstone Quay was ready; this was opened to goods trains on 19 January 1865.Fuller noted that the railway construction across the mudflats was prohibitively expensive, and he had the line resurveyed, to reroute it across hard ground.An inspection of the line for the Board of Trade, required for public passenger operation, took place on 4 July 1867, but here were numerous shortcomings and approval was refused.However the London Brighton and South Coast railway (LBSCR) agreed to lease the line from January 1872, and Furness's operation came to an end.[11] Its low carrying capacity was always a severe limitation on the rolling stock on the line, and caused the small Terrier locomotives to be the mainstay of the engine power fleet.The single class coach was not popular as it had insufficient accommodation for the heavy traffic in the summer months, so during this period normal train operation was reinstated.During World War II armaments delivered to the Island had to be dismantled at Langstone and transferred to railway vehicles, for transport by rail over the waterway.[20][15][21] In the final years of operation, the branch line passenger service consisted of 15 journeys Monday to Friday, 24 on Saturday and 21 on Sunday.Although the line was marginally profitable, deterioration of the swing bridge and timber viaduct at Langstone was going to necessitate renewal at a cost of £400,000, and this was considered unaffordable.In 1883 she was sold to the Isle of Wight Marine Transit Company, who started up a rail freight ferry link between Bembridge Harbour and a newly constructed wharf near to the Hayling railway bridge.[25] The intention was to enable the transport of coal and other bulk commodities to the island, and cattle from it, by rail without the double transshipment that was otherwise necessary to cross the Solent.[26] Carrier made her first Isle of Wight trip on 14 July 1885 from Langstone to Brading; she successfully transported 12 wagons loaded with merchandise and weighing 160 tons.However, by December 1886, the Isle of Wight company was in financial trouble, due to very light demand for the service, and the London Brighton and South Coast Railway agreed to hire the Carrier and the quays to keep the operation running.