The 10 1/4 inch gauge Royal Victoria railway at Netley in Hampshire has recently completed a new station with an overall roof and two platforms. Trains will eventually start from the new station, before passing through the existing sheds and joining the main line. Some trackwork needs to be completed before the new station is brought into use.
Services were being operated by D1000 ‘Western Independence’, built by David Curwen in 1964 for the Margate Pier Railway. A second locomotive No 3 ‘Trevithick’ an 0-6-2 built in 1976 was on display outside the shed.
‘Western Independence’ at the Royal Victoria. Picture by Jonathan James.
A number of other locomotives are based at the railway including No2 ‘Basil the Brigadier’ a 2-6-0 + 0-6-2 Garrett built in 1938 for the Surrey Border & Camberley Railway. The locomotive is on display in the new station and is occasionally steamed, although it is not suitable for operation on the line owing to the tight curves.
‘Basil the Brigadier’ at the Royal Victoria. Picture by Jonathan James.
A Royal Scot 4-6-0 No 6100 is also being restored and is on static display in the new station. This was built by Bassett Lowke for Captain Howey and later worked at Hastings and at Oakhill Manor.
Locomotive No 4 ‘Isambard Kingdom Brunel’ 2-6-0, was under repair in the sheds. This was built by David Curwen in 1977 for the Age of Steam railway in Cornwall. A similar locomotive No 5 ‘Peter the Private’ is under construction and is based on ‘Isambard Kingdom Brunel’.
New trackwork at the Royal Victoria Railway. Pictiue by Jonathan James.
Trains run every weekend throughout the year, dependent on weather conditions, as well as Bank Holidays and school holidays. The railway is about a 10-minute walk from Netley station.
Jonathan James
