Origins of the Line

The Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway Company, which later became the original Mid Hants Railway, opened the line in 1865. It started from Alton where it connected with the London and South Western Railway line to Guildford and later to London via Pirbright Junction and Woking. There were three intermediate stations, at Ropley, Alresford and Itchen Abbas. A fourth station, Medstead and Four Marks, was added later. The other end of the line connected with the LSWR main route from London to Southampton, at Winchester Junction, north of Winchester City Station. From the outset services were operated by the LSWR, which eventually absorbed the line in 1884. In 1923 the line formed part of the Southern Railway, which became the Southern Region of British Railways at nationalisation in 1948.

Following closure by British Railways in 1973 the track between Ropley and Alton, and Alresford to Winchester Junction, was lifted. That between Ropley and Alresford was left in place for the time being. The Winchester and Alton Railway, later to become the present Mid Hants Railway, was formed with the intention of re-opening the whole line under independent ownership. Unfortunately financial constraints forced the section west of Alresford to Itchen Abbas and Winchester Junction to be abandoned. However, the line was re-opened between Alresford and Ropley four years later in 1977. After the lifted track was reinstated services were re-established to Medstead in 1983 and to Alton in 1985.

 

 

Alresford - early morning - 07:25 April 16th 2005

 

The telecom department is an all volunteer one comprising of either current or retired GPO/BT/Openreach employees.

 

Due to work commitments and the railway being a busy seven day operation there is back up should there be a major service affecting problem during weekday office hours, otherwise everything is done in house.

 

For a description of the operation of Strowger exchanges visit the Dean Forest Railway Telecoms site.

 

 

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