Station Name: WICKHAM

 

[Source: Nick Catford]


Date opened: 1.7.1903
Location: At the end of a short approach road
Company on opening: London & South Western Railway
Date closed to passengers: 7.2.1955
Date closed completely: 30.4.1962
Company on closing: British Railways (Southern Region)
Present state: The station buildings have been demolished and although the platforms are still there the gap between them has been infilled.
County: Hampshire
OS Grid Ref: SU576118
Date of visit: April 1968, July 1975 and February 1983

Notes: The Meon Valley Railway closed to passengers in 1955 but goods traffic remained on two severed sections of the line. At the north end traffic continued to Farringdon and at the south to Droxford. The track in-between was lifted. The goods service to Wickham & Droxford finished in 1962 while that to Farringdon continued until 1968.

After closure of the southern section by BR the line was taken over by Charles Ashby who was developing the 'Pacerailer' railbus. He had his base at Droxford Station. In 1965 The Southern Locomotive Preservation Company moved some of their stock to Droxford in the hope that the remaining section of track could be reopened as a preserved line. In January 1969 this was looking unlikely following continued vandalism at the station which caused considerable damage to the Pacerailer.

When BR decided to close Knowle Junction the Preservation Company moved their stock to the Bluebell Railway with the last railed vehicle running on the line in April 1973.

By 1975 the track had been lifted and Wickham Station building had been demolished. The platforms were still intact in 1983 but since that date the gap between them has been infilled.

11 miles of the Meon Valley Railway is now a public footpath and cycle track between Knowle Junction and West Meon. For details see Rural Rides web site.

For further reading see The Meon Valley Railway by R. A. Stone - Kingfisher Railway Publications 1983 - ISBN 0 946184 04 6.



Wickham Station in the early 20th Century



Wickham Station in April 1968
P
hoto by Nick Catford

Wickham Station looking south in January 1983. The station building was in the clearing on the right.
P
hoto by Nick Catford

The site of Wickham Station looking north in January 2009
P
hoto by Carlos Tilbury

1955

April 1962

1968

1968

1968

1968

1960's

1975

Click on thumbnail to enlarge


 

 

 

[Source: Nick Catford]


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