‘Jack the Seaside Engine’ Comes of Age!
- Sun 9th Aug 2009
Celebration was the order of the day on Saturday 8th August at the Hayling Seaside Railway, when it’s premier passenger locomotive “Jack the Seaside Engine”, celebrated its 21st birthday.
Diesel powered “Jack” was delivered brand new to the former East Hayling Light Railway, which once ran within the grounds of the Mill Rythe Holiday Camp, on the 8th August 1988 (8-8-88). An auspicious date some would say, and certainly one that augured well for the 21 years of magic that he has since brought to generations of Hayling residents and holidaymakers. First on the original EHLR at Mill Rythe and then along the coast of Hayling Bay, when in 2002 the railway transferred lock, stock and barrel to its present one mile seaside route, between Beachlands (Funland) and Eastoke Corner via Mengham Road Halt.
So determined was the railway’s owner Bob Haddock to achieve his lifelong ambition to create a narrow gauge ‘light railway’, on Hayling Island where he spent much of his childhood. That with the full support of Marilyn his long suffering wife, he added the cost of the engine - several thousands of pounds even at 1988 prices - to the mortgage of his Cosham family home. Celebrating Saturday's anniversary along with “Jack” were just a small handful of the many volunteer railwaymen and women from the Hayling Railway Society, who have steadfastly worked alongside Bob during his 21 year railway adventure. Including Hayling Islanders Derek Burden, Ros Honeyman and Basil West. As well as Ian Edwards and Kevin Matthews, and teenage Junior Members Keith Edwards, Alex Luckham and Josh Raper.
The next landmark dates for the Hayling Seaside Railway are set to take place on Saturday and Sunday the 19th and 20th September, when the line take its next giant leap forward to host it’s first genuine ‘live’ steam locomotive!
Owned by the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust, and usually based at the historic Amberley Chalk Pits Museum near Arundel, West Sussex. “Wendy”, built by W.G. Bagnall of Stafford for the Ministry of Munitions in 1919. Is set to be guest of honour at a special ‘Steam and Goods Train Gala’, taking pride of place hauling regular passenger trains along the Hayling coastline. While industrial diesel locomotives including the HSR’s own veteran Ruston’s ‘Alistair’ and ‘Edwin’, will be showing their paces on a series of non passenger carrying goods trains.
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