Stokes Bay Line
The Stokes Bay Line was a one and a half mile long Stokes Bay Railway and Pier Company built branch railway line that ran between a junction on the Fareham to Gosport Line just west of Gosport to Stokes Bay and a pier for a steamer service to the Isle of Wight via one intermediate station, Gosport Road and Alverstoke.[1]
History
After two abortive attempts to build the line in 1846 and 1854 it was finally authorised on 14 August 1855. Opened on 6 April 1863 the line saw limited traffic until an east curve was constructed in 1865 allowing direct access from Fareham rather than reversing from Gosport. Another difficulty for the line and its steamer service was the lack of a direct service from London until the line was sold to the London and South Western Railway in 1875 who opened a direct service.
The steamer service was suspended at the start of the First World War although the line remained open until 1 November 1915. The line was not reopened and Stokes Bay to Gosport Road was sold to the Admiralty in 1922. The section from Gosport Road to Gosport remained in use for wagon storage until 1930 when the line was abandoned and the track removed.
The route today
As at 2011 the site of the station at Gosport Road is occupied by housing development. Most of the route south to Stokes Bay is now a public footpath. There is no trace of the station or pier at Stokes Bay.