Southern themed heritages railways

[M7R]

Hello hive mind, this might be a relatively easy one for some… which heritage railways are Southern themed?

We have visited a number of GWR ones while on holidays, MR ones as we are based in the midlands and even a couple of LNER ones, but no Southern ones yet so that’s our next task.. but we want to work out which ones we can get to easily for either a day out or make a weekend of it and camp near them so long as it isn’t a million hours to get there from Leicestershire.

Thanks

 

[30907]

Bluebell, Watercress, Swanage, plus the Isle of Wight (slightly niche for obvious reasons); the Kent and East Sussex is in Southern territory but I'm not sure they would call themselves Southern.

 

[M7R]

Brill thanks, the first three I thought were, will look up the Kent and East Sussex and see… the main reason is my wife collects the fridge magnets that look like totems but we don’t have any Southern and she wants at least 1 for the collection this year.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

... the main reason is my wife collects the fridge magnets that look like totems but we don’t have any Southern and she wants at least 1 for the collection this year.

Can these fridge magnet items not be sourced online?

 

[paul1609]

Bluebell, Watercress, Swanage, plus the Isle of Wight (slightly niche for obvious reasons); the Kent and East Sussex is in Southern territory but I'm not sure they would call themselves Southern.

The Kent & East Sussex was never part of the Southern Railway as it remained independent until nationalisation in 1948. We do have totem fridge magnets but they are blue being the colour of the original Rother Valley Railway. They are available for all the stations from Tenterden down to Robertsbridge Junction plus a Kent & East Sussex railway one.

 

[M7R]

Can these fridge magnet items not be sourced online?

Surprisingly not easily, but where’s the fun in buying them on line? She uses them as a log of where we have been too.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Surprisingly not easily, but where’s the fun in buying them on line?

There is that, I suppose, and not everything is listed online, on the likes of Ebay.

 

[Cowley]

Bluebell, Watercress, Swanage, plus the Isle of Wight (slightly niche for obvious reasons); the Kent and East Sussex is in Southern territory but I'm not sure they would call themselves Southern.

I’ll also add the Spa Valley Railway to the list. There are a few smaller outfits too of course.

 

[bishdunster]

Hello hive mind, this might be a relatively easy one for some… which heritage railways are Southern themed?

We have visited a number of GWR ones while on holidays, MR ones as we are based in the midlands and even a couple of LNER ones, but no Southern ones yet so that’s our next task.. but we want to work out which ones we can get to easily for either a day out or make a weekend of it and camp near them so long as it isn’t a million hours to get there from Leicestershire.

Thanks

Several campsites near the Swanage Railway, and some good pubs too .

 

[30907]

The Kent & East Sussex was never part of the Southern Railway as it remained independent until nationalisation in 1948. We do have totem fridge magnets but they are blue being the colour of the original Rother Valley Railway.

Thanks, that's as I suspected.

I’ll also add the Spa Valley Railway to the list.

Wasn't sure how "Southern" that was, despite the location - but it's conveniently located between the Bluebell and the KESR.

 

[Cowley]

Wasn't sure how "Southern" that was, despite the location - but it's conveniently located between the Bluebell and the KESR.

I must admit that I haven’t visited it yet but they seem to be fairly ‘green’ from what I’ve seen online.

 

[ajs]

Southern Railway themed Lynton & Barnstable Railway. North Devon yes but line and locos originally Southern and it’s narrow guage.

 

[32475]

Thanks, that's as I suspected.

Wasn't sure how "Southern" that was, despite the location - but it's conveniently located between the Bluebell and the KESR.

The Kent & East Sussex currently has Battle of Britain class 257 Squadron steaming on certain days until early June (see KESR website). So that makes it even more Southern!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Apr 2023 ==

Brill thanks, the first three I thought were, will look up the Kent and East Sussex and see… the main reason is my wife collects the fridge magnets that look like totems but we don’t have any Southern and she wants at least 1 for the collection this year.

If it’s fridge magnet inspiration you are seeking, Mrs 32475 is similarly afflicted and the side of our fridge bears testimony to this condition……

 

[ajs]

Have not been to Watercress Line for a few years but have never seen any Watercress Line station fridge magnets there- although looked for them on many occasions. Do they do them?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Have not been to Watercress Line for a few years but have never seen any Watercress Line station fridge magnets there- although looked for them on many occasions. Do they do them?

Might be something available from their Alresford Station Gift shop, but if not, you'd instead have to order something online, specially personalised to meet your particular requirements.

 

[John Luxton]

Lynton & Barnstaple - you should see Woody Bay Station in its Southern magnificence.

 

[32475]

We mustn’t forget the Isle of Wight Steam Railway which is probably as purely southern as it gets.

 

[Cymroglan]

Should you be veering into Somerset & Dorset Railway territory, both Shillingstone station and Midsomer Norton carry an extensive range of green totem fridge magnets for most (or all) stations on the old line. Also, a few years ago, Holmsley station tea rooms in the New Forest sold a Holmsley green version.

 

[341o2]

Regarding former stations, there is the Avon Causeway, Hurn, Christchurch, and the Station Kitchen, Bridport
Not sure whether they sell totems
Likewise, Okehampton station
Seaton? I know it is now a tramway, but it was formerly a Southern branch line

 

[B&W]

I’ll also add the Spa Valley Railway to the list. There are a few smaller outfits too of course.

Spa has a genuine (only one left?) LBSCR engine shed that has a Terrier being overhauled in it - shed normally open on running days
Also has a 73, 207 DEMU and CIG
SpVR side of Eridge station is depicted in Southern Colours with BR(S) totems, the GTR side is in their Green house colours
This week I was driving a 33 with 4 green MK1s, sharing trains with steam loco
If you are into nature, it runs in mixed green countryside, yesterday we had Buzzards, other birds of Prey, Foxes, and because nearby Ashdown Forest has been culling deer, on Tuesday we counted nearly 100 deer in various hind/stag groups. The large white Fallow stag that has been around locally for several years now has quite a few white young stags and hinds. Into Birds? RSPB has a large reserve as well.
I often feel the Souths Heritage railways do not promote this kind of attraction nearly enough.

 

[wce]

Southern Railway themed Lynton & Barnstable Railway. North Devon yes but line and locos originally Southern and it’s narrow guage.

Actually it was originally built independently and apart from Lew which the SR ordered the locos and stock were inherited at grouping.

That said though you are correct that it does represent a SR narrow gauge line - albeit one they closed.

 

[Titfield]

Bluebell, Watercress, Swanage, plus the Isle of Wight (slightly niche for obvious reasons); the Kent and East Sussex is in Southern territory but I'm not sure they would call themselves Southern.

The Shillingstone Station Project is another one to visit if you are in the Dorset area (say visiting Swanage) though it is SDJR.

 

[John Luxton]

Regarding former stations, there is the Avon Causeway, Hurn, Christchurch, and the Station Kitchen, Bridport
Not sure whether they sell totems
Likewise, Okehampton station
Seaton? I know it is now a tramway, but it was formerly a Southern branch line

Colyton Station has been nicely restored at the northern end of the tramway.

Also there is Crediton served by Okehampton and Barnstaple bound trains. That has been restored to its London and South Western Railway colours with historical displays and is maintained by a local group.

There is are also SR stations at Bideford and Torrington which are SR. Torrington has recently taken delivery of a GWR Pacer. Both have short running tracks too.

Barnstaple (Junction) though rather rationalised is also well maintained and in SR colours with replica signage.