WW1 era station farewell photo

[lazonbytunnel]

Can anyone work out the location here from the limited info available? Eastleigh on the carriage and a small platform shelter roof in the distance.

 

[Gloster]

Possibly Portchester.

 

[lazonbytunnel]

Possibly Portchester.

Thanks Gloster, that’s a thought. The castellated shape of the roof has confused some Hampshire locals.

 

[Rescars]

Can't offer serious help with the location, I'm afraid, though a silly suggestion would be Rowlands Castle - justifying the castellated canopy. What a splendidly detailed photo of a LSWR third though. You can almost feel the summer heat. I assume it is the communication cord which is looped along the cantrail - conveniently inaccessible on the wrong side of the window as a discouragement for improper use!

 

[Gloster]

I have to make clear that Portchester is merely a ‘best guess’. It is based on the building being towards the rear of the train, the straight platform, the lack of much visible beyond the train (Portchester is on an embankment) and the possibility that the signal is Fareham West’s Down Starting Signal.

 

[Calthrop]

Can't offer serious help with the location, I'm afraid, though a silly suggestion would be Rowlands Castle - justifying the castellated canopy. What a splendidly detailed photo of a LSWR third though. You can almost feel the summer heat. I assume it is the communication cord which is looped along the cantrail - conveniently inaccessible on the wrong side of the window as a discouragement for improper use !

(My Italics) -- Tommy decides, "to hell with the idiot war -- I'm going to stay at home with my loved one", and employs communication cord accordingly; the £5 fine will be the least of his worries.

 

[Gloster]

I don’t think that this is necessarily from the Great War: it could be anywhen from ca. 1900 to ca. 1925, with much of the war being less likely due to the lack of soldiery and the quality. Look at the chap in the nearest compartment: he appears to be wearing military uniform of peacetime, probably pre-war, style, rather than khaki.

 

[Calthrop]

You're much more of a scholar of this stuff, than I am ! The fascination which the overall 1914 -- 18 ghastliness exerts on me, tends to be in inverse proportion to my detailed knowledge about it...

 

[Dr Hoo]

The shadow of what I presume is the top of a fence is quite distinctive. Is suggests a fence of crossed wooden slats, which is pretty unusual. Sun on the right shows it’s the South, so train obviously heading East to West. Such a long run of just the fence shadow suggests no buildings behind it, adding to the idea of an embankment-top location.

 

[AlterEgo]

How did you come by the photo? It may give a clue.

 

[lazonbytunnel]

How did you come by the photo? It may give a clue.

eBay purchase from a postcard dealer so no help unfortunately

 

[Gloster]

I am increasingly of the feeling that it is Portchester. I have found a photo, probably from the 1950s, from the same angle and the tree, railings, signal and shelter are all there. The awning is different, but that is easily explained. The one bugbear is that there is a footbridge visible: the 1895 6” map doesn’t show one, but the 1907 25” does and the style is one that was introduced somewhere around the turn of the century. So it is possible that the photo is 1907 or earlier.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jun 2025 ==

A search through the Circular of the South Western Circle (for once I found everything quickly) reveals that the type of footbridge at Portchester was first authorised to be erected (at Downton) in 1902.

So I reckon this is Portchester between 1902 and 1907.

 

[lazonbytunnel]

I am increasingly of the feeling that it is Portchester. I have found a photo, probably from the 1950s, from the same angle and the tree, railings, signal and shelter are all there. The awning is different, but that is easily explained. The one bugbear is that there is a footbridge visible: the 1895 6” map doesn’t show one, but the 1907 25” does and the style is one that was introduced somewhere around the turn of the century. So it is possible that the photo is 1907 or earlier.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jun 2025 ==

A search through the Circular of the South Western Circle (for once I found everything quickly) reveals that the type of footbridge at Portchester was first authorised to be erected (at Downton) in 1902.

So I reckon this is Portchester between 1902 and 1907.

Thanks Gloster, good work.

 

[stuving]

On 7th January 1908, the Portsmouth Evening News reported that "as the result of the succession of accidents which have occurred from time to time at Portchester Railway Station, the authorities have prevailed upon the Company to erect a footbridge over the line. The work has been steadily proceeding for some months, and will be completed in the course of a week or so."

One of those accidents was also much reported in 1907; a menagerie proprietor (not an occupation you see much these days) was killed while crossing the tracks. His widow sued the L&SWR, but of course her suit was dismissed after the company pointed out that the approaching express train would have been visible by Mr Manders while half a mile away. However, at the inquest the jury had expressed the view that a safer way of crossing the line should be provided.