The Ghost Train in Carters Steam Fair in Gosport

Gosport Railway Station looking derelict in the 1960s.

'All day long the Angel of Death has been hovering over Osbourne House. One could almost hear the beating of the wings, but at quarter past six those wings were folded and the Queen was at rest'.

These words were written by the Special Court Correspondant of The Time on 22nd January, 1901, the day Queen Victoria died.

Naturally all the British newspapers carried this as their main story, but what was surprising was the world wide coverage by newspapers from other countries. For example , the New York Tribune featured the story on the whole of its front page with pictures of the Late Queen and the new King Edward over the legend ' The Queen is dead. Long live the King'.

It went on to describe the nations grief and sorrow, the massive wave of sympsthy which was sweeping the country, the tributes not only from all over Europe but from countries and nations worldwide and here, at home in Britain, the hasty recall of both Houses of  Paliament to the Palace of Westminster. Straightaway plans began to be laid for one of the most unusual and remarkable railway journeys in history. 

Three different locomotives from three different railway companies hauled the train carrying the body of the Late Queen from Royal Clarence Yard in Gosport to London Victoria, and then from Paddington to Windsor. Because of the number of crowned heads of state and other royal important personages on the train along with all the security implications, the authorities decided that no photographers would be allowed access to any part of the route. The whole length of all the lines that the Royal Train traversed was patrolled by specially deligated railway employees, the result was that any photographs of the funeral are extremely rare.

The book is now available through local book sellers and from the author via this web site.  

Gosport Books Published by the Gosport Railway Society

Rails to the Yards 

The minor Railways of the Gosport Penninsular

Rails to the Pier

The story of the Stokes Bay Line

Rails to the Tower

The story of the Lee on the Solent Line

You are not Putting a Hole in My Wall

The Story of the line into Royal Clarence Yard

I Remember Gosport When

Memories from Gosport Station

Tales from the Rails

Memories of Gosports Railway System

Dr Edwin Course

The Gosport Railway Society was very proud to be invited to provide  one of the speakers at the Dr Edwin Course Memorial Lecture on Saturday 8th November at Bursledon Brickworks. The meeting was to celebrate the life of Edwin and the enormous amout of input that, during his lifetime, he made to the Industrial Archeology sphere in the area and also fo his tremendous knowledge of railways, something that he was always happy to share.

To an audience of over 60 Peter Keat spoke of the Society's long and happy association with Dr Course and he then, as requested told of the history of the Gosport line.Other speakers that afternoon spoke of Edwins involvement with Twyford Waterworks and the Itchen Navigation. Finally Profesor Ray Riley summed up Edwins life in the only way the Ray Riley could, with much affection and arye smile.

It was good to see Edwins widow, his son and daughter in law in the audience.

The Gosport Railway Society always had a wonderful relationship with Edwin, not just as a member and lecturer but also as a friend.