Do you still remember the day when Chandler’s Ford train station was opened?
It was exactly 10 years ago.
This year, Chandler’s Ford Train Station is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
I found these memorable pictures which marked the remarkable day in the history of Chandler’s Ford.
John Ryoo took the photos and he shared them on Flickr with this description: “Eastleigh to Salisbury special to mark the Chandler’s Ford station opening. Train was hauled by “Union of South Africa,” which was a last-minute substitution. 19 Oct 2003.”
I asked John to tell me what he saw on the day when Chandler’s Ford station was officially opened on 19 October 2003 by the television gardening presenter Charlie Dimmock.
John replied, “The rail tour was going to use a different locomotive which was not as famous as Union of South Africa. This was a very fortunate last-minute substitution and on the day it was planned to run the train at full line speed between Romsey and Salisbury, which I believe it did. it certainly felt like it.”
“I had my mother visiting for the weekend and both she and my partner came along for the ride.”
“I remember the train was very late departing from Eastleigh. There were many people on the platform waiting to board. Suddenly there was an air of anticipation as we all first heard the whistle in the distance and then finally saw the plumes of smoke in the distance as the train approached Eastleigh.”
“Along the route from Eastleigh to Romsey there were many people at the gates and fences waiting to cheer us on.”
“For me it was the first time I had travelled on that section of the route and it felt really good to be on rail tour to mark the opening of a line rather than the closing of one.”
Credit to JohnRyoo83. You can find these pictures and many more interesting rail pictures on his Flickr page.
Related posts:
- New Chandler’s Ford – Southampton Airport Parkway Station Bus Service
- Friendly Touch At Chandler’s Ford Train Station
- In Love With Chandler’s Ford Coffee Shops
- Reminiscing The Old Chandler’s Ford Train Station
- Why Not Pick Up A Good Book At Chandler’s Ford Train Station?
- Chandler’s Ford Train Station Re-opening
- Historical Pictures: Chandler’s Ford Train Station Opened 10 Years Ago
- Chandler’s Ford In Pictures 2013
- Reminiscing The Old Chandler’s Ford Train Station
- 10th Anniversary: Celebrating Chandler’s Ford Station Re-opening
- Historical Pictures: Chandler’s Ford Train Station Opened 10 Years Ago
The pedantic and train-buff sides of me have to point out that the station was actually re-opened ten yeas ago, having been originally opened in 1847 (and closed in 1969).
I’m also reminded of a conversation some years earlier:
“Where was Chandler’s Ford station?”
“Near the Central Precinct.”
“Oh yes, I know; near the railway.”
“Yes, well spotted. Surprisingly the station was near the railway.”
Dear Ruby,
Thank you for your input. I quite like your sense of humour too.
Feel free to write a post about the Chandler’s Ford old railway. I’ll link it with this piece.