|
From “Dendy-Marshall”
The London and Southampton trunk railway was proposed in 1834, and included a propsal for branch to Bath and Bristol (up the Kennet Valley) as an alternative to a proposal by the GWR that had been rejected by Parliament, although the GWR scheme was later approved.
This explains why the London Southampton route is not direct, but has a dog leg to the north by going west towards Basingstoke, before swinging south. The L&SR had half an eye on a competitive with the GWR from London to Bristol.
The idea of connecting London and Southampton was considered commercially very odd in 1832 as there was no “manufacturing or commerce” at Southampton. (no mention of passengers) There were, of course, no Southampton docks yet.
The first section Nine Elms to Woking Common was opened in March 1863, and to Shapley (Winchfield) in September 1838. (Fame !) The whole route to Southampton was completed by 1840.
I wouldn’t argue that the local track alignment around Winchfield could have been dictated by a powerful landowner. But it is quite clear from the books that all the Victorian railway planners were thinking in very grand terms, and wouldn’t have been too worried about the effect of small towns on the way. Although as true capitalists, they did get very excited about running railways to racecourses such as Epsom, and opening in time for Derby Day special trains.
|