Sandown

Decline and Modernisation

Throughout the years, the highly seasonal nature of passenger traffic on the island saw trains at bursting point during the summer, but the railway network lied almost dormant in the winter months. Out of season, the sidings at Sandown could be seen full of mothballed locomotives, which would come alive once again when the holidaymakers returned. Unfortunately, in the earliest years of some of those lines which crossed the island, peak season traffic was still not enough to generate positive returns. Indeed, closure of lines under British Railways auspices began with little delay:

Merstone to Ventnor West: 15th September 1952
Brading to Bembridge: 21st September 1953
Newport to Freshwater: 21st September 1953
Newport to Sandown: 6th February 1956

Sandown thus lost junction status, and it also appears that around the same period, the huge building of 1893, south of the main station structure, was razed to the ground. The small platform canopy which was sprouted from the building was also demolished, but ten years of steam operation remained. By this time, Cowes and Newport to Ryde, and Ryde to Ventnor, were the last operational lines on the island. The Beeching Report, formally published on 27th March 1963, included the closure of both routes. Fierce opposition to the proposals could not prevent all intended cuts, but it was eventually agreed that the Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin section of line could be retained, and this was confirmed by the Minister of Transport in July 1965. Closures were thus:

Smallbrook Junction to Cowes: 18th February 1966
Shanklin to Ventnor: 18th April 1966

Goods traffic officially ceased at Sandown on 15th November 1965, and in the same month, electrification of the Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin line was authorised. Steam-hauled services continued between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin until 31st December 1966, after which the line was temporarily closed for further electrification works to take place (third rail had already been laid by this time). Pier Head station saw its last steam service on 17th September, and had earlier closed for partial reconstruction to take place. As mentioned in the Shanklin section, London Transport had made available redundant Northern City Line Underground stock, which would be suitable for the restricted loading gauge of the island’s remaining line. The tracks at stations were heightened to ensure that the low floors of the Tube vehicles met the tops of the platforms, and withdrawal of goods facilities allowed layouts to be simplified. The new electric timetable came into effect on the re-opened line on 20th March 1967.

The former Newport platform loop at Sandown lost its southern connection with the running line, and thereafter was retained as an engineers’ siding. A truncated spur from the incoming branch did, however, remain a feature. Double-track was retained between here and Brading, and Sandown’s signal box controlled the single-track to Shanklin. At the latter, the signal box was opened only at very busy periods in the high season, when both platforms at Shanklin were brought into use. Electrification had been kind to Sandown, for not only did it retain its main building and signal box, but both canopies, on the ‘’down’’ side and ‘’up’’ island, remained complete. The retention of the latter was perhaps a little surprising, given that the island had lost one operational platform face on the conversion of the loop to a siding. Sadly, further rationalisation did eventually occur, and in 1978 the island platform lost its extensive, but crumbling, canopy. This was replaced by a glazed bus shelter affair. The ‘’down’’ side canopy was severely pruned to bring it within the limits of the main station building – exactly the same occurred at nearby Shanklin. In 1988, work began on a re-signalling of the line, which would reduce the Brading to Sandown section to single-track, and allow the signal box at the latter to close, all control being transferred to the cabin at Ryde St Johns Road. After 30th October 1988, Sandown signal box assumed the relegated status of a ground frame: complete closure came on 25th March of the following year.

At the present time, consideration is being given to running steam services from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, into Ryde St Johns Road station. Network Rail has stated this may be possible if the line’s passing loop is moved from Sandown to Brading, which may see the former revert to its original 1864 state as a single platform affair.

January 1990

Colourful Class 03 No. 03179 is seen stabled at the end of the engineers' siding, formerly the platform loop for

the Newport branch. This diesel shunter joined the permanent way department at Ryde St Johns Road in January

1989, and was in the company of a second Class 03, No. 03079. Both were sold back to the mainland in 1998,

No. 03079 being preserved and No. 03179 being purchased for use at Hornsey Depot, London. No. 03079 had

earlier arrived on the island in 1984, replacing Class 05 No. 97803. © David Glasspool Collection

13th June 2006

An obvious absence since the 1990 view is that of the signal box, but little else has changed. The engineers'

siding can be seen in the distance, trailing off the ''up'' line. A new entrance to the ''up'' platform had been

opened up by this time, and this emerges through the brown fence on the left, in the foreground. This saw

the shortening of the siding. © David Glasspool

13th June 2006

Like that at Shanklin, the main building of 1864 remains fully intact, complete with later additions made in about

1893. The headquarters of the Isle of Wight Railway, it is thought this company's main offices were in fact located

in a now demolished building formerly beyond the left extreme of this photograph. © David Glasspool

13th June 2006

A southward view shows the loop converging to single-track, which the line remains all the way to, and including,

Shanklin. This stretch of line was formerly controlled from Sandown signal box, but since 1988 has been signalled

from the cabin at Ryde St Johns Road. © David Glasspool

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