Time Capsules - Old Photographs from the past

30089 at Winchester railway station in 1958

Prominent in this photograph is the Southern Railway Adams/Drummond Class B4 0-4-0 tank locomotive, of an LSWR dock shunter design, mainly intended for use at Southampton docks and based at Eastleigh.

The station was built in 1839 by the London and South Western Railway (then the London and Southampton Railway), and was the temporary terminus for the Winchester to Southampton section. It was opened on the 10th June 1839. The following year, a line was built joining Winchester and Basingstoke, and the line was complete, making this a through station in 1840. This 2-platform station is still in use and every passenger train that passes through stops there.

Between 1949 and 1966, while the Western Region of British Railways operated another station to the eastern side of Winchester called Winchester Chesil, this station was renamed Winchester City, but has now regained its original name.

People began to settle in Winchester about 150BC, when a large defended enclosure was created on the western slopes of the modern city, in the area of Oram's Arbour. Since that time, great kings and bishops have left lasting reminders of their presence. During Saxon times, Winchester was the capital of England - chosen by King Alfred (Alfred the Great) - and the city remained a Royal residence for centuries afterwards.

Photo © The Step Back Through Time Collection
Text courtesy of Peter Langsdale