Hayling Seaside Railway owner takes charge of business sale

HAYLING Seaside Railway founder Bob Haddock is inviting wouldbe buyers of the line to talk to him directly.

The asking price for the mile-long seafront 2ft gauge line includes locomotives and all rolling stock, tools and machinery, the lease from Havant Borough Council and the goodwill, as reported in issue 257.

Bob was a member of the society which in the mid-1980s attempted to reinstate the LBSCR ‘Hayling Billy’ line, famous for its use of ‘Terrier’0-6-0ts.however,havant Borough Council had already decided to turn the disused railway line into a cycleway and footpath which precluded any chance of rebuilding the line as standard gauge.

Bob established the East Hayling Light Railway at Mill Rythe Holiday

Camp in 1988, and following its closure, work began in October 2001 on the new line and the building of Beachlands station on land leased from the neighbouring Funland Amusement Park. The line finally opened to passengers on July 5, 2003 as the Hayling Seaside Railway.

The railway has two locomotives of its own – Jack, an Alan Keefe steam outline diesel hydraulic and Alan B, a totally rebuilt Motor Rail diesel hydraulic. The fleet also includes two other locomotives which are privately-owned, plus five bogie coaches, enabling up to 90 people to enjoy the trip at 7½mph and carries around 40,000 people per year.

➜ Anyone interested in buying the railway is invited to contact Bob on 07534 967090 or email bob.haddock@hotmail.co.uk