Cake-cutting and more at Hythe Pier Railway’s centenary celebrations
THE Hythe Pier Heritage Association has announced more details of the 100th birthday celebrations for the 2ft gauge Hythe Pier Railway, set to take place on July 23/24.
The 250V DC electrified 700-yard line opened in July 1922, carrying passengers to and from the ferry boats that ply to Southampton from the village of Hythe. A Guinness world record holder, it is the oldest electric train in the world continuously operating on a pier.
The line is operated by two fourwheeled electric locomotives built in 1917 by Brush. Works Nos. 16302 and 16307 and now carrying the numbers 2 and 1 respectively, the latter having been named Gerald Yorke.
Originally battery powered, they were supplied to the First World War mustard gas factory at Avonmouth and transferred to Hythe after the conflict, where they were converted to collect power from a third rail and had their batteries removed.
The centenary celebration will include the cutting of a birthday cake. HPHA, in conjunction with volunteers from the Hythe Shed (at the pier) and engineers from Blue Funnel Ferries, have been restoring a second carriage which is on course to be back on track, along with the first restored in 2021 and the first of the restored Brush locomotives.
Free rides along the pier will be available during the afternoon following the ceremony.
There will be an exhibition of model railways in the nearby community centre, with other heritage railway associations present in the village.
The shed is situated on the quay, just 50 yards from the pier, and will be open, with volunteers available to talk about the restoration work. Historic artefacts held at the shed will also be displayed. Other events are expected to be added to the programme.
The association will combine the celebration with its annual music festival, called Rock the Pier, which will be staged on the promenade behind Hythe’s High Street, commencing at 12.45pm and running until 7.30pm.
The festival showcases local musicians and raises much-needed funds for the organisation’s goal of fully restoring Hythe Pier and the railway.