A Further Look at Southampton's Quayside Railways

Southampton has long been famous for its docks, but the port also spreads along the banks of the rivers Test and Itchen.  Here, lesser wharves have seen their share of rail traffic, and along the whole waterfront, cargoes were moved for over a hundred years by a varied assortment of locomotives working behind the scenes.

In this second book about Southampton’s industrial and minor railways, Dave Marden has included locations that are slightly further afield, although still within the Southampton area.

The book also features non-steam traction and narrow gauge lines, and while some of the subjects might be a little removed from the more recognisable classes of locomotive, their diversity of design and employment makes them all the more interesting.  Some of the lines covered in the previous book have been revisited, particularly those where steam power was superseded by diesel.

The two volumes together present a useful and informative guide to the railways and locomotives that have graced Southampton’s waterside – not always attractive but certainly honest and valued workhorses that played such an important role in the city’s industrial development and history.