Cowes

Cowes station opened with the Cowes & Newport Railway in 1862 and was closed when all traffic was withdrawn by British Railways in 1966. During that time it had served the town faithfully, though not necessarily speedily, with passengers being able to enjoy greater comfort than was available on the competing, and cheaper, road transport.

Not many Railways managed to persuade the banks to give them some free advertising but in Cowes the National Provincial Bank had a sign directing people towards the station!

Photographed in 1963, did the name “;Southern Railway” manage to survive until closure of the line?

photograph by Keith Harwood

Having climbed up the slope, passengers were faced with a further climb up the steps to the right of this picture to reach the booking office and trains. Two more Southern Railway signs still adorn the front of the building in 1963. Note the rather forlorn looking “Road Up” sign, despite no sign of roadworks!

photograph by Keith Harwood

Having finished their long climb passengers were greeted with this spacious and airy booking hall. The steps up from the road are on the far left of this picture.

photograph by Keith Harwood

Cowes platform ticket.

photograph by Richard Neal

Between trains at Cowes. Although the station boasted three platforms, one was usually sufficient to cater for the traffic by the time this photograph was taken in 1963. Trains normally arrived and departed from the platform on the right - the wagons on the far right are in the dock road. The platform in the middle was hardly used after 1956 (except for mail trains) and that on the left could be used for departures, but not arrivals.

photograph by Keith Harwood

Cowes station taken from the footbridge and looking towards the buffer stops and booking hall.

photograph by Keith Harwood

All photographs are copyright

This page was last updated 3 December 2002