Bishops Waltham branch

Bishop's Waltham branch
Overview
StatusClosed
LocaleHampshire
South East England
Stations3
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)London and South Western Railway
History
Opened1 June 1863
Closed27 April 1962
Technical
Line length3.8 miles
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Bishops Waltham branch
Gas works
Line to Clay pits
Bishops Waltham
Calcot Lane bridge
Blind Lane / Durley Mill crossing
Durley Halt
Wangfield Lane bridge (demolished)
Botley

The Bishop's Waltham branch was a railway line in Hampshire, England. It was made by a locally promoted independent company, the Bishop's Waltham Railway company. It ran from Bishop's Waltham to Botley on the Eastleigh–Fareham line of the London and South Western Railway (LSWR). The line opened on 1 June 1863.

Passenger business was never heavy, but clay pits and a brickworks and gasworks at Bishop's Waltham brought mineral traffic to the line. Nevertheless the BWR Company was always short of money and had to be supported by the LSWR, and was absorbed by the larger company in 1881.

Competition from road transport led to dwindling passenger carryings, and the line closed to passengers in 1933. A basic goods service continued, but the line closed completely in 1962.