The Sandown Bay Branchline | The Railway That Almost Was

Brilliant work

Another obscurity brought to light after all these years. If only ...

I lived on the island for 7 years and never knew about this proposed line, thank you.

That first map also shows a different route into Ventnor - one following the main road beyond Wroxall rather than heading inland towards Wroxall Farm and the long tunnel, perhaps a different terminus too - and is further east through Whitefield Woods. An earlier proposal than the one approved?

Another super video Jack, never got to explore Sandown & Shanklin in more detail back in May this year. Also never got a trip on the Island line either . Definitely next time I’am on Isle of Wight. It’s such a stunning Island.I’ll be back!

That's great to watch Jack and would have been interesting if it had happened. Wasn't there also some sort of plan for a link from Ventnor down to the sea, or am I imagining that?

Very interesting...the suggested pier seems interesting, given the naval presence in the area, providing a possible railway link to any anchorage. Another possible option for the station could be v shaped station trailing down to the pier line....

An interesting video, thanks for posting. Seeing the map of the whole line reminds me how much of a loss the closure of Shanklin to Ventnor has been; especially in view of the number of landslides in the area. Your previous video put the case very well.

Read 'The Great Isle of Wight Train Robbery' by R.E.Burroughs years ago, about how the closure of lines was implemented on purpose, using fictitious or manipulated passenger data and collusion with the Bus Companies. If you can get hold of a copy, worth a look. Skulduggery was alive and kicking even in the 50's.

Interesting and very well made.

The original OS route would have been just one massive cutting, although it was interesting the terminus would have been on the site of my old home in Avenue Road. the Maycock and Silsbury route makes more sense from a civil engineering point of view, but not an operational one.

Excellent viewing. Thanks Jack!

Another interesting video Jack, thanks for sharing. The station where I used to live is a fair walk up hill to the village but I don’t think they were originally going to have one but a local landowner would only allow the railway to go through his land if they built a station together with a private entrance near his house. 💙🧶🌈🍓

Good evening Jack, you make an interesting comment about station's being some distance from a town or village. Micheldever station is about 5 kilometre's from the village its self. A long walk on a wet night, I hope my conversion is correct. Regarded. Andrew.

Fascinating, the first I've ever heard about this line.

Nice one Jack, how about a video on the proposed Shanklin and Chale Railway? My model layout is inspired by this.