It’s 50 Years Since The Last Train Ran Over The Guildford To Horsham Line

Published on: 12 Jun, 2015
Updated on: 5 Jul, 2015

The Guildford to Horsham branch line closed exactly 50 years ago, with the final train on Sunday, June 13, 1965.

Down Guildford to Horsham train at Bramley and Wonersh on June 12, 1965, the last day of public services on the line. Picture: Richard Halton collection.

Apart from the hordes of railway enthusiasts who crowded the stations, stood beside the line along the route or travelled on the final trains, did many other people pay much attention? Possibly not, because passenger numbers had dwindled over the years.

It had to close. Britain’s railways had been in a terrible state after the Second World War. They were nationalised in 1948, but within a decade more and more people were choosing alternative forms of transport. Into the 1960s and car ownership was growing.

The nation’s railway was struggling financially and the government appointed Dr Richard Beeching as chairman of the British Railways Board in 1961. He soon set to work and in 1963 published his report The Reshaping of British Railways – which became known as the ‘Beeching Report’.

Regarded by many as controversial, he proposed the closure of one-third of the UK’s 7,000 railway stations. Passenger services would be withdrawn from around 5,000 route miles saving £18 million per year. Railway jobs were to go too – about 70,000 over three years.

Baynards station in 1960. Picture supplied by Ben Darnton.

The Horsham to Guildford branch line was one of those that was axed. It had been built by the Horsham & District Railway Company, and opened on October 2, 1865. It lasted three months short of 100 years.

The regular timetabled service trains remained steam-hauled for the entire time of its existence. During the First World War it played a useful role transporting men and equipment to the South Coast and on to France.

Traffic levels continued to decline after the Second World War, and following a national strike by train drivers in 1955, pre-strike traffic levels never returned.

The timetable did the line no favours to passengers either. It was often the case that mainline trains arrived at Horsham just after branch line trains had departed for Guildford. When those trains reached Cranleigh, they would then have to wait there for anything up to 15 minutes as Guildford station was busy with its mainline trains.

One of the Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T locos used on the line. Richard Halton collection.

At the time of closure there were six through trains each week day between Horsham and Guildford and return, although the ‘Saturday only’ service had a different spread of trains compared to Monday to Friday, with an earlier last service.

Some of those who campaigned against lines such as this one being closed, claimed that timetables were deliberately arranged, which therefore discouraged passengers from travelling, and so justifying closure.

The line was proposed for closure on November 11, 1963, but due to objections and a public inquiry, closure was deferred until June 14, 1965.

The final service train departed from Guildford at 7.34pm on Saturday, June 12, 1965, hauled by Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T loco. No. 41287, and increased from the usual three coaches to a six-coach formation to accommodate approximately 400 passengers that including many enthusiasts.

The Railway Enthusiasts Club special at Cranleigh on June 12, 1965. Picture: Richard Halton collection.

Prior to the departure of the final service train, an enthusiasts’ three-coach special train ran over the full length of the line from Guildford to Horsham and returned to Guildford later in the evening. Sponsored by the Railway Enthusiasts Club, of Farnborough, the train, hauled by “Q1” Class 0-6-0 loco. No. 33006, departed Guildford at 6.55pm and arrived at Horsham at 7.49pm. The return train departed Horsham at 8.34pm and arrived back at Guildford at 9.23pm.

A separate special enthusiasts train called The Wealdsman, travelled over the line on Sunday, June 13, 1965, from Horsham to Guildford as part of a wider railtour, double-headed by “Q1” Class 0-6-0 locos, Nos. 33006 and 33027.

Thanks to Robert Hills of Godalming who supplied information about train times on the branch line during its final years.

See also opinion piece related to this story.

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