The Sprat and Winkle Line was a railway line which ran between Andover and Redbridge in Hampshire, UK. It was also known as the Andover to Redbridge Line.

The passenger services was withdrawn on 7 September, 1964. The line was then used for freight until 18th September 1967 and the line then closed between north of Romsey to Andover. The track remained for 4 years after the line was closed. Much of the route between Kimbridge and Chilbolton is now used by the Test Way long-distance footpath.

Possible Origins of the Name

The name of the line has three main possible origins. The first is that the southern part of the line ran close to the mud flats of the River Test where winkle may be found but it is unlikely that the sprat is found there.

The second possible origin of the name may be after the seafood that was carried from Southampton to Andover.

The third possible origin may be that the line is simply named after a type of railway coupling.

Operators

• Andover and Redbridge Railway 1858-1863
• London and South Western Railway 1863-1923
• Southern Railway 1923-1948
• British Railways 1948-1967

History

Construction

The Andover and Redbridge Canal defined the original route of the railway line. The canal was fully completed in 1794 and it provided the adequate transport of goods from Southampton to Andover for 63 years.

With the fast expansion of railways around the UK, the canal company decided to convert the canal into a railway to shorten the distance and increase the speed of the route. In 1857 the canal company changed its name to the Andover Canal & Railway Company.

The work of converting the canal to a railway started 28 September, 1859, with the serving British Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Lord Palmerston K.G, ceremonially cutting the first sod. The railway was built on the filled in canal and was opened for traffic on March 6, 1865. Because the line followed the path of the old canal some curves were very sharp and the line was upgraded and realigned when a new course was laid in 1885.

War

In both the First World War and the Second World War the railway line was invaluable moving troops and war supplies from nearby Salisbury Plain to Southampton on their way to France to fight.

Post War to 1967

The surrounding area of Redbridge to Andover is rural so the majority of passenger traffic was taking people to the beach during the summer. With the many horse racing stables around the Stockbridge area, the railway line was also used to transport race horses around the country.

With better road networks being built and whilst ignoring the expansion of Andover, the decision was made to close the line north of Romsey.

See also

• Midland and South Western Junction Railway

External links

• History of the railway companies of Hampshire
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• Horsebridge Station

Further reading

• Leslie Oppitz , (2001). Lost Railways of Hampshire. Countryside Books. ISBN 1 85306 689 3