Impermanent Ways

Book excerpt: As with many other counties, the railway network of Hampshire has diminished to a shadow of its former size over the last two generations. It was not simply the effects of the famous Beeching report that rendered the various routes extinct, but also the actions of the operators themselves. They had already begun to take measures to reduce the number of lines operating, with closures taking place in almost every decade from the 1910s through to the 1970s. As a result of these changes, Hampshire now boasts an impressive network of closed lines, most of which are covered within this book, with stunning vistas capturing their final days as moribund railways. This new album takes readers on a lovely journey back to a time within living memory when the last vestiges of a larger network were still in existence. Compiled by well-known railway historian Jeffery Grayer, this book will be essential reading for all enthusiasts.