Luggage Truck repairs and modification
The project will repair the luggage truck and modify it to be a more useful design in the operation of the railway. The luggage truck employed on the Hythe Pier Railway is owned by the Hythe Pier Heritage Association. It is leased for operation on the world’s oldest continuously electric train operating on a pier, to the Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company.
The luggage truck was withdrawn from service during early February 2025 for restoration, a part of our continuing programme of restoration projects for the Hythe Pier Railway.
It was constructed in 1909, one of two, for the transportation of “heavy goods and passenger’s luggage” along the 640 metres length of Hythe Pier. Propulsion was by manpower along tracks sunk into the decking on the north side of the structure in May 1909. The work was carried out by Marchwood builder E J Kingham, who was also a local undertaker. The “tramway” first operated in July 1909. The Hampshire Independent dated July 31, 1909 records “the new tramway on the pier is now in use and luggage and goods are conveyed up and down on a couple of up-to-date trolleys”.
The same publication reported in its February 12, 1910 edition, “The tramway laid down on the pier for the conveyance of heavy goods and passenger’s luggage has proved of great advantage and we notice that some additional sidings are now being put down by Mr. Kingham’s workmen, which will greatly facilitate the traffic arrangements”.
In 1920, Mr Thomas Percy, then owner of the pier and ferry boats, saw an opportunity to install an electric railway along the pier. So far as the luggage trucks are concerned, they were modified for the wider gauge raised track installed on the south side in 1921. The surviving truck differs markedly from its original design with a platform being added relatively recently.
The main issues to be resolved are:
- Repair and replace the metalwork
- Paint all metalwork in HPHA green to match the rest of the train
- Replacing the rotten wooden planking and other wood
- Remove the platform and make modifications to ensure that the truck can be more easily used by the staff for carrying bikes and pushchair(s
(Stripped down truck with platform removed)
Statistics
Last updated 19th February 2025
Project Funding Received From
This project is funded from HPHA’s resources and funds donated by the our community