New Life for An Old Railway

The Meon Valley Railway opened in 1903, making it one of the last railways of any size to be built to main-line standards in the United Kingdom. It never really got going and although designed to mainline standards, for dual track running, the second track was never needed. Over many years, its importance and use declined, but not before one significant wartime event.

The railway had one crucial role to play in the D-Day operations. On 2 June 1944, Winston Churchill, the Prime Ministers of Canada and South Africa, William Lyon Mackenzie King and Jan Smuts, and other Allied leaders arrived in a special train at Droxford Station (the train was actually part of the Royal Train from the London, Midland & Scottish Railway) for a crucial meeting at the nearby HQ of U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower the Supreme Allied Commander at Southwick House. The station possessed the longest siding in southern England (outside the railway works at Eastleigh) and was close to a deep cutting. If threatened by an air raid, the train could be pushed into the relative safety of the cutting. During this meeting, final decisions regarding the planning of Operation Overlord were made.

Anyhow, since 2015, the section from West Meon to Wickham has been converted into a walking and cycling trail - and from Droxford to West Meon, formed the first leg of my hike today.

I took in Warnford and Beacon Hill before dashing down the hill to beat the clouds (see extra) and take refuge in the Shoe Inn at Exton while the hail and deluge of rain fell. By the time I'd finished my drink, the sun was shining once again! 

More pics from the walk and other holiday jollities can be found on Instagram here