More Red Wheel unveilings in Hampshire
The Transport Trust recently celebrated two exceptional items of transport heritage - the ancient ferry crossing of Southampton Water and the Calshot Naval Air Station - with the latest Red Wheel heritage plaques. Both plaques were unveiled on 14 July by one of Britain’s greatest rail restorers, Sir William McAlpine.
A ferry has operated from Hythe to Southampton since the Middle Ages, with steam vessels introduced in 1836. The current pier was opened in 1881, complete with a hand-propelled narrow gauge railway for transporting goods. In 1922 the railway was re-constructed to 2 ft gauge and electrified at 250 V DC by means of a third rail on the seaward side of the track. The line is operated by two four-wheel electric locomotives built by Brush during World War I; a train comprises one of the locomotives propelling three passenger cars and a four wheel flat car for baggage. This is now the world’s oldest pier railway in continuous service.
Calshot Naval Air Station was established on 29 March 1913 by the Royal Flying Corps. During World War I, the station was responsible for the protection of shipping in the English Channel, utilising a variety of flying-boats and seaplanes. It was then home for the High Speed Flight preparing for the three Schneider Trophy competitions, and it hosted the event in 1929 and 1931 - each competition was a triumph for Reginald Mitchell’s Supermarine designs, paving the way for the Spitfire. During World War II, Calshot was responsible for the repair, maintenance and modification of RAF flying boats, particularly the Short Sunderland. During the Berlin crisis of 1948, Sunderland aircraft from Calshot flew over 1,000 sorties to the Berlin lakes from Hamburg. The last flying Sunderland, 'Excalibur', came ashore at Calshot in 1984.
All in all, a fascinating day for Transport Trust Members and their guests.