Jersey Western Railway

This picture, from an iconic postcard, shows a train arriving at St Aubin

An Act passed by the States in 1869 paved the way for the introduction of Jersey's first railway the following year, running a distance of approximately four miles from the Weighbridge terminus at St Helier to St Aubin

A railcar train passes through First Tower in the 1930s

Standard gauge

Work under way to convert the line at St Aubin to narrow gauge

The line was owned by the Jersey Railway Company and was standard gauge - 4ft 8½in. The first trial run was on 28 September 1870 and after Board of Trade approval had been received (although nominally self-governing, Jersey was still very much subject to English controls) the first passenger service operated on 25 October. The line was built on the shore line for its full length. There was no sea wall along the length of the bay at that time and the line was subject to erosion of the sandy soil beneath it during stormy weather. The last section of track from La Haule to St Aubin was carried on trestling at the top of the beach.

The company initially operated two 2-4-0 locomotives built by Sharp Stewart of Manchester and named 'Haro-Haro' and 'Duke of Normandy'. They were followed by another similar engine, 'General Don', and a smaller train, 'North Western', which was eventually sold to the Jersey Eastern Railway.

Public holiday

The official opening of the line was an occasion for great celebration and a public holiday was declared in St Helier and St Aubin to allow the people to view the ceremonies. In town a guard of honour was provided by the Town Battalion of the Militia, with the Queen's Colour and the town band, to welcome the Lieut-Governor, General Philip Guy, the Bailiff, Jean Hammond, the Dean, William Corbet Le Breton, and other dignitaries and invited guests, who left the terminus on the first four-carriage train, pulled by 'Haro-Haro' and 'Duke of Normandy' at 1 o'clock, accompanied by the band of the 15th Regiment.

The Royal Jersey Militia Artillery fired a 13-gun salute as the train pulled out of the station and it took 20 minutes for the 200 passengers to reach St Aubin with no stops en route. At the destination the Dean said prayers and extolled the virtues of steam power. The South West Regiment of the Militia was on parade to receive the distinguished passengers who were taken by horse and cart to Noirmont Manor for a grand lunch.

Meantime, large numbers of people travelled backwards and forwards between St Helier and St Aubin to view the wonderful decorations and triumphal arches erected to mark the occasion and enjoy the fireworks display at the end of a momentous day in Jersey's history.

Daily service

The railway then settled down to operate 15 return journeys on weekdays and ten on Sundays between the single-platform terminus at St Helier and the two-platform station, built to a similar design, at St Aubin.

Unfortunately the service was not a commercial success and was purchased from the debenture holders in 1883 by T Heyward Budd, for £23,500, who then sold it on at a profit to a new company, of which he remained chairman. It undertook to build an extension of the line to La Moye, but in 1884 there were concerns about the safety of sections of the existing track and the States of Jersey gave the company ten days to undertake repairs, under threat of closure. The States kept a tight rein on the railway's activities, controlling fares and resisting a merger with the Jersey Eastern Railway.

La Moye extension

The extension of the line to La Moye was built to narrow gauge (3ft 6in) and in due course the track between St Helier and St Aubin was re-laid to the same gauge. Two new locomotives, 'St Aubin' and 'St Helier' were purchased from Manning Wardle of Leeds in 1884, followed in 1893 and 1894 by 'Corbière' and 'St Brelade'. At the end of the century 'La Moye', a larger engine weighing 36½ tons to the 26 tons of the other four, was bought from Andrew Barclay. This locomotive is still working to this day in South Africa.

Failure to secure a merger with the Jersey Eastern or to obtain consent for an increase in fares (the limit on the original St Helier-St Aubin sector was 65% lower than that agreed for the La Moye service) led to further financial problems and the railway was only rescued from bankruptcy when it was purchased by a syndicate. On 18 January 1896 Jersey Railways and Tramways was registered, and under its general manager, W H Dickson, business began to improve.

St Aubin tunnel

A tunnel was created at St Aubin to improve the through route to La Moye and in 1898 an extension of the line to Corbière was completed. Trains running on this section carried thousands of tons of granite from La Moye quarries to St Aubin for export to England, where it was used for the construction of the Thames Embankment and Portland Breakwater. The contract was to supply over 75,000 tons of granite a year for three years.

By the early years of the 20th century the St Helier terminus had been extended to house four tracks covered by a double-span roof. Stations were in operation along the route to St Aubin at West Park, Bellozanne, First Tower, Millbrook, Bel Royal, Beaumont and La Haule, and at Pont Marquet, Don Bridge (serving golf courses at La Moye and Les Quennevais), Blanches Banques and La Moye on the way to Corbière. There was only a single track for the whole length of the line, but crossing loops were created at Millbrook, St Aubin and Don Bridge.

A train passes the Grand Hotel at West Park

A train bound for Corbière takes a sharp turn at St Aubin

St Aubin also had a fine station, with four tracks, and a Station Hotel and carriage shed attached. The train followed one of the most scenic routes imaginable, passing along the coast of St Aubin's bay before meandering through unspoilt countryside in St Brelade. Many people in Jersey today regret that this service could not have survived but the arrival of motor buses in the early 'twenties brought about a decline in traffic from which the railways could not hope to survive.

Railcars introduced

To cut costs, traditional locomotives drawing open carriages were replaced with railcars, as many as four in service at one time. These were called 'Pioneer', 'Portelet', 'La Moye' and 'Normandie'. The company had intended to build a street tramway in St Helier, but this never got started and by 1922 Jersey Railways and Tramways introduced their own buses to connect with the railway line. Competition from Jersey Motor Transport, which began operations in 1923 led to its acquisition by the railway company five years later. Rail traffic had declined so dramatically that the line was closed from October to April, but before the company had the chance to settle down with the new pattern of services, fire swept through the St Aubin station and carriage shed on 18 October 1936, destroying all the rolling stock stored there over the winter.

The company decided to close down, the States agreed to purchase its properties, and the track was all removed. Today a beautifully maintained walk runs from St Aubin to Corbière where the trains once operated, and there is a wide pedestrian promenade from St Aubin to St Helier.

Histories

The stations

Profiles of Jersey Western Railway stations from www.disused-stations.org.uk

Gallery of Jersey Western Railway pictures

In 1874 the company advertised that it would no longer accept Jersey copper coinage and that change would be given in English coinage

(click on thumbnail to view larger image)

St Helier's leaves the terminus
Staff at St Helier terminus
Staff at St Helier in the 1900s
St Helier station
Staff at St Helier station
St Helier terminus station
St Helier terminus in 1901
Two engines at the Weighbridge in 1883
'St Brelade' at the Weighbridge terminus
St Helier terminus
St Helier terminus
The roof of the St Helier terminus under construction
The finished terminus roof
Pedestrian promenade, railway track and road share the Esplanade seafront
The Esplanade
The Esplanade
A train passes in front of the Grand Hotel at West Park
West Park
A train passes West Park Pavilion, the 'Tin Hut'
West Park station
West Park station, the track removed
A railcar alongside Victoria Avenue
First Tower Station in the 1930s
First Tower Station
First Tower
First Tower
First Tower
First Tower
First Tower
First Tower Station
First Tower Station
First Tower Station in about 1905
First Tower station
First Tower station in 1928
Flowers alongside the track show that this is First Tower
The track has gone at First Tower
Millbrook Station
Millbrook Station
The second Millbrook station
The second Millbrook station
The second Millbrook station
The second Millbrook station
The first Millbrook station
The first Millbrook station
Railcars pass at Millbrook
Millbrook station
The track has gone from Millbrook
Bel Royal station. The coastal round tower was demolished by the Germans
The first Bel Royal station
The second Bel Royal station
Bel Royal Station
A derailment close to Bel Royal
Beaumont Station
Beaumont station
The disused Beaumont station after the line closed
The south coast line flooded during stormy weather and high tides
La Haule
La Haule
La Haule
La Haule Station
La Haule Station
Another view of La Haule Station
A railcar at La Haule
A railcar at La Haule
La Haule
The first train on the St Aubin route crossing the La Haule sands on rails laid on trestles
A trial run train pauses on the La Haule trestles for an official photograph
The track crossed the beach at La Haule on trestles
A train approaching St Aubin
The level crossing at St Aubin
Converting the track to narrow gauge at St Aubin
A train rounds the St Aubin terminus heading for Corbiere
St Aubin Terminus
St Aubin Terminus
The aftermath of the St Aubin fire
After the fire
St Aubin in 1905
St Aubin
St Aubin
St Aubin
St Aubin
St Aubin
St Aubin
St Aubin
St Aubin
A bus outside the St Aubin terminus, competing for business
A carriage at St Aubin
A railcar at St Aubin
Staff at St Aubin Station
After the fire at St Aubin
The tunnel on the line from St Aubin to Corbiere
The bridge at Mont les Vaux
The bridge at Mont les Vaux
At Pont Marquet
Pont Marquet
The engine Corbiere at Pont Marquet
The track has been removed
The track has gone and a lovely railway walk remains
Don Bridge Station
Don Bridge Station
The station master at Don Bridge
Don Bridge on the Ordnance Survey map
Don Bridge
Don Bridge
Don Bridge
A Jersey Western Railway ticket
La Moye Station
Track removed at La Moye
Passing through lovely countryside on the Corbière line
Approaching Corbiere
'St Brelade' at Corbière
Corbiere
Corbiere Station
The engine La Moye at Corbiere
Corbiere station
Corbiere station
Locomotive La Moye at Corbiere
A summer timetable from 1896
Duke of Normandy
The largest engine used on the line, 'La Moye'
'North Western', used by the Jersey Eastern Railway as well
'La Moye'
Duke of Normandy
Duke of Normandy
Haro Haro
St Brelade's
St Helier's
Inside a carriage
A day for celebration
Clevedon before its name changed
Another derailment
Passing through a station
Posing on the 'footplate'
A Jersey Western Railway railcar
La Moye
Passengers had to wrap up in warm clothing because the carriages were not heated
W H Dickson
Edouard Hamon, who was Bel Royal Stationmaster and then crossing keeper on the La Pulente road when he was semi-retired
Locomotive St Aubyns
Locomotive St Brelades
Locomotive St Brelades
Locomotive St Heliers