Horton Light Railway
Encyclopedia
The Horton Light Railway was built in 1905 to transport materials for building the Long Grove Asylum
that was needed in addition to the previously built Manor Hospital. It was later used to serve other London County Council
psychiatric hospitals built in the Horton
area to the west of the English
town of Epsom
. It never (officially) carried passengers - its main purpose being to carry coal and other supplies to the hospitals in the Epsom Cluster
.
The railway connected with the main network near to Ewell West railway station
.
Up to nine hundred workers travelled from Waterloo Station
to Ewell West station every day to build the hospitals. The workers had to walk the two and a half miles from Ewell West station to the hospitals as passengers were never officially carried on the railway.
It was a standard gauge light railway
built by Forster & Dicksee with the help of a Peckett and Sons
0-6-0 saddle tank locomotive named "Hollymoor", or "Puffing Billy" to the local residents. Other locomotives used on the line included "Crossness", "Hendon" and "Sherwood".
It closed, and the track was lifted, circa 1950. The track routes are now walking and riding paths in Horton Country Park
.
Long Grove Hospital
Long Grove Hospital used to be a mental hospital in Epsom, Surrey in the United Kingdom.It was designed by George Thomas Hine. Patients include Josef Hassid , Ronnie Kray and George Pelham .The hospital closed in 1992 and has since been converted into Clarendon...
that was needed in addition to the previously built Manor Hospital. It was later used to serve other London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
psychiatric hospitals built in the Horton
Horton, Surrey
Horton is an area to the west of the borough of Epsom and Ewell in the English county of Surrey.It borders on Chessington. It gave its name to the Horton Light Railway which served a number of the psychiatric hospitals in the area.- External links :...
area to the west of the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
town of Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
. It never (officially) carried passengers - its main purpose being to carry coal and other supplies to the hospitals in the Epsom Cluster
Epsom Cluster
The Epsom Cluster, sometimes Epsom Clusters, was a cluster, or group, of five large psychiatric hospitals situated in the Horton area of Epsom...
.
The railway connected with the main network near to Ewell West railway station
Ewell West railway station
Ewell West railway station serves Ewell in the Epsom and Ewell district, in Surrey. The station is served by South West Trains.The typical off-peak service from the station is 4 trains per hour to London Waterloo, 2 trains per hour to Guildford and 2 trains per hour to Dorking.From 1905 to 1950...
.
Up to nine hundred workers travelled from Waterloo Station
Waterloo station
Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
to Ewell West station every day to build the hospitals. The workers had to walk the two and a half miles from Ewell West station to the hospitals as passengers were never officially carried on the railway.
It was a standard gauge light railway
Light railway
Light railway refers to a railway built at lower costs and to lower standards than typical "heavy rail". This usually means the railway uses lighter weight track, and is more steeply graded and tightly curved to avoid civil engineering costs...
built by Forster & Dicksee with the help of a Peckett and Sons
Peckett and Sons
Peckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use...
0-6-0 saddle tank locomotive named "Hollymoor", or "Puffing Billy" to the local residents. Other locomotives used on the line included "Crossness", "Hendon" and "Sherwood".
It closed, and the track was lifted, circa 1950. The track routes are now walking and riding paths in Horton Country Park
Horton Country Park
Horton Country Park is a wooded walk area situated in the area between Chessington Road, Horton Lane and Rushett Lane near Epsom, Surrey.Part of the area is occupied by Horton Park Children's Farm...
.