Duke of Gloucester inspects repairs to Hythe pier railway

During a trip to the New Forest, the Duke of Gloucester sampled the narrow gauge railway that has operated on Hythe Pier for more than a century.

He was following in the footsteps of King George VI, who used the same train on May 24, 1944.

Britain's wartime king travelled to Hampshire to review preparations for the Normandy invasion and passed through Hythe, inspecting local troops, after visiting Southampton.

The newly-restored railway track and station platform at the landward end of Hythe Pie. (Image: John Greenwood)

The 80-year-old duke viewed parts of the king's carriage, which has been stripped down prior to being restored.

Referring to an account of his uncle's trip along the pier he joked: "It reminds me of the Dad's Army episode where they all salute the royal train."

READ MORE: Hythe pensioner completes 35-mile pier walk ahead of her 90th birthday

The duke visited the Victorian structure to inspect repair work carried out by members of Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA) and its sister organisation, Hythe Shed (At The Pier).

Volunteers have completed the first phase of a project to refurbish the railway, which has been operating since 1922.

A plaque commemorating the day King George VI used the train that operates on Hythe Pier (Image: Newsquest)

The duke congratulated them on preserving part of the past.

"It wasn't necessarily all that wonderful but it existed and shouldn't disappear. You have made sure it didn't disappear," he said.

READ MORE: Newly-restored locomotive on Hythe Pier finally named - more than 100 years after it was built

An HPHA spokesperson added: "The first 45 metres of track have been replaced, the underlying pier made sound, and the platform rebuilt.

"Materials for the repairs were selected with the aim of giving this section of track a life of at least 75 years before any further major maintenance is required.

"The use of rarer African hardwoods was reduced and, wherever possible, locally sourced Douglas fir has been substituted in line with HPHA’s sustainability objectives."

The Duke of Gloucester opens a newly-restored section of Hythe Pier Railway, including the station platform (Image: Hythe Pier Heritage Association)

The scheme took two-and-a-half-years and cost £105,000.

"As the project started and the pier decking was removed, it was discovered that the supporting pier beams were in a far worse state than external inspections had indicated," the spokesman said.

The duke took a train ride to the end of the pier, where he was greeted by children from Hythe Primary School.

Pupils supported HPHA by taking part in a letter-writing campaign that helped secure some of the funding needed to refurbish the structure.

Cash was provided by Hampshire County Council, the Beaverbrook Foundation, Waterside Community Fund, and the New Forest National Park Authority.

Meanwhile, the passenger ferry service that operates between Hythe and Southampton remains suspended.

Vessels use a pontoon beside the pier. Sailings stopped at the end of August after the pontoon's supporting structure was found to be damaged.