Haven Street station opened with coming of the Ryde & Newport Railway in 1875 and was closed when all traffic was withdrawn by British Railways in 1966. After lying neglected for a while it has found a new lease of life as theheadquarters, and main station, of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. When first opened Haven Street station had just one running line and platform, with a coal siding adjacent. A simple platform shelter was all that was provided for passengers, with an adjacent Signalbox.

Haven Street station as it was in the 1950s taken from a Ryde-bound train. Looking more like a bungalow than a station, the lever frame was in the room that's through the furthest window.

photograph by Ron Hersey

Looking back at Haven Street station from the departing train.

photograph by Ron Hersey

Haven Street station as it was in the early 1960s. The island platform here was devoid of buildings, the booking office and waiting rooms being provided at ground level slightly to the left of the centre of this picture. Trains regularly crossed at this point and although the signal arm itself is out of this picture you can tell from its shadow and balance weight that it is off, awaiting the arrival of a train.

photograph by Keith Harwood

And here it is! O2NºW24 Calbourne has just arrived at the narrow island platform with a train for Newport and Cowes. Haven Street was the only station on the line between Smallbrook Junction and Newport where a passing loop was provided.

photograph by Keith Harwood

The combined station building and signalbox at Haven Street taken from the window of an arriving Cowes train on 13th February 1966. Haven Street was the usual crossing point for trains on the Ryde - Cowes line. What was, in 1966, a very rural location has now been transformed by the presence of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

photograph by Keith Harwood

With steam and smoke all around and the railwayman wrapped up against the cold, W29 Alverstone waits in the narrow island platform at Haven Street to cross the Cowes - Ryde train that will shortly arrive from Newport. One week later Haven Street would see its final passenger train.

photograph by Keith Harwood

The barren winter landscape at Haven Street with an unidentified 02 coming off the single line into the island platform where it will cross the Cowes train which is waiting in the down platform.

photograph by Keith Harwood

The passing scene at Haven Street, with the Ryde-bound train arriving from Newport and the train from Ryde waiting for the single line to clear before proceeding to Newport and Cowes.

photograph by Keith Harwood

This page was last updated 6 February 2003