PETERSFIELD.]—OPENING OF THE NEW RAILWAY.—According to announcement, the Petersfield and Midhurst New Branch Line of Railway was opened on Thursday for public traffic, and during the day five trains were despatched from Petersfield and six from Midhurst, the last one being a special from Midhurst, at 10 p.m. At an early hour in the morning, the town of Midhurst presented a holiday appearance; the inhabitants generally were anxious for a day's enjoyment, and a large number of the respectable inhabitants of the town, accompanied by the splendid Volunteer band of the Petworth Rifle Corps, came by the train, arriving at Petersfield about 3.40 marching in a body, headed by the band, from Petersfield station, through the principal streets, in procession, returning to Midhurst by the 5.45 train. A public dinner was provided on the occasion at the Angel Hotel, which took place about 7.30, there being a highly respectable audience present. There is to be no Sunday train for the present. We hope that a reduction in the time of performing the journey to and from Midhurst will be diminished 10 minutes, as an half hour is absorbing too much time in the completion of ten miles by railway. The fares are as follow:—9d., 1s. 3d., and 1s. 6d., first, second, and third class. It is now in contemplation by the authorities to have a mid-day delivery of letters, &c., in Midhurst, about 2.15 p.m., also a London bag despatched from that office about 11 a.m.
Portsmouth Times & Naval Gazette — Saturday 3 September 1864
PETERSFIELD
Petersfield and Midhurst Railway. —The long looked for opening of this railway took place on Thursday last. The first train started from Midhurst at 7.40 a.m., bearing a considerable number of first, second, and third class passengers, and amid the acclamations of a large proportion of the Midhurst population, had assembled to witness the starting of the first locomotive from their town. Successive trains were similarly honoured with passengers and spectators. At 2.30 a procession was formed in the High street, headed by the Petworth Volunteer band, playing some highly jubilant music, and with the committee of management started for Petersfield by the three o’clock train in carriages gratuitously provided by the South Western Company, when they formed and promenaded the town, returning to Midhurst by the 5.45 train. At Petersfield the interest excited seemed to be scarcely less than that exhibited at the other end. Crowds assembled at the station at the arrival and departure of each train, and the town furnished not merely its full quota of passengers to the traffic of the day, but likewise of guests to the dinner, in celebration of the opening, which took place at the Angel Inn, Midhurst, at six o’clock. The entire management was under the special superintendence of W. F. Godson, Esq., superintendent of the South Western line; Mr. W. Hopkinson, of the Locomotive Department, Portsmouth, Mr Tate, of the permanent way, and J. T. Haddow, Esq., Assistant Goods Manager, were likewise in attendance. Mr. Daniels has been appointed stationmaster at Midhurst, and from his long connexion with the company, and great experience, will no doubt ably represent his employers, at the same time that the interests and convenience of the worthy burghers of Midhurst will by him be satisfactorily looked after and promoted.
Sussex Advertiser — Tuesday 6 September 1864
MIDHURST.
Opening of the New Railway.—Midhurst was the scene of much gaiety and rejoicing, on Thursday last, in consequence of the opening of the branch line of railway just completed from Petersfield to that town. The various places of business in the town were closed at an early hour, so that all classes of the inhabitants might be enabled to join together and hold high holiday in celebration of an event which, in all probability, will mark a new era in the history of this ancient and picturesque town. The bill for the Midhurst and Petersfield Railway was obtained in the year 1860, and the line was proceeded with as soon as the necessary preliminaries could be transacted. Mr. Cross, of Petersfield, was the engineer of the line, and the work was entrusted to Messrs. Dierden, Buxton, and Co., who have carried out the contract in a most business-like manner. The line, which commences by a junction with the Direct London and Portsmouth at a few yards north of the Petersfield station is exceedingly well constructed; it runs for a distance of nine miles and a half through beautifully diversified country of arable, pasture, and heath land, and terminates at the west end of the town of Midhurst. The arrival and departure of the trains in the morning were watched with much curiosity and interest by the younger portion of the inhabitants, and it is much to be questioned whether hundreds would not have remained at the station for several hours had not their attention been attracted elsewhere by the enlivening strains of the Petworth Rifle Volunteer band, which, under the command of Bugle-Major Death, arrived about a quarter past 12 ; and having partaken of refreshments, proceeded to parade the town, followed by a procession of the inhabitants. About three o’clock the band marched to the railway station, accompanied by large numbers of people of all classes, and took carriage for Petersfield, to the intense delight of the juveniles who were assembled at each station on the line. On arriving at Petersfield, that town was paraded in procession, and the party ultimately returned to Midhurst about half-past six. A dinner afterwards took place in honour of the interesting event.