Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

In the heyday of the railway industry in the early part of the 20th century, Eastleigh was at the centre of the design, construction and upkeep of some of the most famous locomotives of the steam age.

Eastleigh 100

To mark 100 years since the opening of the locomotive works in 1909, the works' gates were opening to the public during the May bank holiday weekend for one of the country's biggest steam train events of the year.Μύ

Queues for Lord Nelson

Thousands of railway enthusiasts were able to climb aboard, photograph or just marvel at steam engines including No. 34028 Eddystone from the Swanage Railway and 'Merchant Navy' Class No. 35005 Canadian Pacific from the Mid Hants Railway.

Alongside the steam giants were generations of passenger carriages, trade stands and minature and model railways.Μύ It was the chance for former workers, rail enthusiasts and local families to re-live part of Eastleigh's heritage and get a rare chance to see behind the walls of the rail works.

The event was also a fundraiser for three charities - Teenage Cancer Trust, Naomi House children's hospice and the Progressive Supranuculear Palsy (PSP) Association.

Railway town

Broadcaster John Arlott famously described how Eastleigh was synonymous with the rail industry: "The very name 'Eastleigh' means railways ... Eastleigh has a heart - a huge firey, steam-pulsed, hammer-beating heart."

The works employed 2,600 at its height

A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ South television report he narrated in 1963 is a snapshot of life at the works and around Eastleigh which grew as a 'railway town' for decades.

Watch the full archive report - ABC Eastleigh below.

At its peak, the works employed 2,600 people, building and maintaining locos including the Maunsell SR Lord Nelson Class 4-6-0 which was also restored and returned to the tracks at the Eastleigh Works in 2006.

Eastleigh's railway works

Eastleigh's fortunes suffered from the decline of the railway after World War II - in 1962 Dr Beeching announced plans to close the wagon and carriage works and only Eastleigh's locomotive works remained after the cuts.

In 2006, the closure of the depot was announced, with the loss of 540 jobs - it was seen at the time as the end of the line for the town's railway industry.

However, 2008 saw the works re-opened by Knights Rail Services with hopes to re-establish itself as a centre for rail maintenance.