the First World War put paid to the idea. This line was surveyed by the builders of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in the early 1920s when they were looking for somewhere to build their miniature line which now runs in Kent. Apparently, despite being otherwise ideal for their purposes, the line was discounted because of the number of road crossings which would have been prohibitively expensive to either gate or bridge. The Southern Railway also surveyed it for takeover and improvement in the early 1930s but decided against both. Local colour It was known locally as the Selsey Tram. It was also sometimes called "The Siddlesham Snail" after one of the villages having a station of that name. Sidlesham station's nameboard originally perpetuated the old spelling "Siddlesham". A song was written criticising the line which verse went Accidents On 3 September 1923, the 8:15 a.m. train to Chichester derailed near Golf Club Halt, killing the fireman, H. Barnes, and injuring the driver, C. C. Stewart. None of the few passengers were injured. The locomotive, Wembley and the three coaches left the track. The inquest returned a verdict of accidental death, but the jury expressed the opinion that the Chief Engineer of the Company was indirectly to blame, as there was evidence of neglect in the upkeep of the track. Modelling Model kits for the Shefflex railcar (in several scales) are available from Steam and Things. References Further reading External links The line's early steam years, via Gravel Roots Later steam photographs, via Gravel Roots The petrol cars, via Gravel Roots The area and line with the 1910 flood, via Gravel Roots The line on a contemporary navigable map, via National Library of Scotland The line, via Colonel Stephens Society Rail transport in West Sussex History of West Sussex Railway lines opened in 1897 Railway lines closed in 1935 Closed railway lines in South East England Minor British railway companies HF Stephens