The Lord Coutanche Library, in partnership with the Photographic Archive, is pleased to announce an upcoming exhibition, opening in November in the Members’ Room, which will explore the rich history of Jersey’s railways.
The exhibition arrives at a particularly relevant moment, as public discussion around the potential revival of a railway on the Island gathers momentum. Recent reports have highlighted proposals by Jersey Western Railway (JWR) to reintroduce train services for the first time since 1936, with a potential route linking St Helier to La Corbière and the Airport.
This renewed interest in rail transport offers a fitting backdrop to the exhibition, inviting visitors to reflect not only on the Island’s railway past but also on its possible future.
Exhibition Highlights
Drawing upon materials from both the Lord Coutanche Library and the Jersey Photographic Archive, the exhibition will showcase a range of rare and original items, including:
- Vintage postcards and photographs depicting Jersey’s railway scenes
- The Jersey Eastern Railway General Plan – a bound 18-sheet plan in book format, detailing the full route of the Jersey Eastern Railway and listing the names of property owners whose land was crossed
- The Jersey Railway Limited Register of Bonds – a register listing bond numbers 1–180, issued by contractor Edward Pickering on 27 December 1870
- Extracts from Jersey Almanacs
- Books, maps, and guidebooks on railways
- An original railway ticket, newspaper article, and timetables
- A large wall display, featuring 10 A2 monochrome photographic prints, scanned from original glass plate negatives
Together, these materials trace the development of railways on Jersey, from their early ambitions through to their enduring legacy in the Island’s cultural memory.
Opening in November in the Members’ Room, the exhibition welcomes all who wish to explore Jersey’s rich railway heritage.
Valérie Noël, Librarian
