(Copyright Dave Clarke)
It's not all electrification and super modern trains on the New S&D! We also are putting together an archive of the original line. Latest addition (see the website) is the following short piece from Vince Everleigh.
As small children living in Child Oakford we used to board at
Shillingstone Station and travel to Templecombe to visit my grand parents . My
grand mother worked on the station for many years in the buffet ( Doris Sanger )
and my Uncle Ron was Porter there . Time wise this was maybe 1965? I remember
running along the platform and talking to the driver and fireman and then
crossing the overhead connecting bridge . Those wonderful smells of smoke and
hot oil ...
Happy days indeed.
1 comment:
In response to Steve Sainsbury although I did not live in Child Oakford my aunt and uncle did Bella and Alf Thompkins in Ridge Way Lane. I spent childhood holiday with them travelling by train from Waterloo via Templecombe before alighting at Shillingstone. The journey would involve a long wait for the connection and would be allowed a drink in the station buffet – a bit like 'Brief Encounter' In order to get onto the branch the train seemed to reverse out of the station., that seemed to add to the excitement. Once at Shillingstone to exit that station you would walk over the track, to a child from London that was fascinating, whilst mother was intrigued by the oil lamps still in situ. Once outside the station the next event that exited was exciting to me was the awaiting pre-arranged taxi from the Stone's garage. Names I remember from the village was the Amerstones, Foote's and Tuffins as well as Moons shop, the bakery, on a Sunday going to buy a newspaper from a house in the village with the honesty box. Doreen Stockton
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