spetisbury - 2012?

An EXCELLENT shot of Spetisbury courtesy Jim Type. This is the clearest pic I have yet seen with detail of the main station building. This is very different from the wooden station building at Midford, so we are going to need a real mix of skills to rebuild these two sites.

Hopefully within a few years we'll be able to recreate this scene - but with hi-vis vests of course! And perhaps just the one track for now ...

the view from bristol

Thanks to Jim Type and of course Chris Warren for this!

I WOULD like to thank everyone who was involved in organising the excellent Rail Conference that took place on November 4 in Bristol. It was great to hear about the GWR electrification project and the outcome of a workshop session that resulted in the Evening Post-backed 'Bristol Metro' being given top priority by those attending.

A practical demonstration of how such a scheme could work was laid on by the fantastic people at First Great Western.

We started by travelling along the Portishead Branch. It was a lovely trip, passing under the Clifton Suspension Bridge as we trundled up the Avon Gorge. We travelled through Pill, across the viaduct and through the derelict station. We paused to look at where the line would diverge as it carried on into Portishead, tantalisingly close. Next up was a ride around the 'Henbury Loop' then back along the Severn Beach line.

The purpose of this tour was to indicate that a 'Bristol Metro' using existing infrastructure and re-opening closed stations such as Saltford is eminently feasible. It also put into sharp focus the absurdity of the continuing debacle of the re opening of the Portishead line.

Our local politicians really should hang their heads in shame as to why this much discussed proposal to bring relief to the good people of Portishead has taken so long.

I congratulate the Evening Post and First Great Western for championing a cause, the Bristol Metro, that thousands of people who have to live and work in Bristol so desperately want.

I ask all our local politicians of whatever political persuasion, to forget the folly of having a transport system based around the private car, bin this ridiculous and failed 'Bendybus' idea, and put serious money into the local rail network.

We owe it to ourselves and future generations.

Chris Warren

Saltford Station Campaign

broadstone

(44561 at Broadstone. Photo courtesy Jim Type, copyright C L Caddy Collection)

This is a view of 44561 at Broadstone. Broadstone was of course the junction for the S&D and the line from Poole to Ringwood. Broadstone was the only point on the S&D main line that I ever visited whilst (freight) trains were still running. I photographed both Broadstone and Wimborne on a freezing cold and very wet day in 1977, travelling from Sussex by motorbike, a truly miserable way of getting around in anything other than sunny and still weather!

This whole area has developed a lot since the S&D (and Ringwood line) closed - and is crying out for trains. This whole suburban part of Bournemouth and area will have a huge network of railways and tramways in the future and hopefully the S&D will become the premier line through the area. Broadstone will become a major station on the restored line south from Blandford, particularly after the Ringwood line is also reopened.

More from Broadstone over the next few weeks - with some really interesting shots!

bournemouth's other station

(Both courtesy Jim Type, copyright C L Caddy Collection)

S&D trains for Bournemouth terminated at Bournemouth West station, a classic Southern terminus which was full of character, and convenient for the beach and hotels.

Sadly Bournemouth West was closed before the main line, in 1965.

Perhaps seen as surplus at the time, when people seriously believed that railways were on their way out, Bournemouth West would be very useful today, freeing up space at Bournemouth Central and allowing extra services to the east and west (and soon to the north as well!) Much of the track remains serving the EMU depot. Capacity, not demand, will clearly be the problem in the future as more and more abandon their cars for the trains. Perhaps Bournemouth West will return quicker than most of us suspect, giving Bournemouth a second major station that it can really be proud of!

midford this wednesday

            (Pic courtesy Jim Type, copyright C L Caddy Collection)         

I shall be going up to Midford this Wednesday (5 October) to meet up with Mick Knox, so anyone else who wants to come along for a look, chat or a bit of work please just turn up! I shall be up there from about 1pm to 4.30pm.

                        

bailey gate

(Photo courtesy Jim Type, copyright C L Caddy Collection)

This is Bailey Gate, south of Blandford. The principal freight traffic was milk from the adjacent factory. Part of the site of this station is now in an industrial estate. This is a scene probably from the early 60s. This stretch of the route was double track and remained open for freight after the main line closed to passengers, the last trains running in January 1969.

great photos!

Jim Type has sent some EXCELLENT S&D pics -with more to follow! The album can be viewed here.