SHILLINGSTONE RAILWAY PROJECT

LATEST NEWS

DISCLAIMER:  We wish to point out that we are in no way part of the new Somerset and Dorset lobby group. We would nevertheless like to thank them for their continued support in promoting awareness of our Heritage Centre at Shillingstone.

A very BIG THANK YOU to THELMA NEATE for her donation of £1,000 towards the Platform Repair, this money is in lieu of her award for 35 years service with Barclays Bank.

STATION OPEN EVERY DAY 10AM - 4PM DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

 

Please take the Big Buffet Car Survey  Survey part 1  Survey part 2  (opens in new window)

2 new mugs designs have arrived at the Shop

 

Coach from Swanage Railway has arrived   We have decided to go green for the time being as it will cover the existing green/rust fairly well and any leftovers will do for other parts of the empire. All seats have now been removed and a large skip is on order via Norman to get rid of the coach rubbish plus other bits from around the site. Four of the missing windows now have plastic coats courtesy of Wurzel and Ken. Regards  John Axe

 

Anyone visiting the Station recently could not have failed to notice the new signal box that has seemingly sprung out of nowhere!  Shortly before Christmas new member Ken Merriman and his merry band of brothers - John Axe, the indomitable Wurzel, Dave Clark and Tom Antell - identified suitable recycled timber that was already in our possession and promptly began erecting the frame. By the middle of January cladding work was well underway on the completed frame and, thanks to the tireless Mick Hatton, the roof slates had arrived.  At the time of writing the structure is completely clad, the roof is finished, the window frames are in (thanks to Ken and stalwart Dennis) and the whole structure has at least one coat of paint.   Concurrent with this hive of activity has been the renovation of the 16-lever frame from Liss signal box that will be installed in our structure shortly.  A big thank-you to the generosity of Tom Antell,  Dave Clark and Terry England for the new doors, and also to Paul Antell for the substantial hardwood beam upon which the frame will sit.  By Easter the external structure should be complete!   Fitting out the interior will take longer to complete because, in contrast to the frugal recycling that has kept the total build so far below an incredible £2500, funding will need to be raised to purchase the expensive tablet machines and the necessary signalling and telegraph equipment.  The process to secure these items is ongoing and if you can help then please contact us   Likewise, if you wish to donate towards the project please find the link to our signal box appeal on this website.    Many thanks! - Toby

 

This should be one of my last e-mails in 2010 to all of you but I felt it was worth putting finger to keyboard to set out what has happened this year, in particular since the AGM. In no particular order these are some of our achievements: We have secured half a mile of track, points and fittings We have £10,000 Heritage Lottery Award for a Buffet Car A Steam Loco is due to come here in the Spring A Brake Van for restoration will also arrive 3 PW Huts are on site The drains and toilets have been upgraded The Signal Box has been started The Up Platform has been rebuilt and resurfaced We are correctly registered with the Charities Association We have a properly functioning committee, drawn up according to our Constitution. We have an up-to-date membership list Our Magazine has been given a complete "makeover" We have up-to-date Insurance for our assets We have had record sales in the shop and buffet Our links with County Council and Local Councils have been re-established and strengthened In short we are far more PROFESSIONAL than before. These are remarkable achievements and are a testimony to the dedication of all of you. We have moved forward a long way. We still have a long way to go and must not be complacent, but we have achieved a great deal. Thank you to you all. To those whom I have not seen recently I send you the compliments of the Season and look forward to 2011 with greater hope and confidence. Tony Ward - Secretary

 

Our new magazine has now hit the rails so to speak!

I would like to inform everybody that today the three stooges i.e., Bill, Mick and Barry light from Swanage permanent way dept, visited Polimeri Europa at Hythe and secured over half a mile of bull head rail plus five pair of points or switches, all the chairs, clips, screws, fish plates and some ground frame point levers for an all in price of 10k, the sleepers unfortunately were of no use due to the track not being layered on ballast but on gravel, the decision was taken there and then to secure this for the trust and as Barry said afterwards if we had not responded, he would have contacted Swanage as the points alone are worth 35k plus.  The area in question has enough track to do all the station area from boundary to boundary.  At the end of the day a decision was made on the spot and after contacting, Derek Toby and David, they gave our decision total support, to those i could not contact, unfortunately I do not have you on my phone, now our only task is to raise the money or source capital, we need to send or e mail a letter of intent to Polimeri Europa that we wish to purchase the track for 10k, this will then go through to audit for approval and then it will be our reasonability to supply risk assessments and method statements for its removal to Shillingstone, this will include a date and time.  If this decision to purchase this has offended any of the trust team we are sorry but the project comes first and foremost.  It should be noted that all of what we intend to purchase has a far greater value than what we are paying.

Mick  Hatton

BLANDFORD TRANSPORT WEEKEND

A big thank you to Derek and friends, Mark Warr and Mick Hatton for their help at the weekend.   I understand we raised over £100 and made some good contacts.  Many thanks for your help

NEW BOOK IN THE SHOP!

Sabotaged And Defeated Revisited

Up until 1966 it was possible to travel by train from the Midlands to the South Coast over what was one of the best loved railway routes in Southern England, the Somerset and Dorset line. Since its closure in 1966 as a consequence of politics and economics, its passing has inspired numerous books. In 2006, forty years on from that closure, accomplished railway author Jeffery Grayer uncovered a unique collection of images capturing more than just straight-forward trains. The views captured sadness and a deep nostalgia for what had once been. Within this volume, the author returns for another look at this historic line, and reveals many rare views of its last days. The last trains, the closure scene and the demolition all feature, within a heavy atmosphere of melancholy. This is an album that is bound to find a place on the bookshelves of all keen railway historians, as well as those who hanker for just a little piece of nostalgia.

For those who cannot get to the station shop  . . .

Blandford Rail Exhibition Sat/ Sun 9 & 10 October Milldown School

This is a 2-day event at which we have agreed to have a stand for info, sales etc.

I know that we have the Steam Fair looming but as this event is 10-00 till 5.00 on both days, plus setting up and dismantling we need three people - two to man the stand and one to act as "relief".

I need to return names ASAP to the organisers so can anyone let me know within the next week whether they can help ?   If you can help please email Tony on tonyward50@btinternet.com

There are some exciting things about to happen at Shillingstone (note that our signal-box project has just started) and bringing some more stock to the site is just one of them. The race is on for the Kerrygold Awards! Some lucky entries are going to be winners of support for their project and Shillingstone is looking to bring a buffet car to the site in order to enhance its catering provision and give people more to see and do.

To support our entry all you have to is buy a pack of Kerrygold butter or margarine to find a unique code. Enter this code when prompted to by the website and vote...... maybe even leaving us a supporting comment or two. There is no limit to the number of times you can enter.

So.... fetch your toasters, bake that cake, buy that butter, and keep the votes coming!"

These file is in PDF format. You will need the FREE Acrobat Reader to view them

Platform Wall

The platform wall is complete. Well at long last we can say that the up platform wall is now looking like just that, after what seems a life time to those of us that started to rebuild it. Once again from all concerned at Shillingstone Station Thank you all for your help and support it means so much to the project. for more information and photos - click here

Signal Box Restoration

Great news we at Shillingstone Station have become the proud owners of a Stevens & son Signal Box Frame.  for more information and photos - click here

Due to unforeseen circumstances Cunarder's arrival date has been moved again, new arrival date unknown at present.

Photo copyright & Thanks to © Andrew P.M. Wright.

Cunarder is a 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotive.  Her arrival date is around lunchtime on Saturday 7th August some time between 12 & 2 pm.  This change of date is due to circumstances beyond our control.

Cunarder was constructed by Hunslet at Leeds in 1931 (Works No 1690), and was one of a batch of 6 locomotives ordered by the John Mowlem Co, who used them while constructing the King George V dry dock at Southampton in 1931. The design was an adaptation of a batch of similar locomotives but larger built for the District Lines of London  Transport in 1930. These locos had side tanks, as can be seen in the photo.

Cunarder has outside walscherts valve gear which is rare in industrial locomotives but good for maintenance.

Please click here or on the  photo go to her page which has more photos and info

All the information here is as far as we are aware correct, if however there are any inaccuracies we will endeavour to correct them ASAP.

Got a question?

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CUNARDER HERE.

We hope to have a weekly question and answer session, with answers being on this page

Online Merchandise is now available direct from this website. and include:-

Mousemats, Trolley Tokens, Mounted Picture, fridge totems, keyrings, T-Towel, T-Shirt and Greetings cards.

Please click HERE for details, listings etc.

Info thanks to Toby:-

I've just found out that FINALLY, Bachman have released a version of the S&D 7F 2-8-0; 53806, 53808 & 53809. the 4th-6th line down from Bachman's own website: http://www.bachmann.co.uk/prod1.php?prod_selected=branchline&prod=3.  It seems that it wont be available until later in the year, but a lot of S&D fans will be overjoyed by this.

We have Alan Hammond's new book Splendour of the Somerset & Dorset for sale at £20 each - this is a limited edition book - 2500 numbered copies ONLY being sold.  

Only 4 Copies left as of Saturday 10th April

More have been ordered . . .

I had a great response from  my Book Review West from Salisbury  from: Kevin Regan - train driver from Salisbury:

Hi Becky,

Just a quick line to say I enjoyed your review of the book particularly as I am in it! I passed a copy on to Driver Annie Winter, she hopes to visit Shillingstone soon and I hope to get over when the weather warms up its about 15 years since I was last there so I expect to see a lot of changes. So far the book has raised just over £4,000. for charity. all funds went to the Stars Appeal at Salisbury District Hospital which funds extra care and equipment over and above that provided by the NHS.

Annie was chuffed at review!

Hope to visit this year
 

Regards Kevin Regan (Driver)

Shillingstone Station Project Newsletter No. 21  published.

The newsletter includes latest project news. If you would like to receive and read the complete newsletter, why not join the Shillingstone Station Project?

 If you want to read the Newsletter as soon as it comes out please JOIN US!

Please support our project buy purchasing from our new Amazon Store

Remember for every item you order from Amazon.co.uk, we also get a little something which will help in the restoration of Shillingstone Station.

Look out for Alan Hammond's new book -

Splendour of the Somerset & Dorset Railway

Following the runaway successes of Alan Hammond s first six books on the Somerset & Dorset Railway, this volume follows the same winning formula, with the emphasis placed on the people who worked on the railway as much as on the locomotives and buildings themselves. With a foreword by well-known television personality Jools Holland, and a lively text packed with anecdotes of railway pranks and fun, accidents and strange happenings, this book is a must have for all S&D enthusiasts! There are accounts of working on the line, of train crews struggling to cross the Mendips, and most importantly, of people going about their daily lives. These stories are accompanied by some of the most fascinating photographs yet assembled, most never seen before, and many which capture intimate scenes of the everyday life of the railway staff. Essential reading for all those keen to learn more about this famous line, and ideal for the many who wish to add this volume to their collection.

Keep you eyes open for my up coming book review on this great new book.  Thanks to Alan and his publishers Mill stream Books http://www.ianallanpublishing.com/product.php?productid=69177&cat=1003&page=3

Due for Publishing / release 25 March 2010

Ever wanted to sit in the cab of Evening Star?

The last steam locomotive built by British Railways?

The last Engine to haul the famous Pines Express over the S&D?

An engine that saw both Shillingstone and the S&DJR as a working railway?

I have and so can you! 

She is based at her birthplace in Swindon, at the STEAM museum of the GWR. 

http://www.steam-museum.org.uk/

A BIG THANK YOU for the unexpected gift of £1,000 from Jan and Michel L’Hours. you can read more here

Shillingstone Station Project Newsletter No. 20  published.

The newsletter includes latest project news. If you would like to receive and read the complete newsletter, why not join the Shillingstone Station Project?

 If you want to read the Newsletter as soon as it comes out please JOIN US!

Due to not being informed by ANYONE involved with the Open Day on Sunday 11th October it was never advertised or publicised on this website.

Photos of this event are to be found here - thank to Graham Rains.

We need volunteers in the following areas:-

1. an architect to help with the plans for building regulations

2. a welder

3. a publicity officer

4. people to help with outside events

5. people to help with the 9F locomotive

6. people to help with track laying

Please Email us with your details

derek.maple_row@btopenworld.com

bill2003@ntlworld.com

sales@isissecurityproducts.co.uk

or come down to the station and speak to someone there.

Please make just a few hours a week or month to help our very worthy cause and restore a station that is important both architecturally and historically - being the last surviving station built by the Dorset Central Railway, also being the only station to have been so important - hosting both poet and royalty, that it was given a canopy.

Shillingstone station spent over 100 years serving us.  Please give the station just some of YOUR time to restore and return the station to it's pristine condition as a working building for future generations.

A historic event for the station and trust - the first locomotive in front of the station for over 40 years.  The last diesels engines were the demolition trains in mid / late 1966.

The photo © Graham Rains

click here to see more photos - thank to Graham Rains - scroll to bottom of the page.

Thanks to http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ndrt and people online purchasing through them we will receive our first cheque for just over £18.00 - THANK YOU

Thanks to James Collier we are now on Facebook - here is the link.  James will run the Facebook page - as I'm not really either a Facebooker or Twitterer.

Now over 100 members !

Shillingstone Station Project on Facebook

There are a few videos about the Station project on You Tube - click here to see them - thanks to HCBANGUS and Nick Howes 

an email thank to Richard Jones regards housing on former S&D railway.

Hello Becky,
I did try to contact the North Dorset Railway Trust to let them know of the housing application for the railway cutting at Sturminster...... just in case anyone there had views on re instating the railway through to Templecombe or Midsomer Norton. However, I had no response to my e-mail.   Just to let you know, if you do not already know that the housing is approved by NDDC.
Kind regards Richard Jones

We have had a few changes in personnel recently and the contact names are listed below:

Chairman -

Derek Boyt Tel 01963 364162 or 07773 289989 e-mail : derek.maple_row@btopenworld.com

Any general correspondence should be sent to the Secretary -

David Mouser c/o The Station, Shillingstone, Blandford Forum DTJ 1 OSF

During the winter months it has been agreed that we will not open to the public on Wednesdays, so that we can keep the cost of heating and lighting to a minimum. We shall resume Wednesday opening in the Spring.

Drainage continues to cause us headaches and recent excavations for track-laying have revealed some broken pipes which meant that our rainwater from the Porters Hut was just laying in the middle of the trackbed.

Some of the ash trees on the up platform have been removed and the Dorset Rangers have felled a lot of trees on the trailway and on the down platform. This has meant that the area has been opened up a great deal. The Trailway is becoming increasingly popular and now that we can serve teas, coffee and light refreshments we are a very convenient “watering hole“ on this route.

There is a lot of excavation required, namely the proposed picnic area, and the trackbed. We hope to have a mini-digger which will assist us when we lay more track The diesel shunter is in operation up and down the 6Ofeet of/rack and sits very nicely behind the wagon which we have acquired from Washford.  We have been offered a brake van and other vehicles which we will be’ happy to accommodate once we have more track - this is our top priority as once the drainage is sorted we want to link up the cattle dock with the track in the main platform. As always we need manpower and of course MONEY - lots of it - in any shape or form.

I have now recruited 3 local B&Bs etc to be the first on our accommodation pages

Pennhills Farmhouse

Shillingstone

Cedar Lodge

No Image at present

Shillingstone

Orchard House Cottage

Shillingstone

Blandford Railway Arches info now found here:  BLANDFORD ARCHES INFORMATION PAGES  yes it's now got it's own page!  All the older news regards the Railway Arches has been moved from the Latest News pages.

Shillingstone Station Project Newsletter No. 19  published.

The newsletter includes latest project news. If you would like to receive and read the complete newsletter, why not join the Shillingstone Station Project?

 If you want to read the Newsletter as soon as it comes out please JOIN US!

The January 2009 edition of Dorset Magazine is now out and does contain a small article and picture of website by yours truly.

There’s now two easy ways for you to help raise funds for

The North Dorset Railway Trust!

Support The North Dorset Railway Trust for free when shopping online with over 600 popular retailers, including Argos, NEXT, M&S, John Lewis, Debenhams, HMV, Vodafone, DELL, The Body Shop©, PLAY.com, Interflora, Comet and many more.
http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ndrt

Raise funds for The North Dorset Railway Trust when you search the Web with easysearch - the best results from Yahoo!, Windows MSN Live Search and Ask.com in one simple search.
http://ndrt.easysearch.org.uk

Shop Online and Raise Funds 

Have you done all your Christmas shopping yet?  If not, then visit our shopping website -  http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ndrt - click on the retailer links to go shopping, and we'll raise funds from EVERY purchase you make! Best of all, IT WON'T COST YOU A PENNY EXTRA!! There's over 600 great retailers to shop with including Amazon, Next, M&S, GAME, Argos, John Lewis, Play.com, M&S, Boots, Thorntons, Currys, Comet, DELL plus many more. Try it and see. So far, the site has raised over £500,000 for good causes around the UK, and remember, this is a great way for you to raise funds for us because it doesn't cost you anything extra to do so!

You'll also find over 100 exclusive 'credit crunch busting' offers and codes that could help reduce the cost of your purchases, like 'save 10% across Early Learning Centre's entire site', and 'save 20% on selected sports and leisure goods with Argos'.
 
And if you have finished buying presents for everyone else, grab yourself a bargain!  Many retailers have already started their sales and slashing their costs, so you'll find plenty of 20%+ off sales, and most retailers have now passed back the VAT reductions in their price.
 
And there's over £5000 worth of prizes to be won in the easyfundraising festive 'Advent Calendar competition', including the grand prize of a Samsung 32" LCD TV + home cinema system + Xbox 360.  Entry is completely free and there's a new prize to be won every day!
 
http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ndrt

easyfundraising is a shopping directory listing some of your favourite online stores including Argos, Next, Debenhams, John Lewis, Toys R Us, HMV and over 600 others. Just use the links on the easyfundraising site whenever you shop online and, at no extra cost to you, we'll receive a free donation of up to 15% from every purchase you make. It really is that simple!

It’s completely FREE to register and you won’t pay a penny more for your shopping when you use the easyfundraising site. In fact you can even SAVE MONEY as many retailers offer discounts, special offers and even 'e-vouchers' exclusive to easyfundraising.

If you shop online anyway then why not raise valuable extra funds for us by using this fantastic scheme. All you need to do is visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ndrt and when you register, select The North Dorset Railway Trust as the organisation you wish to support.

Search the Web and Raise Funds

You can also raise funds when you search the Web - with easysearch, a search engine with a difference!

When you search the Web with easysearch instead of Google or any other search engine, you’ll raise funds for us with every search you make! Just like easyfundraising it’s completely free to use and if you make just 10 searches a day, you could raise £20 a year - or more - for us, just by switching to easysearch.

What’s more, easysearch is a 'super' search engine that combines the strengths of several search providers together - Yahoo!, MSN Windows Live Search, Ask.com and many more. easysearch tracks down the most relevant and accurate results from across the Web, which means you’ll find what you’re looking for quickly and easily every time - all in one ‘easy’ search.

Check out our unique easysearch page at http://ndrt.easysearch.org.uk and use it every time you search the Web.

 Planning Permission granted by North Dorset District Council

Click on the Planning Permission image to go to the information

The November issue of  Dorset Magazine has a great article with pictures of the Station Project.   Unfortunately the author got our website address wrong, so yours truly was kindly asked to, and will be writing a small piece on this website which should hopefully be in the January 2009 issue.

Shillingstone Station Project Newsletter No. 18  published.

The newsletter includes latest project news. If you would like to receive and read the complete newsletter, why not join the Shillingstone Station Project?

 If you want to read the Newsletter as soon as it comes out please JOIN US!

I'd like to welcome Derek Boyt MIET as our new Chairman, and wish him all the joys of being part of our restoration project.

North Dorset Railway Trust - Shillingstone Station Open Day 20th July was a great success thanks to Bill Munden & David Mouser. Click here for photos and info

Track laying has started !!

2 panels were laid this morning 8 July, starting at 7.00am a membrane was laid so that weeds could not permeate, but drainage was not affected. Ian Harrington had brought sleepers from Hereford and these were laid into their approximate locations and rail lowered onto the chairs.

These two panels must now be levelled, packed and ballasted before the next 2 are laid.

Rebuilding of the southern end of the up platform begins next week.

Grateful thanks once again to Norman Young

Photo copyright © Bill Munden

Photo copyright © Tony Ward

Site Managers Report June.

At the time of going to press things are moving along a pace at the Station. The porters shed is now completed and the staff are using it as a mess room, I guess you could say a room with a brew!. After a lot of mumbling, the intrepid Dennis Burgess and his merry band of volunteers have made a super job of restoring it. Many thanks to them.

The main Station building is nearing completion thanks again to yes you guessed him again Dennis and his merry men. The main museum room will be ready for decoration by next week, followed by fitting out ready to exhibit.

Ladies waiting room and toilet is now fully functional, as are the Gents toilets. The site is now being cleared ready for our open day on the 20th July, this has meant removing the pile of concrete from the southern end of the platform. Our thanks to Norman D Young transport, a local firm who have given us tremendous support in the last months.

The Electricity is now on in the main station building and we hope to have a cafe open in the coming weeks for drinks and snacks. Our thanks to Member D Boyte and the hard working John for getting us connected.

Our next project will be relaying some track in the up platform, for which as you may have noticed we are asking for your help by donating a sleeper. This can be found on our web site. We are going to relay using wooden sleepers through the platforms to keep it looking as it would have on closure, so if you can help we would appreciate your assistance.

Future Projects will be the rebuilding of the southern end of the up platform which is in serious need of restoration.

Clearing the Picnic area and levelling the area ready for development .

To achieve this we need your financial and physical help so if you can help in either way please come and see us at the station, if you can not do either of these things come and see us anyway the area and views from the Station are super. See you soon - Bill.

Platform14 Ltd filmed at Shillingstone station last year for an ITV series called Along These Lines.  Production is now complete and the series started transmitting on ITV Meridian last Sunday 13 April.  The programme about the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway was scheduled for transmission on Sunday 27 April at 5.15pm.   Please visit their website and gallery pages  There is also a website to accompany the series www.alongtheselines.co.uk

2008 AGM

The AGM was held at the Portman Hall at Shillingstone, Dorset on Saturday 26th April.  At 2.30 pm.

In accordance with Syd's wishes, his ashes were scattered at the station after the AGM.

As you can see the Porters shed is nearing completion thanks to our hard working volunteers.

photo copyright Bill Munden

Bob the shopkeeper in the greet the punters position outside the parcel Shed shop.

Yes we are always happy to take your money for our good cause !

The new 2009 Calendar that has just arrived from Ivo Peter's son Julian and will retail at £4.50 + p&p from the shop.

photos copyright Bill Munden

92220 9F 2-10-0 Evening Star - the last steam locomotive to be built by British Rail at their Swindon works will be back in Swindon's STEAM museum (where she was built) in the late summer, so if you wish to see the last locomotive to haul the Pines Express on the S&DJR and the last Steam Train built for BR, and also sister engine to 92207 Morning Star - then you only have to go to Swindon, Wiltshire, and not up to Yorkshire.

The station now has a telephone line and address where you can reach us directly.

The North Dorset Railway Trust

Shillingstone Station

St Patricks Industrial Estate

Station Road

Shillingstone

Blandford Forum

Dorset DT11 0SA

Tel: 01258 860696

Alan Hammonds' New Book - The Heyday of the Somerset and Dorset.

Apologises for the delay in despatch of these books as we were awaiting supplies from the publisher and these will be sent as soon as possible. No cheques will be banked until the books are ready to be sent.

The books will be available from the Station shop from Saturday 8th March - we have only 40 copies available on a first come first serve basis

It is with deep regret that I have to announce that Syd Howlett passed away at 1am on Saturday 23 February 2008. 

Syd will be greatly missed by everyone.

Syd's funeral was held on Monday 3rd of March at 3pm at Poole Crematorium.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT SYD'S PERMANENT MEMORIAL PAGE

Shillingstone Station Project Newsletter No. 17  published.  With a different look to the cover this time around !

The newsletter includes latest project news. If you would like to receive and read the complete newsletter, why not join the Shillingstone Station Project?

 If you want to read the Newsletter as soon as it comes out please JOIN US!

Please do not forget that we do have a forum for chat and comments etc, it's getting rather neglected.

All are welcome to post and you do not have to be a member of the project.  The old messages have now been moved from the old forum to the new one, in Archives, and in the relevant areas on the forum.  I have quoted them so that they can continue in the appropriate areas.

Thanks to the staff of Gillingham Library (Dorset) especially Mike Findell, Linda Antell & Jane Read, I have put up a display for two weeks from Friday 11 - Monday 28 January  2008 on the station project.  Please come along and have a look.  Gillingham Library has some great books on the S&DJR in front of the display - some I've never seen before! The photos are now in the Galleries Section, Please click on the photo to go there.

Gillingham Library Opening Times

Click here to find Gillingham Library

The Somerset and Dorset Railway was, and will be again after Peak Oil, a vital sustainable transport link across Wessex. The government should release funds and simplify the planning and construction process to allow local people to build, own and operate the line in preparation for when our oil runs out.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/somersetdorset/

The poster was inspired by the fact we are still needing many people both on site and off to help restore Shillingstone Station.  This includes people who enjoy manual labour, gardening, office work etc.  You only need to put a few hours in, and YOU will make such a difference to the future of the station, for your own enjoyment and for future generations who will NEVER know the Golden Age of the Railways, but with restoration projects such as ours, this Golden Age can partially be recreated.

This website (once built / created ) does not take me long to update on a regular monthly basis, and I live a busy life, with commitments each week  but I WILL ALWAYS find time to update this website.

Please make just a few hours a week or month to help our very worthy cause and restore a station that is important both architecturally and historically - being the last surviving station built by the Dorset Central Railway, also being the only station to have been so important - hosting both poet and royalty, that it was given a canopy.

Shillingstone station spent over 100 years serving us.  Please give the station just some of YOUR time to restore and return the station to it's pristine condition as a working building for future generations.

This is how Shillingstone Station could look again  . . . with YOUR help!

Photograph courtesy John Lamper