The Railway

 

In 1847 the old South Western line was extended via Wimborne to Dorchester.  Next from Hamworthy to Poole, the latter place being the terminus for some years during which time visitors to Bournemouth were conveyed from Poole in vans and waggonettes.

About 1858 the old Somerset and Dorset line was laid from a junction at Wimborne up to Blandford where a station was built a mile below the town on the Spetisbury road.  The first train to reach Blandford was hailed by a public holiday with processions of schoolchildren etc.

Finally the line was extended via Sturminster, Wincanton and Glastonbury to Burnham –on-Sea.  During the summers 1862-72 crowded excursions trains ran weekly from all stations between Blandford and Burnham.  Return fares 1s Children 6d for a distance of 50 miles each way.  This was the fare from Sturminster.  Much money was lost by local magnates who financed the railway, one landowner being so badly hit that he was compelled to retire to the Continent while his estate recovered from the drain on his capital.

 In Stur. The advent of the railway was the greatest event in many years.  A public meeting was held to celebrate the cutting of the first sod which took place in Bornsleas, of which ceremony an eye witness is still living from whom I obtained a description of the day’s doings.

In the early sixties a great event for the children was to be taken to the station  bridge, in the evening twilight to watch the lights of the last train as it came into view by Hammoon and Fiddleford.  A local poet produced a poem ‘Robin Hills visit the railroad’ copies of which are still in existence.

 Prior to the year 74, the affairs of the line were conducted in a casual, primitive way, so that the absence of accidents is remarkable.  For want of other amusement I spent much time on the station, especially in the tiny office where a clerk issued tickets, managed the parcel and goods traffic and was also responsible for the important duty of signalling the trains in and out.  There was no signal box then, the signals were ‘turned’ by any porter, or sometimes an outsider. Also there was only one platform at which both up and down trains pulled up.  In the clerks office there stood 3 ancient single needle instruments which announced oncoming trains.  I have sometimes been requested to manipulate one of these on which depended the safety of the traffic.  What passengers would have done had they known the risks they ran can only be imagined.  Eventually the whole line was acquired by the Midland and SW companies, when various government requirements were installed, after which the working was brought up to date.