Shillingstone Station Project
Revue of 2008
Website: www.shillingstone-station-project.co.uk
It has been an exciting year and much has been achieved but much more needs to be done !
Those of you who have visited the site will have seen the progress - track laid, the Porters Hut rebuilt, the opening of the museum, provision of water and electricity, to name but a few milestones. The diesel shunter has been restored and is operational and she now moves up and down a 60 foot length of line.
We are now able to offer tea, coffee, cold drinks, snacks in the comfort of our Waiting Room, complete with log fire. Our shop also stocks railway items, memorabilia and an excellent supply of Railway Christmas Cards
Some of you may also have seen the station on 2 TV programmes this year, one for 1TV and one for BBC. We have also been visited by a film crew making a children's programme which will be distributed to schools next year
Under the direction of the Countryside Warden some of the old ash trees at the station are being felled as they are dangerous, and the opening of the trailway means that cyclists, walkers and horse riders could be injured if one of these trees were to fall.
The area behind the station has about 4-6 feet of clay, which is the spoil from the time when the Industrial Site was being built. This clay needs to be removed to promote the growth of three oak trees and the area will be landscaped to provide a picnic area with excellent views over the river to Hambledon Hill.
We are delighted that Derek Boyt from Stalbridge has been appointed as our Chairman. Derek runs his own business in Stalbridge and has been responsible for providing the electrics on the site.
Planning permission has also been granted for the re-instatement of the signal box, down-platform shelter and the provision of a new engine shed. In the course of the next few weeks we expect to take delivery of a box van which has been donated by the S & D Trust at Washford, near Minehead. This was made for the Admiralty in the early 1900's and will be restored on site.
Our aim is to have track laid from the old cattle dock into the up platform and have this operational by the middle of next summer. To achieve this we have to excavate, level and grade the trackbed in the station area, as well as purchasing rails and all associated fittings. The costs of all of this have increased dramatically and we
desperately need help from anyone who has contacts, a little (or a lot) of spare time, and good old-fashioned cash !
Come and visit us on Wednesdays, Saturdays or Sundays or call me on 01258 860078 for more information. You will be assured of a warm welcome.
