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Shillingstone back in its ’box

By that time, with the exception of the station itself and the adjacent parcels shed, all railway structures had been lost. 

The most prominent of these was the destruction by fire of the signal box later in 1966 but Saturday, October 15 saw the clock turned back with the official unveiling of the new ’box.

The rebuilding began, oddly enough, on Christmas Eve 2010 and the structure was largely complete by March of this year. 

The intervening period has been used to collect the necessary fittings and start the reinstatement of the signals themselves. The only signal currently in use is the Down Starter which will shortly be joined by several more over the coming months.

The 16-lever frame is from Liss box in Hampshire and the bulk of the wood was recycled having been donated from Sainsburys during the refit of one of its stores thus allowing the build to proceed several years ahead of schedule. 

The unveiling was joined by traction engines from the Three Okefords Society, Wimbourne Model Engineers, several vintage cars as well as a plethora of model railways from Ngauge to 5in making it a fantastic day out for the hundreds of visitors who came. Among the visitors was a deputation from the Heritage Railway Association, of which Shillingstone is a new member, and you can expect the signal box to compete in the HRA awards next year.

The record takings from the day will make a healthy contribution to Shillingstone’s Magic Mile project to reinstate the track work throughout its site. Following the laying of several panels through the Up line earlier this autumn a further push is expected next month. Further work parties will take place during the autumn that, funds permitting, will result in the line disappearing southwards out of sight towards Blandford by laying several hundred feet more rail that will incorporate the first point and a level crossing with the North Dorset Trailway. 

While the Trust needs £30,000 to complete the overall reinstatement of the complete track work throughout its site, more immediate targets are £2500 for the crossing timbers for the point with a further £3000 to provide sleepers to lay the Down line back through the station giving the Trust a useful run-round loop. 

The track project is Shillingstone’s main effort as it is already in negotiation with other railways in order to hire a locomotive to be in steam over the Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday next year. 

This would represent a significant milestone as the first standard gauge locomotive in steam over the southern section of the S&D for 46 years and an announcement on the locomotive’s identity will be made once the agreement has been finalised.

A hugely successful first year of Shillingstone’s three-year plan has meant that it has already made great progress towards its aim of recreating its 1950s ambience. 

For full details of the plans and activities at Shillingstone check out the trust’s new website at www.shillingstone.addr.com or else telephone 01258 860696.