Sherborne
to Templecombe Incl.
to Templecombe Incl.
Wyke Crossing Located between Yeovil Jct and Sherborne
Wyke Crossing box was reduced to ground-frame status in 1960 and closed in 1964. The box then languished in a nearby orchard until it was rescued by the Gartell Light Railway in 1993, refurbished, extended (by inserting a 6-feet section in the middle), erected on a new base and fitted with a 30-lever McKenzie & Holland frame recovered from Becton Gas Works (in London). There was further refurbishment in 2013-14. Many thanks to Chris Osment for these details.
The former Wyke Crossing box in its current location on the Gartell Light Railway. Copyright Chris Osment
Sherborne
From the Mike Morant Collection
50013 Agincourt departs Sherborne heading for Exeter on the27th June 1982 Mike Morant Collection
780401c Sherborne Station Main buildings are on the up side. Copyright Roger Winnen
Copyright John Cornelius
780401a Sherborne Signal Box Copyright Roger Winnen
780401f A old turntable behind Sherborne Station Copyright Roger Winnen
Sherborne crossing notes courtesy of Martin Duff N.R. Operations Manager
A local control unit was provided, attended by a crossing keeper. The LCU was situated in a locked cupboard at the London end of the up platform line, and a small panel of indications was provided in the office where the keeper resided between trains. The indications and LCU are seen weeks before closure in February 2012, and the photographs of the crossing and former signal box was taken one Sunday in July 2011. The former signal box which had been dormant since the 1960's changes had to be removed to site equipment for the re-control to Basingstoke, and is now a memory. CCTV is now the method of operation. The small team of four here who worked the crossing were charming, welcoming people. Indeed, some of the finest tea and right railway welcomes could be sampled anywhere from Gillingham to Honiton!
A local control unit was provided, attended by a crossing keeper. The LCU was situated in a locked cupboard at the London end of the up platform line, and a small panel of indications was provided in the office where the keeper resided between trains. The indications and LCU are seen weeks before closure in February 2012, and the photographs of the crossing and former signal box was taken one Sunday in July 2011. The former signal box which had been dormant since the 1960's changes had to be removed to site equipment for the re-control to Basingstoke, and is now a memory. CCTV is now the method of operation. The small team of four here who worked the crossing were charming, welcoming people. Indeed, some of the finest tea and right railway welcomes could be sampled anywhere from Gillingham to Honiton!
Sherborne signalbox and level crossing. The box sited on the up side of the line. July 2011 Copyright Martin Duff
DSCF9522 Sherborne Crossing and track layout. Picture taken seven weeks before closure in February 2012. Copyright Martin Duff
DSCF9519 Instruments at Sherborne Crossing box taken seven weeks before closure in February 2012
DSCF8172 Barrier equipment at Sherborne Crossing. Feb 2012 Copyright Martin Duff
Castle Farm Level Crossing
A nasty incident occurred at Castle Farm Occupation LC, about three quarters of a mile east of Sherborne, when early one morning the cows were coming in for milking. This was caused by the Relief Milker either not being aware of the need to first check with the signalman that it was safe to cross or forgetting to do so. This dairy farm still survives and the farm LC is still in use, as it was not deemed viable to build a costly overbridge, which was the only way to replace the LC. Many thanks to Tony Hill for this information.
A nasty incident occurred at Castle Farm Occupation LC, about three quarters of a mile east of Sherborne, when early one morning the cows were coming in for milking. This was caused by the Relief Milker either not being aware of the need to first check with the signalman that it was safe to cross or forgetting to do so. This dairy farm still survives and the farm LC is still in use, as it was not deemed viable to build a costly overbridge, which was the only way to replace the LC. Many thanks to Tony Hill for this information.
Millborne Port
Milborne Port 780331c Milborne Port Station (Closed 7th March 1966) - Copyright Roger Winnen
Courtesy of the Mike Morant Collection
Templecombe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Templecombe LocationPlaceTemplecombeLocal authoritySouth SomersetCoordinates51.002°N 2.4164°WCoordinates: 51.002°N 2.4164°WGrid referenceST707225OperationsStation codeTMCManaged bySouth West TrainsNumber of platforms1Live arrivals/departures and station information
from National Rail EnquiriesAnnual rail passenger usage*2002/03 69,9152004/05 75,3942005/06 80,5022006/07 85,4992007/08 98,5032008/09 107,8002009/10 98,8522010/11 106,5562011/12 112,3582012/13 106,750HistoryOriginal companySalisbury and Yeovil RailwayPre-groupingLondon and South Western RailwayPost-groupingSouthern Railway1860Upper station opened1862Lower station opened1966Closed1983Upper station reopenedNational Rail – UK railway stationsA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Templecombe from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. Methodology may vary year on year. UK Railways portalTemplecombe railway station serves the town of Templecombe in Somerset, England. It is situated on the London Waterloo to Exeter line 112 miles (180 km) from London. The main station opened in 1860 but a smaller station on the lower line opened in 1862. It was closed in 1966 but was reopened in 1983 following local community pressure. It is currently operated by South West Trains.
Templecombe LocationPlaceTemplecombeLocal authoritySouth SomersetCoordinates51.002°N 2.4164°WCoordinates: 51.002°N 2.4164°WGrid referenceST707225OperationsStation codeTMCManaged bySouth West TrainsNumber of platforms1Live arrivals/departures and station information
from National Rail EnquiriesAnnual rail passenger usage*2002/03 69,9152004/05 75,3942005/06 80,5022006/07 85,4992007/08 98,5032008/09 107,8002009/10 98,8522010/11 106,5562011/12 112,3582012/13 106,750HistoryOriginal companySalisbury and Yeovil RailwayPre-groupingLondon and South Western RailwayPost-groupingSouthern Railway1860Upper station opened1862Lower station opened1966Closed1983Upper station reopenedNational Rail – UK railway stationsA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Templecombe from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. Methodology may vary year on year. UK Railways portalTemplecombe railway station serves the town of Templecombe in Somerset, England. It is situated on the London Waterloo to Exeter line 112 miles (180 km) from London. The main station opened in 1860 but a smaller station on the lower line opened in 1862. It was closed in 1966 but was reopened in 1983 following local community pressure. It is currently operated by South West Trains.
Ellerman Lines on a train Exeter bound. 'Ellerman Lines' still exists, well half of it, it appears as a sectioned locomotive - to show the 'workings', in the National Railway Museum York. Copyright John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius
The bogie of 30913 rests on the bridge over High Street, Templecombe. This bridge was subsequebtly replaced in single track form. Note the station name emblazoned on the canopy end. The Somerset and Dorset platform was on the far side of this island. Copyright John Cornelius
Templecombe, change for Bath or Bournemouth. Copyright John Cornelius
Let's set the scene at Templecombe with this delightful picture from Brian Pibworth. Lord Nelson with the 'Southern Sunset' railtour at Templecombe 8th July 2007 Copyright
Templecombe station frontage and forecourt. A far cry from what is there now.
[Mike Morant collection]
[Mike Morant collection]
The Church St Mary of Abbas has seen many changes at Templecombe station - here, probably in 1989 it looks on to a closed station - on damp day. The S &D has all gone but as yet the forest of trees hasn't obliterated the trackbed. Copyright Roger Winnen
790613e Templecombe Station (Closed 1966 reopened 1983) This picture taken in 1989 from the back of a Waterloo train shows the station during its closed period. Copyright Roger Winnen
920606b A Waterloo bound train behind a Dutch liveried Class 33 calls at Templecombe. Copyright Roger Winnen
780331b The old S & D at Templecombe - Copyright Roger Winnen. This a very interesting shot from the Southern Main line looking back though the bridge to the site of the former Somerset and Dorset shed. Until the demise of the S & D in March 1966 there were sidings passing under this bridge. These metals once made a connection towards Salisbury however this was removed many years before this picture was taken in 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen
Templecombe Signalbox.
More very interesting information from Martin Duff. Operations Manager.
Reference the pictures below. Seen in summer 2010, this box had 16 levers with working distant signals. It fringed with Gillingham (Dorset) SB and Yeovil Junction SB. It could be switched out if required, as it often did on Saturday nights with all traffic running via the Up Exeter line to Yeovil which was, and remains bi-directional. In addition to signalling, the signalman here sold tickets between trains and indeed did so after closure until June 2012 when temporary alternative arrangements were provided by SWT. After the signalling was re-controlled to BSK in late February, the box remained in use early and late turn until June as a pedestrian crossing keeper job. The platform on which the signal box was situated is now closed, together with the footbridge and the pedestrian level crossing. The old down platform has been built out to abut the single line and a new ticket office provided. For now, the old box survives, albeit with no function.
More very interesting information from Martin Duff. Operations Manager.
Reference the pictures below. Seen in summer 2010, this box had 16 levers with working distant signals. It fringed with Gillingham (Dorset) SB and Yeovil Junction SB. It could be switched out if required, as it often did on Saturday nights with all traffic running via the Up Exeter line to Yeovil which was, and remains bi-directional. In addition to signalling, the signalman here sold tickets between trains and indeed did so after closure until June 2012 when temporary alternative arrangements were provided by SWT. After the signalling was re-controlled to BSK in late February, the box remained in use early and late turn until June as a pedestrian crossing keeper job. The platform on which the signal box was situated is now closed, together with the footbridge and the pedestrian level crossing. The old down platform has been built out to abut the single line and a new ticket office provided. For now, the old box survives, albeit with no function.
Templecombe Signalbox and station at the time, in summer 2010 using the former up platform for up and down trains. The single line here becomes double towards Yeovil, to the left in this view. At one time, until March 1966, the far side of the platform served the Somerset & Dorset Railway, most trains between Bath and Bournemouth ran into this platform before continuing their journeys. Copyright Martin Duff
Access to the former up platform was either by the footbridge or by means of a level crossing at the west end of the platform. As can be seen the crossing had to be strictly controlled and wheel chair passengers had to be there in good time. Copyright Martin Duff
A view looking from very near the waiting shelter towards Salisbury in the summer of 2010. The former down platform has since been extended to abut the single line seen here. This occurred in March 2012. The former up platform and the footbridge have been closed and the signal box although out of use remains in position. The footbridge seen in this picture originally came from Buxted and dates from 1893. Copyright Martin Duff
Inside the signalbox at Templecombe, the track diagram is from the Yeovil direction on the left to Salisbury on the right. The short siding, formerly the down main, was used amongst other things for the naming ceremony of class 47 739 ~ Robin of Templecombe 1938-2013 ~ at Templecombe with Robin Gould himself unveiling the plates. September 30th 2008. Copyright Martin Duff
Summer 2010 - the frame at Templecombe signalbox. Copyright Martin Duff.
Another view of the frame in the pristine signalbox at Templecombe. Summer 2010 Copyright Martin Duff
The station name adjacent to the figure on the former up platform. Summer 2010 Copyright Martin Duff
Templecombe re-visited on the 7th August 2014
Many thanks to Peter Butt for this drawing. The S &D line closed in March 1966 and the main line station to passengers in May 1966. The main line was reduced to single line to the right between a new point situated approximately where the words 'To Exeter' are on the drawing. The views from the viewpoints on the drawing will be covered when we do the Somerset and Dorset.
For details of an incident which occured soon after the opening of the new platform at Templecombe
Templecombe 7th August 2014 The station approach, a new station building is seen to the right, the former goods shed now in private use is seen in the distance. Copyright Keith Jenkin
Templecombe 7th August 2014 As the 11.25 service departs for Exeter note the former up platform now out of use but still looking good. The former down platform has been extended across the formation. Copyright Keith Jenkin
For details of an incident which occurred soon after the opening of the new platform - it wasn't amusing at the time but is now. It prove guards are human and make mistakes. Go to Google and look up Templecombe and - The Phantom 2:43 Templecombe to Waterloo
In relatively recent years the former double track bridge over the road here has been replaced by a single track version. The station approach is up to the right beyond the bridge. Before the closure of the Somerset and Dorset in March 1966 there was another bridge crossing the main road just behind the photographer at this location. 7th August 2014 Note The underside of the bridge is scored by vehicles a little too high.
A view looking towards Salisbury under the now redundant footbridge - the shelter serves as protection when the spacious booking office and waiting room is closed. Note on the former up platform the step which was used by agile railway staff having sprinted across the main line to gain access to the platform - long since out of use. 7th August 2014 Copyright Keith Jenkin.
The redundant signalbox remains on the up platform. Prior to March 1966 trains for Bath and Bournemouth departed from the far side of this platform. 7th August 2014 Copyright Keith Jenkin
The goods shed survives at Templecombe albeit now in private hands. 7th August 2014 Copyright Keith Jenkin
The 12.25 to Exeter rolls into Templecombe passing the now isolated statue on the former up platform. 7th August 2014 Copyright Keith Jenkin
This shot taken at Templecombe by Barry Lucas on the last day of the Somerset and Dorset 5th March 1966 Serves to illustrate the view across the S & D tracks across the main line up platform to the main line down platform. Copyright Barry Lucas
The footbridge is now securely fenced off with Padlocked gates. 7th August 2014 Copyright Keith Jenkin
For a continuaton see Gillingham to Salisbury
