Items added on 17th February 2017 Those added most recently come first

What is the connection between
​ Dainton Tunnel Signalbox and Westbury Iron Works
Guy Vincent

Dainton Tunnel Signal Box was a later pattern BR (WR) timber box and it was commissioned on 14.02.1965.    Some may be aware that following closure on 02.05.1987 the box was not destroyed but instead carefully dismantled and removed to Westbury in Wiltshire where it is used by West Wilts Youth Sailing Club as a club recreational facility and store. Until the woodwork was repainted a couple of years ago the outline of the original name board was clearly visible. One change from BR days is that the external staircase is now at the opposite end.  Similar 'Plywood Wonders' were located in Devon at Eggesford and Exeter City Basin.    The Dainton 'box is just off Station Road in Westbury at the bottom of Station Approach and opposite the Railway Inn, next to a large lake. The lake came about due to the digging of a large pit in the later part of the 19th century for the extraction of iron ore.   Iron ore was discovered during the building of the Wilts Somerset and Weymouth Railway in 1847-8 and the Westbury Iron Co. started production in 1857.  The ore was used at the Westbury Ironworks which stood adjacent to Westbury station (where the large car auction site is today)  until the late 1930s. Once ore extraction ceased the 'minehole' was allowed to fill with water and is one of three close to the railway.  Demolition of the works was completed by 1939.

G Vincent 15.02.2017                                                                             Many thanks indeed to you Guy for your most interesting article and pictures.

The former Dainton Signal Box, now enjoys a quiet time alongside Minepit lake at Westbury. 15th February 2017 Copyright Guy Vincent

A closer view of the former box, the access has been moved from one end to the other. 15th February 2017. Copyright Guy Vincent

A 1905 postcard. A view from the south showing the station and the Iron Works beyond. Westbury middle signalbox is evident. From the Guy Vincent Collection.

Westbury
 
Go to maps  http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore
Type in ‘Westbury’ and Select OS Map 25” 1892 – 1905
On the North West side of the station you will find the Iron Works.
Note the sidings and in addition a tramway extending about a mile to the south west, the far end of the tramway passing under the main line into Westbury. The tramway also extends to the north east, one leg passing under the main Westbury – Trowbridge line.
At this time there is no Westbury avoiding line – this wasn’t opened between Fairwood and Heywood Road Junction until 1933.  Note that the current main line east of Westbury is shown as ‘under construction. There is no chord line between Hawkerbridge Junction and Westbury East junction, this wasn’t opened until 1942.
Note the large Minehole Lake.  The open cast mining left the lakes below the Ham known as the mineholes and tunnels for the tramway under Station Road and Hawkeridge Road. How the current boating lake, one time quarry was connected to the Iron Works on the far side of the station is not known.
 
 

Bridport branch (6)
Toller

Copyright John Cornelius

The view from 55032 on the 21st january 1975 as it approaches Toller from Maiden Newton. Copyright Doug Nicholls

Many thanks to John Cornelius and Doug Nicholls for the above pictures. The station which served Toller Poppercorum handled local fruit traffic - it bacame unstaffed in 1966. Toller station was unique in that the entire building was dismantled and moved to Littlehempston on the South Devon Railway.  You'll find pictures of this on  ​http://www.southdevonrailwayassociation.org/London_Group.html#Toller