Shillingstone Station: Reflections Past

North Dorset Railway is a heritage project which is, step by step, bringing Shillingstone station back to life. Here are some newspaper cuttings from the station’s past. Some show that then, safety was not always a prime consideration. The station was closed as a result of Beeching cuts back in the 1960s.

Accident on Line. ‘On Wednesday morning when the Somerset & Dorset train leaving Poole at 8.10 was within half a mile off Shillingstone, and going at the rate of 30mph, the driver noticed a bull jump the fence from a field and stumble into the line when the train was only a dozen yards off and before it could get out of the way the right-hand life-guard and buffer of the engine caught it and literally cut it in pieces.’ (Weymouth Telegram: 22^nd May 1874)

Railway Supper. On Friday, the employees of the Traffic & Permanent Way at Shillingstone Station held their annual supper in the school room (kindly lent by Reverend EA Dayman). Upwards of 30 partook of an excellent repast thanks to the generosity of the neighbouring clergy & gentry. After the cloth was removed, the usual toasts were proposed by Mr Oxford, station master (chairman) & Mr Dowdney (deputy chairman). Some capital songs were sung by various members of the company the enjoyable proceedings being kept up to a late hour. (Western Gazette 21^st January 1881)

Driver Error. An accident, happily unattended by serious consequences, occurred at Shillingstone station on the Somerset & Dorset line on Wednesday about 6pm. A goods train was being shunted and the engine driver by mistake believing the points were right for driving on the main line drove with full force onto a siding where there is a steep embankment and several of the trucks and guard’s van were thrown off the metals, the guard’s van being forced into a slanting position. A breakdown gang was telegraphed for and the siding put in order. (Blandford Weekly News 15^th October 1887)

Coal. John William Read begs to inform the nobility, gentry & public generally that he has purchased the business of Messrs AJ Ridout – Coal Factors, Okeford Fitzpaine & Shillingstone Station. Coal & coke supplied at lowest market prices. (Western Gazette 17^th February 1899)

Accident on Line. ‘Mr Thomas Warren, a farmer residing in the neighbourhood, and who has land abutting on each side of the line, instead of crossing by means of the gates opposite each other to go to another piece of land further away, in the direction of Blandford, proceeded along the line some distance on his pony intending to get off further down, so as to save time. He had not gone far, however, before he heard the express train coming.

He at once endeavoured to get the pony off the line but the animal would not go over the signal post wire. Mr Warren who had jumped off as soon as he heard the train coming held onto the reins pulling as hard as he could until the train running at speed was dangerously near. He then loosed his hold and immediately after the pony was literally cut to pieces. (Salisbury & Wiltshire Gazette: 16^th July 1881)

Snow Delays. On Friday as a goods train was backing out of Shillingstone station, the engine ran off the rails owing to the block of snow on the points. The trains were delayed. (Bournemouth Guardian 21^st March 1891)

Shillingstone Injury. ‘We regret to state that last week an accident of a serious nature occurred to Mr Baverstock, foreman of the platelayers on the Somerset & Dorset Railway. The night was very dark and the unfortunate man got crushed between the trucks and the goods shed by which his collar bone was broken and some ribs injured. We are glad to hear that he is going on favourably as can be expected. (Poole & Dorset Herald 8^th December 1864)