Recollections
2 primary works
Book 99
Railways & Recollections Bournemouth the station and shed areas
by Gavin Morrison
Published 24 April 2019
It is now more than 50 years since steam traction ceased on Britain's national rail network. In this book Gavin takes us back to those far off days for a fascinating look at the Bournemouth shed and station area.
Bournemouth's fine station was opened on 20 July 1885 and was designed by the London & South Western Railway's chief engineer William Jacob. It replaced the original station named Bournemouth East, which was situated on the other side of the main road at the east end and had opened in 1870. The name Bournemouth East was kept until it became Bournemouth Central in 1899, the name it retained until 1967 when the other station in the town, Bournemouth West, closed with the ending of steam services. It then became just Bournemouth, which it remains today.
The steam shed was originally at the East station, but this closed in 1883 when a new one was built at the west end of the present station. It was expanded again in 1888. Further extensions took place in 1921, then complete rebuilding happened between 1936 and 1938, when a 65-foot turntable was installed. It was always a very cramped and difficult shed to operate, and proposals were put forward to relocate it at Branksome, but these never materialised, and the pre-war layout continued to the end of steam.
Electrification reached Bournemouth in 1967, the steam shed obviously closed and the two lines through the centre of the station were removed. As already mentioned, Bournemouth West station also closed, but the carriage facilities remained open for repairs and servicing.
Services today are now operated by South West Trains and CrossCountry. It is a very busy station, with passenger numbers in 2012/13 of 2.505 million per annum, which increased to 2.756 million in 2016/17.
Bournemouth's fine station was opened on 20 July 1885 and was designed by the London & South Western Railway's chief engineer William Jacob. It replaced the original station named Bournemouth East, which was situated on the other side of the main road at the east end and had opened in 1870. The name Bournemouth East was kept until it became Bournemouth Central in 1899, the name it retained until 1967 when the other station in the town, Bournemouth West, closed with the ending of steam services. It then became just Bournemouth, which it remains today.
The steam shed was originally at the East station, but this closed in 1883 when a new one was built at the west end of the present station. It was expanded again in 1888. Further extensions took place in 1921, then complete rebuilding happened between 1936 and 1938, when a 65-foot turntable was installed. It was always a very cramped and difficult shed to operate, and proposals were put forward to relocate it at Branksome, but these never materialised, and the pre-war layout continued to the end of steam.
Electrification reached Bournemouth in 1967, the steam shed obviously closed and the two lines through the centre of the station were removed. As already mentioned, Bournemouth West station also closed, but the carriage facilities remained open for repairs and servicing.
Services today are now operated by South West Trains and CrossCountry. It is a very busy station, with passenger numbers in 2012/13 of 2.505 million per annum, which increased to 2.756 million in 2016/17.
Book 100
Railways & Recollections The Somerset and Dorset Railway 1961-66
by Gavin Morrison
Published 24 April 2019
The aim of this series is to appeal to readers of all ages, perhaps for different reasons...
This volume in the Recollections' series marks a significant milestone being the 100th volume in this popular and growing range of titles. What better way to celebrate than to visit one of the most popular, albeit erstwhile, railway lines in the country, the Somerset & Dorset. Closed over 50 years ago, interest in this line has continued, even amongst those too young to have travelled along its route.
In this volume Gavin Morrison gives a photographic glimpse into the workings of the Somerset & Dorset line in its last six years. Unfortunately he did not have the opportunity to see it in earlier years, although its 114 miles have probably had almost as much photographic coverage as the Settle & Carlisle or West Highland lines.
The S&D, as it became known - also, affectionately, as the `Slow and Dirty' - was created in 1862 by the amalgamation of the Somerset Central Railway and the Dorset Central Railway, which seemed to continually struggle financially in spite of what appeared on paper to be worthwhile expansions. Eventually the company went into receivership in 1875, resulting in a 999-year lease agreement jointly with the Midland Railway and the London & South Western Railway.
After the Grouping it was jointly operated by the London Midland & Scottish Railway and the Southern Railway. Following nationalisation it passed to the Southern Region of BR and, in its last few years, to the Western Region, which implemented the closure.
This volume in the Recollections' series marks a significant milestone being the 100th volume in this popular and growing range of titles. What better way to celebrate than to visit one of the most popular, albeit erstwhile, railway lines in the country, the Somerset & Dorset. Closed over 50 years ago, interest in this line has continued, even amongst those too young to have travelled along its route.
In this volume Gavin Morrison gives a photographic glimpse into the workings of the Somerset & Dorset line in its last six years. Unfortunately he did not have the opportunity to see it in earlier years, although its 114 miles have probably had almost as much photographic coverage as the Settle & Carlisle or West Highland lines.
The S&D, as it became known - also, affectionately, as the `Slow and Dirty' - was created in 1862 by the amalgamation of the Somerset Central Railway and the Dorset Central Railway, which seemed to continually struggle financially in spite of what appeared on paper to be worthwhile expansions. Eventually the company went into receivership in 1875, resulting in a 999-year lease agreement jointly with the Midland Railway and the London & South Western Railway.
After the Grouping it was jointly operated by the London Midland & Scottish Railway and the Southern Railway. Following nationalisation it passed to the Southern Region of BR and, in its last few years, to the Western Region, which implemented the closure.