First locomotive crosses bridge since 1966 closure

Volunteers rebuilding a section of railway ripped up in the 1960s are celebrating after witnessing a locomotive cross the station bridge for the first time in nearly 60 years.

Shillingstone station in Dorset closed in 1966 but, in 2005, a group of locals took on the lease and began restoration work, initially opening a museum and cafe.

In July, North Dorset Railway completed a four-year project to double the length of the track to half a mile (0.8km), with the aim of one day offering brake van rides to museum visitors.

On Saturday, the volunteers braved the rain to see the Hudswell Clarke diesel cross the newly renovated bridge over Bere Marsh.

Part of the line extension project involved stripping Lamb House Bridge back to its brickwork, which had not been seen since it was built in the 19th Century.

The loco, built in 1959 for the Manchester Ship Canal Railway, is the only one of its kind in preservation, and was bought by North Dorset Railway in September 2020.

It was pulling a Dogfish ballast wagon while the team, who work two days a week, laid ballast on the newly built line.

Operations manager Phil Jacques said the milestone came as the ballast laying reached the bridge but the timing had not been planned or publicised.

"It's a really good feeling," he said.

While the loco was on the bridge, several cars pulled over and the drivers got out to take photos.

"The locals recognised it as a momentous occasion," said Mr Jacques.

He also paid tribute to the men building the track, describing them as "the finest bunch of people".

A post on the group's Facebook said it was "a great day" for the permanent-way team, when the "nearly 60-year wait for a locomotive to cross Lamb House Bridge was finally rewarded".

"For four years the P-way guys - all volunteers - have gone from breaking through scrub to seeing a train cross the bridge, out in all weathers."