Dorset railway station that lasted less than 70 years

The 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) is today, Saturday, September 27 - and with this in mind, we're remembering a long gone local branch - when trains ran to Abbotsbury.

It would be incorrect to call it the first railway in the world, but the 26-mile long line between Witton Park in County Durham and the River Tees port town of Stockton was the first to use many features which would become standard around the globe.

The Stockton and Darlington Railway opened to much fanfare, as depicted by Terence Tenison Cuneo(Image: Web)

Niall Hammond, chairman of the S&DR Friends Group, said it was the "railway that got the world on track".

But here's when a Dorset railway that got off the ground with much difficulty, didn't prove to be long lasting.

After the death of three men, dire financial difficulties and an uncertain future from the outset, the first train to travel to Abbotsbury ran 140 years ago.

On Monday, November 9, 1885 the locomotive passed through the station after a lot of speculation that it would never open at all.

It's thanks to the much missed local transport historian and author Brian Jackson who researched the opening and subsequent demise of the station - that lasted less than 70 years - that we can bring you its full story.

Brian originally told the Echo: "The first train ran to Abbotsbury 120 years ago. The locally formed Abbotsbury Railway Company was a concern as it was never able to raise sufficient funds to further its aims, which were a little optimistic.

Upwey station(Image: Supplied)

"Originally the plan was to connect with the main line at the original Upwey station (situated by the bridge in Old Station Road) and then swing westwards towards the Waddon Vale.

A view of Upwey station (named Broadwey until 1913). Taken shortly after the opening of the line(Image: Supplied)

"The company realised that the land - today covered by Jesty's Avenue - was too expensive to purchase, resulting in a change of plan with the line swinging away further south at the site of what was to become Upwey Junction.

Upwey Station(Image: Supplied)

"However, this was not the only problem. From the passing of the act to allow the line's construction in August 1877, it took six years and seven months to build a mere six miles of railway with very few earthworks of any size.

"It cost the lives of three men during its construction, and being unable to raise sufficient funds it involved three changes of contractor, in a situation that today would be described as 'cash-flow problems'.

"Despite the financial situation the company had planned great celebrations for the opening including a dinner at Abbotsbury and a ball at the Royal Hotel in Weymouth.

Abbotsbury Station(Image: Andy Hutchings Collection)

However, all that is recorded is that Mr Manfield, the squire of Portesham, driving force behind the line's construction and the company secretary, invited the employees to dinner with him at Portesham the previous Wednesday.

And on the December 29, a Mr Barclay Bruce, the contractor and a major shareholder, gave 197 school and Sunday school children a tea at Abbotsbury.

In fact the opening was very low-key. The Dorset County Chronicle reported: 'On Monday last at an early hour, Abbotsbury, Portesham, Broadwey and the surrounding places were all astir, and great was the rejoicing when the first ordinary train ran to Weymouth.

It continued: 'Throughout the day great numbers took advantage of the new and long looked for mode of transport through the beautiful Waddon Vale.

The station at Abbotsbury(Image: Andy Hutchings Collection)

"The line is worked by the Great Western Company, who have carried out the wishes of the Abbotsbury Railway Company in providing a very comfortable set of carriages, good engine, and most obliging servants at all the stations, a careful driver and fireman and a well known favourite guard.

Holidaymakers view the scenery from the camping coach stood on the siding at Portesham Station during the 1930s(Image: Supplied)

"The proof of the work is shown in the perfect ease which all feel when travelling, no matter at what speed they may be running. The traffic is already much larger than the most sanguine expected.'

Brian added: "Records show that in the first 19 working days the line carried 2,557 passengers and there were even season ticket holders. The revenue from passenger traffic being £53 19s 4d.

"Goods traffic amounting to 334 tons three cwt brought in £21 17s 2d, while a mere £1 2s came from parcel traffic which included five dogs.

"Once the initial euphoria died away so did much of the promised traffic.

"The prospects of vast amounts of stone from Portesham quarry failed to materialise, as did the shale oil and iron ore that the promoters expected to find in abundance in the area.

"This resulted in the line relying on its limited potential with agricultural traffic and passengers - these being few except during the summer months when the attractions of the swannery and tropical gardens beckoned."

Brian added that despite the project's downfalls, the company still had plans to extend the line westwards, with a view of making connections that would allow the Abbotsbury line to be used for cross-Channel steamers from Weymouth.

"This was a pipe dream of the ever-optimistic Victorians," said Brian, "whereas in truth the line was a liability to the local company resulting in its take-over by the Great Western Railway in late 1896.

"From then on it became one of those delightful rural branch lines of which the railways had many. In an attempt to increase trade a halt was added at Coryates in May 1906.

"During 1925 the National Omnibus Company started a service between Weymouth and Abbotsbury. During the 1930s Camping Coaches were introduced at Upwey, Portesham and Abbotsbury in an effort to increase revenue.

"There is little doubt that the situation created by the Second World War saved its early closure, a situation that was to remain in the austere years to follow.

"Eventually closure was announced in 1951 and despite much opposition - that had little argument in its favour - the line closed on Saturday, November 29, 1952.

Sixty-seven years after its opening the Abbotsbury Railway closed on the night of 29th November(Image: Supplied)

"On that night there was a small ceremony in which a wreath was placed on the front of the engine. With Sid Willcox driving, John Ross as the fireman and Bill Stevens as guard, engine no. 1453 departed from Abbotsbury for the final time thus closing a chapter in Dorset's railway history.

Uncluttered view of Broadwey station (named Upwey after 1913) taken before the turn of the century(Image: Supplied)

"Today, 53 years after closure, only earthworks and the station buildings at Broadwey and Portesham still stand as a reminder of a small part of Dorset's railway history."