| | To many the Abbotsbury branch was a curious line of single track which joined the main line at Upwey Junction, perhaps glimpsed from the carriage window of a train conveying day-trippers or holidaymakers to Weymouth. Indeed, the line cannot have been particularly well known to local people as traffic never lived up to expectations. Dreams of wealth from mineral deposits brought about the construction of the line but, like the expected goods traffic, these proved illusory. Inevitably absorbed into the GWR's empire, the line survived for sixty-six years before inevitable closure under British Railways in 1952. This attractive yet surprisingly remote line had a fascination and character all its own which is recaptured in this generously illustrated account of the line's promotion, construction, life and decline. The result of many years of research, this book is an attempt to record the history of the Abbotsbury branch before the line fades from living memory. Details have not only been drawn from surviving archive documents, but also interviews with local residents, serving and retired railwaymen, which has resulted in a valuable insight into the human aspects of a local railway. The physical features of the line are recorded in the form of a pictorial journey from Weymouth to Abbotsbury, the large number of photographs showing the appearance of the line and the stations, the locomotives and drains used over the branch, and the personalities involved, whilst others provide a flavour of the towns, villages and area through which the line ran. Maps, track plans and building drawings also help to complete the picture. Contents:
- Chapter 1 - Abbotsbury Railway Pre-history
- Chapter 2 - A Railway for Abbotsbury
- Chapter 3- Open at last
- Chapter 4 - Great Western Ownership
- Chapter 5 - A Changing World
- Chapter 6 - Wartime Again (1939-45)
- Chapter 7 - Along the Line
- Chapter 8 - Traffic and Operation
- Chapter 9 - Motive Power and Rolling Stock
- Chapter 10 - Signalling
- Chapter 11 - The Final Years
- Appendix 1 - Iron, Stone and Oil
- Appendix 2 - Table of Bridges for all Roads Crossed by Railway
- Appendix 3 - Steam Railmotor Allocations to Weymouth
- Official Building Plans - Portesham, Abbotsbury
- Scale Plans
- Track Plans
- Official Details of Abbotsbury Engine Shed
Continent: Europe
Country: UK | | Tag cloud: abbotsbury upwey weymouth empire sixty-six railwaymen jackson wartime stone railmotor portesham | Tell a friend about this publication  |
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