The Evolution of North Dorset Railway (CIO)

Around 2001 a small group of heritage railway enthusiasts discovered Shillingstone Station. They set up The North Dorset Railway Trust charity and began negotiations to acquire the buildings and yard from the County Council. The station was vacant and the platforms and track bed were overgrown and derelict. After determined efforts to raise support, both locally and from further afield, the Council granted The North Dorset Railway Trust a 99-year lease starting from June 2005.

Over the next decade significant progress was made, including refurbishment of the station buildings and cattle dock, restoration of the Porters’ Hut, and reconstruction of the Signal Box. By 2008 the first track was laid through the station. The greenhouse and platform shelter were rebuilt shortly afterwards. Gardens were laid out and the picnic area was created. In 2011 the project received a National Lottery Grant for the conversion of a Mark 1 second-class corridor coach. The Mk1 coach was restored and operated as a multi-functional space as an addition to the cafe, a meeting or party room, exhibition venue and even theatre!

 

 

The pace of change had been rapid. Many things had been achieved, but the project needed a period of consolidation during which the management of the Trust could be restructured, further volunteer effort encouraged, and plans made for the future development and growth of the railway. Due to years of neglect since the railway closed, outside activities focused on drainage improvements and ground works throughout the site. The barrow crossing was reconstructed and a carriage siding added. Points were laid to connect the up line with the down line.

In more recent years the station has acquired a range of wagons. A Lowmac low loader and Dogfish ballast wagon provide more modern infrastructure support for our track layers. A General Utility Vehicle (GUV) is almost fully restored and will soon replace the Mk 1 which is now in need of an overhaul, and a Brake Van has been rebuilt and adapted to carry passengers. For more information on our rolling stock, click this link: NDR Rolling Stock

 

In 2019 the structure of the charity was updated when the Trust was replaced by a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), North Dorset Railway, under whose care it now falls.

The station site is shared with the Project 62 Group which owns two vintage steam locomotives, a plank wagon and a Parcels Miscellaneous Van (PMV). 30075 has been lovingly restored by the group and is now ready to go out on hire which means that work on their second loco 30076 can now proceed.

 

 

 

 

 

In 2021 planning permission was granted to extend the track bed north of the station, over Lamb House Bridge and on to the Cattle Creep Bridge, involving the restoration of a length of embankment, an enormous project of earth moving.

Appropriately, as the 200th anniversary of rail passenger travel, 2025 saw significant progress at Shillingstone, particularly the completion of tracklaying on the new extension, completion of the loading dock, including the installation of the Binegar crane, the restoration of a Wickham Trolley, and the granting of planning permission to become an operational railway.