Dorset Central Railway






Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


From Cole to near Poole



A 1967 shot of the station at Cole, often referred to as Cole (for Bruton) which closed on 7th March 1966 when passenger services came to an end over ...
John Clark 02/12/1967
1 of 1 images.










Locomotive number 6, 'Mr. G', runs round at Pinesway Junction; not an unusual occurrence on the Gartell Light Railway see image 65524. ...
Ken Strachan 27/08/2018
Split level steam: number 9 'Jean' is about to dive under the S&D trackbed on the Gartell Light Railway on its way to Common Lane. Notice the tiny ...
Ken Strachan 27/08/2018
'Put yer back intae it!' The signaller heaves on the ground frame to help no. 6, 'Mr.G', to run round its stock on the Gartell Light Railway. This ...
Ken Strachan 27/08/2018
Why the long face? Oh yes, you're a diesel. Jean makes fun of Amanda on this splendid little narrow gauge line, just South of Templecombe on the old ...
Ken Strachan 27/08/2018
4 of 4 images.


Looking north from Henstridge Station site along the grassed over former Somerset & Dorset line trackbed towards the A30 Shaftesbury Road over-bridge ...
David Pesterfield 12/05/2015
View along the Somerset & Dorset trackbed over the north side gate of the former Station Road level crossing see image 51335 sited at Henstridge ...
David Pesterfield 12/05/2015
A dull day in 1970 as we see the remains of Henstridge station, looking towards Stalbridge, with Templecombe behind the photographer. Some wrecks of ...
Doug Nicholls /03/1970
Looking east from Station Road towards Plott Lane across the former level crossing by Henstridge Station, with a set of hanging and closing gate posts ...
David Pesterfield 12/05/2015
4 of 5 images. more


The value of local knowledge - I spotted a mature local gent watching my explorations, so I asked him whether this had been the S&D main line. No, he ...
Ken Strachan 05/04/2018
A single track still remains in situ across the road at a former level crossing on Station Road in Stalbridge, Dorset. Old maps show the route of the ...
David Pesterfield 12/05/2015
2 of 2 images.


The former Sturminster Newton grain store was built in 1945, and is now used as a carpet shop. It is the only railway related building left in town. ...
Ken Strachan 06/04/2018
Decisions, decisions - to cycle or to drink? I decided that my cycling was wobbly enough already. The sign is on the North Dorset Trailway, which uses ...
Ken Strachan 06/04/2018
A high contrast view looking North over the replacement bridge over the River Stour, South of Sturminster Newton see image 49255. ...
Ken Strachan 05/05/2018
A perfectly respectable short track panel, but not quite original. This monument is thirty feet above the original track level at the infilled ...
Ken Strachan 06/04/2018
4 of 5 images. more


Much of the S&D infrastructure, including this brick arch bridge north of Shillingstone, is still in excellent condition. ...
Ken Strachan 06/04/2018
The North Dorset Trailway, on the old Somerset and Dorset trackbed, offers the unusual feature of spare trouser clips for cyclists on its direction ...
Ken Strachan 06/04/2018
Inside the signalbox at Shillingstone, which has been recreated on the site of the former station, on 22 October 2014. At that time there weren't too ...
John McIntyre 22/10/2014
The cab, tanks and boiler have been removed from USA 0-6--0T 30075 to improve the view of Shillingstone signal box. Obvious, really. View looks South ...
Ken Strachan 06/04/2018
4 of 7 images. more


Many of the bridges on the Southern part of the S&D survive in remarkably good condition. This bridge near Stourpaine seems to have attracted some ...
Ken Strachan 05/05/2018
1 of 1 images.


A historic picture for two industries. Unusually, there are cars from two defunct makes here - the immaculate SAAB 9-5 in the foreground and the tatty ...
Ken Strachan 05/05/2018
North of Blandford Forum, but looking South, this sweeping curve follows almost exactly the trackbed of the S&D (the original might have been slightly ...
Ken Strachan 05/05/2018
Looking South towards Bournemouth, the station footbridge has an air of permanence; not least because first floor flats on the right are accessed by ...
Ken Strachan 05/05/2018
Looking north from the site of Blandford Forum station on 22 October 2014. Most of the site has been redeveloped with housing and a car park but there ...
John McIntyre 22/10/2014
4 of 6 images. more

















Corfe Mullen Junction to Wimbourne Junction