The Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway

I discovered this line when making another film. Well, I sort of knew it was there because I knew Breamore station existed, but didn't give this old line any thought until then. This film follows the line from West Moors to Alderbury Junction near Salisbury, and discusses why the line was built with a fair chunk of local history thrown in for context!

[@sarahwinfield3989]

Very enjoyable. I travelled the Ringwood to Salisbury road frequently doing my sales calls. I often wondered about the railway but never seemd to have time to explore. Thank you for posting your video..

[@Beatlefan67]

Excellent video - very interesting indeed. Thankyou!

[@MavisFilms]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@TIMELORD327]

Having grown up close to Fordingbridge, I find it mad that the line was closed, looking at the current size of the towns today, considering the current bus alternatives (or lack thereof) in the area. Thanks for the informative video

[@sliperysid]

I grew up in Three Legged Cross and my grandfather used to be a train driver on this line. Thanks for the nostalgia, history lesson and a great production.

[@allsearpw3829]

Hi, David yes another interesting video and remember the trains crossing at West moors in the 1960.s and the Verwood station in the 1970,s when we built our 3 rd home out there . Great work and keep them coming 👍

[@atlanticcoastexpress]

Truly excellent! I would have been very proud to have produced this documentary…great job! I used to live in West Moors but not until after the line had closed. Downton Tunnel has always fascinated me and it was good to see the quality photograph. Your drone work was also appreciated. In the late 1950s as a keen teenager I used to cycle from Southampton to watch all the Summer Saturday trains to and from Wales…the busiest time on the line! It was worth the two hour ride via Totton, Cadnam, Rufus Stone, Sandy Balls and on to Daggons Road. I wouldn’t be able to manage that any more…my riding days and embankment climbing abilities are long gone! Many thanks and best wishes, Rob In Bournemouth.

[@MavisFilms]

Thank you - I'm never sure if Sandy Balls was meant to be rude or not. I'd guess it was!

[@slipperman59]

Most interesting, David, I enjoyed watching your video very much. Thank you 👍

[@alzeNL]

i was looking on google maps and saw the expanse that is the MoD fuel dump, googling around saw about the train line, so this was a really interesting video ! thanks fo rmaking :D

[@MavisFilms]

Thanks, and glad you enjoyed it!

[@Dave58282]

I lived near to Salisbury station as a youngster in the late 1950s to early 1960s and my family often used the line at holiday times with a railrover ticket. Then on 2nd May 1964 (there was no Sunday service on the 3rd) I travelled to Bournemouth West and returned on the last northbound train over the line. Instead of the usual handful of passengers the train was well filled hauled by a West Country loco. The last train south was passed at Downton and was hauled by a standard 76xxx loco.

[@MavisFilms]

It's a great shame it's gone. Glad there are people that still have happy memories of the line around.

[@peterrattue6975]

Excellent video and wonderful history lesson. I travelled on the line as a five year old from Fordingbridge to school in Salisbury just before it closed. Wish it was still there.

[@MavisFilms]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it :)

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello David - greetings from Poland What a fabulous video. I lived in Ringwood from 1984 to 2005 and know the line and the surrounding area very well. Thanks for a trip down memory lane. superb historical facts and information. Please thank Ross for the wonderful camera work and great production.

[@jhnshearn51]

Hi David, what a great little video this is, I lived in West Moors from 1967 -1978 & walked the lines many times great memories, thanks for sharing.

[@hardakml]

Excellent. Thanks so much for this documentary on our local line. You should have popped into Paul at the Albion for a pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord.

[@Daves_Cave]

excellent quality video - very well done - can tell you're from the Bournemouth area!

[@mavisfilms7797]

Born and bred! Born in Bournemouth when it was in hants and now live in Poole. Never moved out of the conurbation.

[@grahamcrighton8113]

Yet another well produced and researched film. Great local history and anecdotes, well filmed and produced (you make a good team!). Thank you for this, keep up the very good work!

[@biggerbang10]

Fascinating and most informative.

[@thedorsetdrone]

Another amazing and very informative production, well done to you both, can't wait for the next one 😀

[@neillambton4065]

Hi David, really enjoyed this video, as i live in West Moors, and am often driving around and seeing where the old railway line was, and have often cycled the Castlemain trail locally.There is very little available showing the railways in and around West Moors, but there are several old sections where you see where the railway used to run. Including between West Moors and Three Legged Cross, and beside the Ferndown by-pass close to the Canford Bottom roundabout. There are several area`s where there is evidence not far from here of old railways, one being "The Avon Causeway Hotel, where there is still railway track in the grounds, along with a carraige for functions etc, and was wondering whether you have done any films on that section, which i believe went from Ringwood to Christchurch?. Anyway, a great video, and thanks for posting it.

[@MavisFilms]

Hi Neil, and thanks for the comments :) I have done a couple of films on the lines you mention. Firstly, I followed the old Castleman trail from Brockenhurst to Ringwood, through West Moors to Wimborne and down to Hamworthy where it joins to the current main line at Hamworthy. I did this on my trust mountain bike! I've also done a "Then and now" on the section from Poole to Wimborne. I found a video of the last train on that section, and compared how it looks today with the past. Poole has changed a lot since 1977 when that journey was made. My son and I recently did a walk from Ringwood to Christchurch to discover as much of what remains as we could access. Have a look at those films - I think you'd enjoy them. Cheers, David

[@75ajw]

Great video! I did the Corkscrew in June this year, inspired by your film.

[@johnbristow5665]

Excellent. Reminds me of early Bellamy the nature Fan. Surprise after surprise. This guy is a natural with a completely unpatronusing manner. Factual and accurate. Genuinly interested in the subject and it shows! At a millitary base in Essex I found a map of all the MoD tracks on the wall of a local Chiniese Take Away! Its still there!

[@MavisFilms]

Thank you!

[@scottstrails9369]

Great video ,thanks

[@johneggleton80]

I've recently discovered your videos and they are incredibly informative and very interesting, you have a great relationship with your son and that comes across in your videos. Do you think you could do a video on the S&D from Sturminster Newton down to the south coast. My Mum lived in Sturminster and travelled on the old Slow & Dirty in the 1950's to Blandford School. Keep up the good work.

[@justinmiddleton226]

I'm bit confused, David. Breamore House was build after King VIII, so how did he behead the owner if the house wasn't built?

[@Squidfishinguk]

Great video. I lived in Grimstead Rd in Alderbury, the track would have ran straight through our living room! I drive from Salisbury to Christchurch alot, and pass Burgate, every time i pass there, i wonder if there was a bridge crossing there??

[@peterrattue6975]

There was a bridge over the railway - about 150 yards south of Burgate Cross.

[@johnbristow5665]

I hope Mannering didnt mind you using his Arrows! Who do u think u r kidding!

[@MavisFilms]

He'll be fine with it!

[@gavind9487]

Do you mean Mainwaring?

[@johnbristow5665]

@@gavind9487 Nope. Arthur Lowes character in Dads Army. Appologies for spelling. You may be right as I dont have Tele