WEYMOUTH TO PORTLAND
(8th Aug. 2020)

By Bill Reid.

 

 
Westham station site.

 

 
Left: North end of the Down platform.  Right: South end of the Up platform.


Westham station and level crossing, looking towards Weymouth station.


Westham station Up platform towards Weymouth station.


A new footbridge over the gap where the old railway bridge was demolished.

 


As this large building leads off the track bed it may have been a railway fixture of some sort.

 
From the track bed looking back into Weymouth.

 
Left: North portal of Rodwell tunnel.                                                                                  Right: South portal of Rodwell tunnel.

 
Retaining wall by Rodwell station platforms.


Rodwell Down station platform, towards Portland.

 
Looking northwards from Rodwell Down platform.


North end ramp of Down platform.

 
Left: Signal cable & joint refuse at th south end of the Up platform.                                            Right: Platform ramp on the Up platform.

 
Left: Rodwell tunnel north portal.                                                                   Right: Rodwell tunnel south portal.


Rodwell Station.



Towards Portland.

 


There is a footpath to Sandsfoot Castle ruins. This exhibit is only a fraction of the actual size of the halt.


Sandsfoot Castle Halt It closed in 1952 but freight ran until 1966. The branch was closed at this time but retained for
possible Military used but eventually demolished with the whole branch.
 


Site of Ex Sandsfoot level crossing. Sandsfoot Castle ruin is off to the left.


These markers are for the annual bicycle marathons.


The first view of Portland from the track bed.


Looking over the bay to Portland, Easton and Portland Bill.


Liners parked up in Weymouth Bay. From the track bed.


Cropped from the photo above.


Approaching the site of Wyke Regis Halt.


Wyke Regis Halt. A simple platform with a GWR Pagoda type shelter.
 


Between Wykes Regis Halt and approaching

End of track bed. Site of Wyke Regis Halt. The first of two iron viaducts over the Fleet began in the over growth up ahead.


  

 
From here you have to get onto the main road and walk into Portland over the new road bridge.

 

 

 
An extremely busy road and difficult to cross.


 
Left: remains of the second iron railway viaduct over the Fleet.                              Right: You get back onto the track bed from here to the Ex Portland stations site.

 

 
I stopped at the Chesil Beach Center for some refreshments. It took me a while to find a gap in traffic to cross the road.

 
Chesil Beach.


A goods train headed by a Pannier Tank loco heads out of Portland and running towards the viaduct and Wyke Regis Halt.

   
Left: People walking along the Ex railway track bed. The track bed followed the road.

 


Chesil Beach is interesting in that it is completely made up of shingle and forms a large embankment that runs for some
miles as far as West Bay near Bridport.

 
Left: Portland Station was on the left.  Right: remains of harbour defences.


Portland Station (John Mann Collection). This was the newer station. The original was a dead end while the new line
took a long curve around the coastline to terminate at Easton with Portland Hospital Halt in between.

I didn't venture that far on this occasion.

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Site of the junction for Portland branch. Only the track of the harbour branch remains today.
Update: The harbour line has since been picked up.


Melcombe Regis station sat alongside Weymouth Station and was on the through line to Portland and Easton.
 

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Other railway walks:

The Dundee & Newtyle Rlwy Walks  Opened in 1831 the route had three incline planes. The first was from the terminal station on Ward Street, up the Dundee Law, where there was
also a tunnel. The second was the Balbeuchley incline at Rosemill and the third at Hatton that ran down to Newtyle station. It was also the very first
passenger train service in Scotland.
Worked by Horse over the levels until the first steam engine was purchased in 1833. Came under the Caladonian Railway with
it's terminal moved to Dundee West station. Passengers
service ended in 1952 and the line totally closed in the mid 60's. The inclines were by-passed in the 1860's.

The Cromford & High Peak Incline railway in Derbyshire has been luckier in having much of it's buildings, including an Engine House preserved. This is what could have happened with
the D&N, indeed, should have happened with at least one of the D&N inclines. However, the C&H gives an excellent comparison
of what the D&N would have looked like, albeit the
inclines were only single track.

Boddam To Ellon Branch (Walks)   By Bill Reid. Ex GNSR branch line.

Dyce To Fraserburgh and Peterhead Walks. Ex GNSR

Bath To Wellow Rlwy Walks Ex Somerset & Dorset Rlwy.

Chippenham To Caln Walk.

Woodford Halse Railway Walks.

The Test Valley Railway Walk. (New Mills To Hayfield).

All My Web Sites (Web Pages, Flickr and Videos).

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