West Moors to Salisbury (Alderbury Jnc)

Description

An early victim of Beeching’s cuts; this line is followed as faithfully as possible on foot, searching out all visible remains, including numerous crossing keepers’ cottages and the station sites at West Moors, Verwood, Daggons Road, Fordingbridge, Breamore, Downton and Alderbury Junction.

Starting at West Moors, the position of the original station and M.O.D. fuel siding is shown, as is the still remaining crossing keeper’s cottage.

Various sections of track bed are travelled towards Verwood station, taking in crossing keepers’ cottages at Neville Lane, Revel’s Crossing and Horton Common Crossing. Past Verwood, a couple of bridges are used as vantage points before travelling the track bed across Cranborne Common, showing an assortment of bridges and crossings before arriving at Daggons Road station, where remaining clues are captured.

Significant sections of track bed are then travelled on the way to Fordingbridge, taking in the huge embankment and river crossing at the approach to the station. John Loader, the industry now occupying Fordingbridge station site, kindly allowed free access to film the station area.

More track bed was accessed north of Fordingbridge, until the public path was joined at Upper Burgate, leading to the one remaining station building at Breamore. Continuing north, two further crossing keepers cottages are spotted before the missing bridge over the River Avon and the approach to Downton. After showing Downton station site, the site of Downton tunnel is shown and then a variety of sections of track bed are again followed, taking in various hidden bridges and heading into Alderbury. Remaining sections of track bed are explored on the north side of Alderbury (near the abandoned canal) before searching for clues in the undergrowth on the north side of the A36. The site of Alderbury Junction platforms is shown. The film ends with reference to a vintage map and a slideshow of stills taken along the way.

Contains constant informed, running commentary throughout.