Templecombe Station reopened October 3rd 1983.

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Later this year will mark the 40th anniversary of the reopening of Templecombe Station.

It had closed on 7th March 1966 and the original station buildings were demolished in 1968, leaving just the platform faces and the signal box.

The station reopened on 3rd October 1983, initially for a three year trial. The services proved so successful that a new waiting shelter was provided in 1988, and an extension with toilets was added two years later. A 'new' footbridge was erected to connect the platform with the car park; it had originally been erected in 1893 at Buxted. The signal box doubled as a ticket office, and for many years the station was staffed full-time because of the need for a member of staff to operate the points and signals for the double track west of the station. After the commissioning of a new signalling system, controlled from Basingstoke, in March 2012, ticket office staffing hours were reduced. However, because the platform was only accessible by crossing the track, staff were still required to operate a level crossing for wheelchair users and other passengers unable to use the footbridge. To resolve this, the disused platform on the south side, where there is level access to the car park and streets beyond, was extended out across the disused trackbed up to the active set of tracks, and was provided with a ticket office, basic shelter, an automatic ticket machine, information boards and passenger information dot matrix display.

The Friends of Templecombe Station are making plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the reopening. More information on that in the coming months.

[TonyK]

I shall watch this space!

[RichardB]

Here's a fabulous video I hadn't seen before about the campaign to reopen the station.  A really great record of what was done and the people involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EsXAxKh9SI

[JayMac]

Here's a fabulous video I hadn't seen before about the campaign to reopen the station.  A really great record of what was done and the people involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EsXAxKh9SI

Great find Richard!

[ChrisB]

Templecombe The Station That Refused To Die

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lPV9tWbgCs

[Red Squirrel]

Here's a fabulous video I hadn't seen before about the campaign to reopen the station.  A really great record of what was done and the people involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EsXAxKh9SI

Truly awesome!

Favourite bits:

* The bloke from Plessey describing how it slowly dawned on him that if the station - 2 minutes walk away - were reopened, they would't have to have a member of staff tied up all day ferrying people to and from Sherborne;
* The debate around 'ooooooze gonna pay for it...'. The sum in question being a princely £30,000, which the Templecombe Station Working Committee (TSWC) whittled down to £9000 by doing most of the work themselves;
* The local kids being conscripted to grouting the station paving slabs.

It was more Titfield Thunderbolt than the Titfield Thunderbolt. Heartwarming stuff!

[JayMac]

I'll be down there for a hot beverage and a piece of cake I expect.

[JayMac]

I've had my coffee and cake. Finn had a few Mini Cheddar. Bought a book.

Nice to see SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)'s area manager in attendance. I think there was some wonder at my ticket combination purchase.

[Mark A]

For some reason I read 'Mini-cheddar' and thought 'Cheese footballs' and was worried on Finn's behalf. Can you still get cheese footballs though...

Mark

[JayMac]

Former Network SouthEast MD Chris Green made an appearance at Templecombe today. Seen here stood on the right. Most of the rest of the folk pictured are from the 'Friends of Templecombe Station' group.



There should be a feature on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Radio Somerset tomorrow, 5th October 2023, around 8.30am. Something to listen to while you don't catch a train.

[bobm]

Chris Green - one of the most inspirational railwaymen I have met.