History.

Brief history of the Railway at Salisbury.

SALISBURY RAILWAYS 1847 - 2007

Romsey - Milford 27th Jan 1847

Warminster - Salisbury (Single Broad Gauge) 1856

London - Milford 1st May 1857

Milford - Fisherton Tunnel - Salisbury 1859

Salisbury - Gillingham 2nd May 1859

Warminster - Salisbury (2nd line Standard Gauge) 1874

Broad Gauge line removed 1892

Standard Gauge line doubled 1901

Ocean Mail Train Crash 1st July 1906

Salisbury - West Moors last passenger service 1964

Salisbury Panel Commissioned 17th - 21st August 1981

Salisbury Area Signalling Centre.

Salisbury ASC is situated between Platform 4 and Platform 6 at Salisbury Railway Station. It was commissioned during 17th - 21st August 1981. In all, 82.5miles of track were under the supervision of the power box.The introduction of the Panel mean't the end for eight manual boxes and the area embraced by the new panel extended to Grateley on the Andover line, Dean on the Romsey line and Wilton on the main line westwards. In 1982 the area was extended to include Upton Lovell on the Westbury line, Dunbridge on the Romsey route and westwards towards Gillingham.

Today the Signalling Centre controls movements between:-

• Grateley and Gillingham/Templecombe/Yeovil Junction
• Warminster and Romsey
• Train movements to and from the Train Care Depot
• Diversions between Eastleigh and Basingstoke via Laverstock loop.

Salisbury Station.

Salisbury Railway Station is managed by South West Trains and is situated on the Waterloo to Exeter line. Salisbury is also the home of the Train Care Depot that is responsible for the up keep of SWT's fleet of Diesel Trains (159s and the refurbished 158's - renumbered 159/1s). The station is at a crossroads, where East meets West. We refer to it as The Gateway to the West. Trains running through Salisbury literally perform a cross, trains from Westbury - Romsey (mostly FGW or freight bound for Southampton) and trains from Basingstoke - Yeovil (SWT bound for Exeter,Penzance or Plymouth).

Although he adamantly denies it, we reckon that “Senior” Signaller John Say was on duty sweeping the single 350 feet long platform, or more likely leaning on the brush for support, when Salisbury’s first station at Milford opened to goods traffic on 27 January 1847 (his wrinkles give the game away when he smiles!!).  Passenger services were introduced from this station on 1 March 1847 and by 1857 there were 17 trains arriving or departing from Milford.  A dramatic fire destroyed much of the passenger facilities on 27 March 1858 when temporary arrangements had to accommodate all needs until the opening of the Fisherton Street replacement on 2 May 1859 on which date Milford was closed to passenger services.  Milford eventually closed to goods traffic on 21 August 1967 with Milford Signal Box, probably manned by John Say, closing on 1 January 1968.

John reckons he’s the only true “Salisburyite” ‘cos he is the only Salisbury Signaller born, not as you might immediately think within the sound of the cathedral clock, but in Fisherton Within or maybe it’s Fisherton Without or even Fisherton Anger.  Whichever it is; he’s it!

Great Western services first appeared in Salisbury in 1856 terminating at a Brunel designed station still visible and used by a firm of accountants and a car rental business.  Facilities included a four track layout with two platforms and overall roof in typical GWR style, an engine shed and goods yard.  A footbridge connected the GWR site with the LSWR, later Southern, station until it was removed in 1956.  The actual GWR station had, however, closed to passenger traffic in 1932.

The origins of the present Salisbury station were opened for public use on 2 May 1859 with one through platform nearly 800 feet long and an Up Bay platform that soon proved to be totally inadequate to meet demand – ask John, he knows…  In 1902 an enlarged station was brought into use comprising of two through platforms in each direction plus Up and Down Bay platforms, making six in all.  Plans have been drawn up on the feasibility of reopening Platform 1 and the Down Bay Platform 5 for use by passenger trains along with some of the East Carriage Sidings for accommodation of a marked increase of Diesel Units required by South West Trains for planned service strengthening and changes.

Salisbury Railway Station - for a little more information.