Sunday Snap – The Heritage Railway

We were on the Scouting Island for last week's Sunday Snap. I asked what the name of the island is and the answer is 

Brownsea Island 

Being preparing with the right answer were Susan and Kara. 

This week we are going on a train ride through Dorset. This line originally opened in 1885 and was operated by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR). As well as being used for passenger traffic it was used extensively to transport the local Purbeck stone and clay to the coast before it was sent by sea to its next destination. At the start of the 20th century seaside locations became popular for day trippers and longer holidays especially for those living in urban areas. With the final stop being on the south coast it attracted a number of tourists from London. 

By the end of World War 2 there was a great change in the way people and goods travelled. Petrol rationing had come to an end and there was a rapid increase in car ownership and use. With resources being used elsewhere in the war the railway network was in a poor state of repair. By the 1960s things came to a head with the publication of Dr Beeching's The Reshaping of British Railways in 1963. This line wasn't mentioned in the report but the future looked bleak. Steam trains were replaced in 1966 by diesel units but the next year it was announced that passenger services would end. The closure was delayed by problems in implementing a replacement bus service to the coast however on 3rd January 1972 it was finally closed for passenger services. By May of that year a local railway group had been formed with the intention of continuing a local railway service all year round. The plan was to run steam services in the summer to attract tourists and gain a substantial revenue from it in order to subsidise the other services. Despite initial objections from the local councils the plan went ahead and in 1979 part of the line reopened as a heritage line. Since then a number of additional stations, including Corfe Castle, have reopened and new track laid. 

The railway takes its name from its final destination on the Dorset coast. This week's question is 

What is the name of the railway? 

We were joined last week by Susan and the start of the new school term. Sara's favourite things this week include a red sun, an unusual pigtail anthurium, and a beautiful alstroemeria bouquet. Soma has made herself a new travel journal cover from Harris Tweed. There's been wood chopping and deer spotting for Kara. A stone has provided a weather report for Cheryl. A request for some cards meant a big thank you from Lisa. Finally, Jesh has been seeing red all week. 

If you want to join in with this week's Sunday Snap then add your link to the linky below. Any theme is allowed. It doesn't have to be published today as you have until 23.55 on Friday 31st August 2018 to join in. Grab my badge below for your blog post. Just make sure it is your photo and you hold the copyright for it. 

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