SHILLINGSTONE STATION PROJECT

The poster was inspired by the fact we are still needing many people both on site and off to help restore Shillingstone Station.  This includes people who enjoy manual labour, gardening, office work etc.  You only need to put a few hours in, and YOU will make such a difference to the future of the station, for your own enjoyment and for future generations who will NEVER know the Golden Age of the Railways, but with restoration projects such as ours, this can partially recreated.

This website (once built / created ) does not take me long to update on a regular monthly basis, and I live a busy life, with commitments each week for at least the next month / six weeks ( and that excludes my paid job) but I WILL ALWAYS find time to update this website.

So please make just a few hours a week or month to help our very worthy cause and restore a station that is important both architecturally and historically, it being the last surviving station being built by the Dorset Central Railway, also being the only station to have been so important - hosting royalty  that it was given a canopy.

Each month I would like people (they do not have to be a member) to review their favourite railway Book / Film / Video / DVD, this DOES NOT have to be S&DJR related, just railway orientated.  They can email  their review to me, and I will put new reviews on the website each month.  it's a great way to share your favourite things!

Further to the 240 votes cast  - we need more of the following items to improve the website, if you voted maybe you could also help!

1. More Photos - anyone can submit a photo, (you DO NOT need to be a member to do this) for one of the galleries, and it will be put in the most suitable gallery, or added to latest News or During Restoration gallery, and a copyright notice with name put beneath it. (Unless it's very similar to an already existing photo).  You will also be thanked in the Credits and Thank yous page, if you submit photos on an ongoing basis.

If you do not have a digital camera, but still have photos you want put on the website - please contact me for details, as you can post them to me - but please provide SAE (Stamped Addressed Envelope) for return of photos.

2. More News - OK this comes when there is more news, but if you have an interesting snip - it of news - please submit ASAP so it's "Hot Off The Press"

3. Station Timeline - I need more dates, and information, etc for this, as this is a work in progress, but I can only make progress when I have more info - your help and information is needed!

CAN YOU HELP US?  (THIS IS A ROUND TUIT)

For many members, the suggestion of coming forward to help us often produces a reply such as ‘Well, I do really intend and would like to come, but I just have not got ‘round tuit’. Hopefully this gentle reminder will be the catalyst to get some of our many more local members to actually ‘come and join us’. 

Our small volunteer work force are a very happy bunch all doing our best to help restore the station, the outbuildings and general station environment. None of us possess any great skills but we do all the preparation work, weeding, digging, cleaning, preparing, painting, tidying, tea drinking and talking are our main attributes. Newcomers are always made to feel most welcome. It would be a great help to have a member on site as a guide, just to take visitors around the site, and to explain the history of the station and the line, show what we have achieved and what we are planning to achieve in the coming months and years.

The results of what we have so far achieved are on site for all to see, a very much tidier and safer station and environs, but there is always much more to do.

We are still seeking the advice of a plumber, even if it is just to show us the best way of connecting up to the mains water supply, and installing this for use in our toilets and station tea rooms in the coming months.

To compliment the ladies toilet, we are urgently seeking two cast iron high level water cisterns for the gents toilet and urinal, these are the type that you pull hard on a chain, and there is a mighty rush of water! There just might be one of these lurking in that old outbuilding or shed. If you have one, please turn it out and leave it with us on site, or please give me a phone call and I will come and collect it.

For the gents toilet we are also looking for an old ‘Lockerbie Patent’ (or similar) penny-in-the-slot lock for the door, It does not have to be in working order, but it would greatly add to the Edwardian ambience. If it does work, a supply of pre-decimal pennies will be available from the shop (on loan free of charge) to activate the said lock when required.

I look forward to hearing how you can help us on site.

       Shillingstone's Rare Rose  

Do you have any items of local railway interest that we can photograph for our web site?

News is spreading fast about the Shillingstone Station Project and we are receiving an increasing number of visitors, many of whom wish to become members when they see what we are doing. We also have a video show in operation on Saturdays and Sundays.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at ‘Shillingstone Station’ then please contact Syd Howlett on 01258 880321 or send him an email.

We have vacancies in all departments including painting, carpentry plumbing, electrical, and the shop to name but a few. We are here between 10 am and 4 pm every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year so come along and say ‘hello’. You will be made most welcome.

A CHALLENGE TO ALL OUR MEMBERS & SUPPORTERS

A question that we are often asked is I am unable to get down to the station to help with restoration, but is there any other way that I can help?”