Opening of the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth

[whole diary]

[grahame]

On Thursday, 7 September, 1848, Devizes & Wiltshire Gazette published an article relating the events of the grand opening of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway from Thingley to Westbury held at the New Market House in Melksham. The Directors and dignitaries met there after a noon test run down to Westbury and back. The following is a retelling of this article in play form:

http://twhc.org.uk/train1848.html

This article has been retyped over the last few days as a part of the celebration of the history of the TransWilts, for the celebration this Sunday of the first year of the trial improved service.

[bobm]

Interestingly, I have just been reading about the opening of BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Wiltshire Sound in 1989 (now known as just BBC Wiltshire).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2009/04/03/the_beginning_of_wiltshire_sound_feature.shtml

This paragraph caught my eye

When the 4th April rolled around, we chartered a train from Swindon to Salisbury, stopping off with a barbershop-quartet at many of the stations and a reception with dignitaries in both Swindon and Salisbury, with an amazing amount of local pre-recorded input in to all programmes.

I wonder if any audio or photos survive.