13th May 1985 to 13th May 2020 - Melksham Station reborn

[whole diary]

[grahame]

13th May 1985 - a day of great celebration as Melksham Station was re-opened to passenger traffic after being closed for a couple of decades.

It never ceases to amaze me just how many people say "I was there when it re-opened" and thoughts have turned to holding some sort of event to mark the anniversary this year, 35 years on, 13th May 2020.  Link rather than conflict with "Community Rail in the City".

[Robin Summerhill]

That second track is conspicuous by its absence these days...

[Bmblbzzz]

Two tracks but one platform? Or was there a second platform out of sight?

[grahame]

Two tracks but one platform? Or was there a second platform out of sight?

The track in the foreground was the single running line until a week or two before the reopening - formerly the Chippenham-bound line, with a platform where the picture was taken that was totally removed soon after singling in 1967.

The track alongside the platform was formerly the Trowbridge-bound line but had been degraded to being a siding at singling time.   For the reopening, the tracks were redone / slewed over at both end so the siding became the running line.  Soon (?) after the re-opening, the now-disconnected track was removed.

[RA]

Two tracks but one platform? Or was there a second platform out of sight?

The second platform was on the right of the image, directly opposite the remaining platform. In 1966, all of the remaining stations between Thingley Junction and Bradford Junction were closed following the withdrawal of stopping services from the route. In 1967 the line was singled between Bradford North Junction and Thingley Junction. The line on the right in the image was retained as the running line and the adjacent platform was later removed. The line on the left of the image was retained as a siding as the station site was subsequently used as a rail served oil terminal, as well as a remaining siding serving the West of England Farmers Ltd silos beyond the bridge. Fortunately, this led to the former down platform escaping demolition. When it was proposed to re-open Melksham station, the only surviving platform was the former down platform, on the opposite side to the remaining running line. The running line was therefore slewed across on both approaches to Melksham, making the track adjacent to the platform face the running line and allowing the station to again serve the public. Unfortunately, the southern end of the remaining platform had been sold off to private hands and couldn't be used for its original purpose, however the remaining 40 metre section at the northern end could be returned to use. The selling off of the southern section of the original down platform necessitated the platform to be lengthened at the northern end to allow 3-car trains to be fully accommodated.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-pelican-railways/albums/72157666449944232

The above link has some nice old pictures of the station site.

[grahame]

Melksham Rail User Group / CoronaVirus response

Our meeting on 18th March 2020, at the United Chuch just off the market place, will run as scheduled, although we'll leave a slightly larger gap than usual betwwem chairs.  We 100% understand if anyone chooses not to come - minutes will be online afterwards and officers happy to discuss matters with members.

We will plan for our survey at Melksham Station, working with volunteers and partners, on 5th May 2020, and this will include distribution of summer timetable leafltes.  Whether addiitional measures and changes are needed, we'll decide nearer the time, but prepartions can go ahead even if the method of delivery is amended.

13th May 2020 is 35 years since Melksham Station re-opened, and we had been planning a re-union trip for everone who was there that day.  Bearing in mind the more senior profile of the people involved, there is a strong probability that we'll reserch for 13th May 2020, but postpone the event itself until 13th May 2021.

[grahame]

13th May 2020 is 35 years since Melksham Station re-opened, and we had been planning a re-union trip for everyone who was there that day.  Bearing in mind ...

Nothing stops the clock ticking ... it will have been 35 years next month - the Coral Jubilee if you like. We'll put a good show online ... and look forward to celebrating on 13th May 2021 or some other date perhaps.

[grahame]

35 years ago this Wednesday, Melksham Railway Station was re-opened amidst great celebration. Initially, two trains per day catered for commuters to Swindon, but in recent years services have successfully increased, services run from very early morning (first train 05:33!) to mid evening, and passenger numbers have rocketed.

The "Melksham Rail User Group" will be marking the anniversary at 4 p.m. (Wednesday 13th May) with an online (zoom) meeting - a short illustrated talk on the re-opening of the station, followed by a discussion on current public transport in Melksham and how we move forward.   Everyone Welcome - please do try out Zoom ahead of time if this is the first time you'll be using it.

Melksham station was re-opened on a trial basis in 1985 - and here we are today with a permanent and much grown facility that does so much for the town, This zoom meeting is also on a trial basis; like the station, we hope that something bigger grows from a small start.  It was with great support and dedication from the community that the station has succeeded; please help and support us now in these extraordinarily difficult times - you initial support (coming along on Wednesday afternoon) will cost you nothing more than half an hour of your time.

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The "Melksham Rail User Group"  is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: "Melksham's new railway Station - 35 years young today"
Time: May 13, 2020 04:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/3090013950?pwd=bzkzVEsvbGxGaERFempjcUtkdm1vQT09

Meeting ID: 309 001 3950
Password: WedsClub

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The Melksham Rail User Group is a member of TransWilts CIC^▸ (Community Interest Company ) and a member of the Community Rail Network. Chair - Peter Blackburn; Secratary - John Hamley; Treasurer - Judith Gradwell; Vice Chair - Graham Ellis.

[grahame]

The "Melksham Rail User Group"  is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: "Melksham's new railway Station - 35 years young today"
Time: May 13, 2020 04:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/3090013950?pwd=bzkzVEsvbGxGaERFempjcUtkdm1vQT09

Meeting ID: 309 001 3950
Password: WedsClub

Bump ... six hours from now.   Of interest in our Wiltshire area ... do come along and listen in if you wish.   Some interesting old pictures seeing the light of day for the first time in this century.

[grahame]

Slide set online at http://www.mrug.org.uk/wclub_20200513.pdf

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2014