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The railway arrived at Hamworthy in 1847, when the Southampton & Dorchester Railway company laid a `standard gauge' line from Southampton to Dorchester. The line went from Southampton via, Brockenhurst, Ringwood, Wimborne, Poole Junction (which is now named Hamworthy) continuing through Wareham to Dorchester. The section of line from Brockenhurst to Poole Junction was known as `Castleman's Corkscrew' due to the involvement of Mr Castleman (A prominent figure in Wimborne.) and the lines numerous curves. 1848 saw the London & South Western Railway take over working of the lines, A branch was laid to Lower Hamworthy and the first Poole Station was built on the shore of Poole Harbour.

In 1872 a branch line was built from Broadstone to Poole's second station (which is still known as Poole Station now) Poole Junction was renamed Hamworthy Junction. The line through Poole town was extended to reach Bournemouth West* in 1874 and again in 1888 to reach Bournemouth Central (Which is still known as Bournemouth Station)

Hamworthy Junction Station was completely rebuilt in 1892 when the route across Holes Bay from Hamworthy Junction to Poole was built, The Holes Bay route was opened to traffic in 1893 thus bypassing Castleman's Corkscrew, or `The Old Road' as it was known to the local railway employees giving a more direct route to Poole, and shortening the Waterloo - Hamworthy route mileage from 119.01 miles to 115.77 miles. Milepost 116 is situated on the Down Platform at the West end of the station.

The section of `The old road' from Hamworthy Junction to Broadstone was singled in 1932, Passenger services ceased on this section from Hamworthy in May 1964 with the line from Hamworthy to Broadstone being retained for goods use until 1966. the section from Hamworthy Junction towards Lytchett level crossing at Upton was used as storage sidings serving Hamworthy Junction station until complete removal of the sidings and associated pointwork and crossings in 1972.

The brick built engine shed at Hamworthy Junction was originally built in 1847 by the Southampton & Dorchester Railway as the Hamworthy Motive Power Depot, it later became a sub shed of Bournemouth. It is shown here looking South West (Date unknown) The run round loop can be seen with a coal wagon standing on it just to the left of the shed. The mainline to Weymouth is beyond the right of the picture, the line that still goes to what is now known as Hamworthy Goods is situated out of shot to the left, Hamworthy Junction Station is directly behind the photographer. The shed was closed in 1954 and demolished shortly afterwards.

This image of the Junction Hotel (and the above images of Hamworthy Shed) are from old Postcards found by Colin Stone (A local railway historian & author of the excellent book `Rails to Poole Harbour') Unfortunately the Junction Hotel was demolished and the land was used for the building of a housing estate in the 1970's. The road in front of the hotel still follows part of its original course and is known as Junction Road, the road to the right of the hotel (running behind it to the left) was built for the new housing estate and is known as Turlin Road, it has now been extended for some way and is the main road running through the housing estate. The expanse of wild grassy moorland and marsh behind the Junction Hotel was originally named `Turling Moor' This area is now known as `Turlin Moor' and is covered by a housing estate, with a few shops, a Post Office, Two schools, A community centre, A sports center and playing fields. I am unsure of the actual date the name was changed, but I suspect it was when the new estate was built the `g' was dropped and over the years people have forgotten the areas proper original name. `Turling Moor'

The Waterloo - Weymouth main line running through Hamworthy Junction was the last All-Steam Mainline in the U.K. After which Diesel traction took over all workings through Hamworthy. The express London to Weymouth services were then hauled by Electric Multiple Units from Waterloo, the electrification terminated at Branksome near Bournemouth, bringing rise to most interesting "Push-Pull" workings with 4TC sets being detatched from the trains at Branksome, and hauled to Weymouth by Class 331xx Diesels fitted specifically for this service with push-pull control systems and a "rubbing plate" or "Push Plate" which contacts with a similar fitting on the end of the 4TC set (Push-Block & lower portion of the Gangway End connection) this allowed for the train to be propelled (Pushed) back from Weymouth to Branksome with the 331xx diesel controlled from the driving end cab of the 4TC set. The Push-Pull system was controlled electrically through the existing coach lighting circuits, thus saving time and money converting coaches to other forms of push-pull train control tried in other regions. The Branksome to Weymouth section of the line was finally electrified in 1988 with the electric services having taken over fully by 1989, & most (maybe all? im not sure) of the 4TC push-pull sets were converted for use as EMU's running on the outside DC 3rd Rail system.

The `5WES' Wessex Electric multiple units dominate the passenger workings through Hamworthy. The old slam door EMU sets are still used on local services although these sets were due to be replaced in 2001 they have now been given an extended life until 2003.

The East Lancashire Railways Bury Locomotive Works received LMS shunter No. 7069 on 10th of December 1994 from the Blue Circle Cement site at Hamworthy, (Now the stone/scrap steel site to the East of the Hamworthy Station). The shunting locomotive was built at Derby in 1941 and carried War Department number 18 during the Second World War.

During 2000 modern Class60 & Class66 diesels and a variety of other diesel traction was working the Hamworthy goods line with stone, ballast, steel & occasionaly imported cars and other vehicles & machinery. There were three Steam workings through Hamworthy summer 2000, The first was a B.R. `Standard 5' with a rake of MK1 coaches on an enthusiasts special to Weymouth, which returned to the preserved N.Y.M.R. (North Yorkshire Moors Railway) via Yeovil. The second was a simmilar affair, working To Weymouth through Yeovil & returning through Hamworthy, Poole & Bournemouth. It is SO good to see a real `Live' steam engine thundering up the bank from Poole to Hamworthy Junction across the middle of Holes Bay, Much more stirring than the clinical electric sevices that buzz past these days... There was also a GWR King class locomotive which passed on an excursion to Yeovil via Weymouth, it was two hours late and not enough light for photography :( but it rushed up the bank from Holes Bay to Hamworthy with the lower portions of the smokebox glowing brightly and with a rush of smoke & steam it was upon us! I'm sure we could almost feel the power exuding from this loco as it raged past us, its rake of nicely turned out Mk2 coaches charging through the station, followed up by a preserved Class 33 diesel "33109 CAPTAIN BILL SMITH RNR" making its own almost musical notes on passing the assembled enthusiasts on the platform, then all too quickly, it was thundering off towards the speed restriction across the Rockley Viaduct, which I'm sure it couldn't have slowed for, but they had miles of open track ahead and plunged onwards into the encroaching darkness. two hours in the cold for a few moments glimpse of the wonderous glory of steam locomotion. A cold but heartwarmimg experience!

We saw two steam excursions visit during 2001 with an increase in diesel specials running, the Hamworthy Goods Branch has also been used twice by enthusiasts charter trains, bringing a pair of 73xxx Electro-Diesels and a Shed (class 66) rumbling down to the site of Poole's first station. :-)

Workings on the Hamworthy goods branch have dwindled, with the scrap train picking up shredded steel from the site that used to be occupied by the cement depot accessed by road from Dawkins Road industrial estate. There have been occasions when the scrap train will be worked empty down the Hamworthy branch, past the Ashmore Road level crossing towards the ferry terminal to run round it's train on the pointwork of the original Poole Station which became Hamworthy Goods on the opening of the new Poole station. The train will then be hauled back up the gradient to be filled with scrap, once filled it will proceed to the signalbox at Hamworthy to await a clear mainline slot travelling towards Southampton.

(March)

The signalbox received some attention in February, with some parts of the box getting a well needed coat of paint.

(May)

The signalbox is being provided with a new toilet facility, there is currently a large hole in the down platform with foundations and pipework in evidence, the portaloo unit will obviously remain in place until works are complete.

(September)

Platform edges have been repainted, the signalbox refurbishment is complete, with the new toilet, a new blue carpet fitted and a complete repaint inside and out. Finished with a new nameplate.

- 2003 -

(January)

Workings on the goods branch and mainline through goods services have increased. The Hamworthy Branch is busy 3 days a week with stone trains loaded at Hamworthy (the scrap depot) and trains hauling `COW' (Contaminated Oil Waste). The oil is shipped in sealed waste oil containers that are lifted onto railway wagons from barges at Hamworthy Quay. There are also recently reintroduced heavy goods workings hauling extracted sand from Wool that passes through Hamworthy Junction, Heavy is a good description but rumbly is probably closer, these trains shake the house enough to knock over small items on my Ngauge layout. With the amount of sand to be moved at around 100,000tons these heavy trains will be running for some time, so I had better glue down the little bits on my models :).

(January)

Testing of new Desiro units on the Bournemouth to Weymouth section of mainline started in January 2003. These new trains have been seen in daylight being moved to/from Weymouth/Bournemouth before and after test runs, these have been hauled mostly by Class33 diesels with barrier wagons (Virgin HST coaches) and two converter wagons (flatbeds with standard couplings at one end and Desiro couplers at the other) The Desiros are due to go into service over the next few months as soon as the traction power supplies to the 3rd rail have been upgraded to provide the extra power required for these newer, more power hungry trains.

(February)

The Hamworthy Goods branch has been busy with COW (Contaminated Oil Waste) trains, Mendip Rail stone trains, and the occasional scrap train visiting. These have provided some interesting traction occasionally byt the branch is worked mostly by class 60 & 66 motive power.

(June)

The Hamworthy Goods branch is still in regular use, "COW", stone, scrap and steel coil trains are keeping the branch and Hamworthy signalbox busy during week days.

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