SHILLINGSTONE Station closed in 1966 – but a group determined to bring locomotives back have achieved a major landmark.

Six decades after the last train ran, North Dorset Railway (NDR) has been granted an exemption by the rail governing body which clears the way to make a return to rail possible.

Since starting work just over a year ago, the all-volunteer team has completed half a mile of track, won planning permission to change to an operational railway, and now secured a licence from the Office of Rail and Road.

However, before anyone can book a ticket to ride, the group said there is “still much to do”.

“To start with, a fully-rebuilt 12-seater ‘brake van’ will be the first coach to be used for passengers, and there are still four to six weeks’ work to make the roof watertight, to be followed by a similar period to train volunteers to operate it and get the associated paperwork sorted, so there won’t be much time to run more than a few times before winter sets in,” a spokesperson said.

“The plan is to start regular rides next year, and NDR will also be working to get a newly-acquired railbus ready, which will increase passenger capacity from just 12 in the brake van to nearly 60.”

NDR chair, Gavin Collins, added: “It’s exciting, but it’s going to be a big change for the railway.”

For more information on the North Dorset Railway, visit northdorsetrailway.co.uk.

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Work is continuing on the brake van at the North Dorset Railway. Picture: NDR