Castle Cary Station Upgrade

[ikcdab]

GWR have been busy at Castle Cary and the station has had a sympathetic overhaul. I did know about it as I had got wind that a friend of mine had been asked for advice. Went and had a look today.

The buildings have been painted in light/dark stone. The new totem signs carry the logo "The Newt in Somerset" which is a new local tourist attraction that seems to have plenty of money to slosh around. So I guess they have contributed. The old milk depot is now a farm shop and cafe, again attractively upgraded. The station seems to be more popular than ever and a whole new carpark has been built on the west side of the station. This is my childhood station where I spent many many hours trainspotting in the 1970s, it was not so clean and tidy then.

 

View of the canopy and rear of the building.

 

 

Fromm the platforms

 

Under the canopy

 

From the up end of the station. Even the 1983 concrete shelter on the down platform has been painted light and dark stone.

 

The old milk factory. Once derelict, is now cafe and shop

 

 

the attractive station building. Designed by Mr Brereton in 1856

 

platforms.

 

 

One of the new totems with the Newt in Somerset branding

 

Below - unfortunatlely the old good shed that was built in 1905 and bombed in 1942 is now pretty much derelict and is a bit of an eyesore.

[stivesnick]

The station building does indeed look very smart. It is a shame there was no money for some lifts to provide step free access to the other platform.

 

Nick 

[ikcdab]

7 minutes ago, stivesnick said:

The station building does indeed look very smart. It is a shame there was no money for some lifts to provide step free access to the other platform.

 

Nick 

Bearing in mind the heritage look and feel and the historic footbridge, I am glad that lifts were not installed.  These would have disfigured the station. 

[The Stationmaster]

Don't forget that Castle Cary was significantly improved, and the station building fully renovated, in the mid 1970s when it was first developed as an Inter City station.

[ikcdab]

31 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

Don't forget that Castle Cary was significantly improved, and the station building fully renovated, in the mid 1970s when it was first developed as an Inter City station.

Indeed so.  Until then (1974) it was full of GWR signs and fittings.  It was upgraded then with new signage and the old gents loo was removed.  When the London trains first began to stop.  The biggest change was then in 1983 with the resignalling. The addition of platform 3 and demolition of the old downside building and replacing with the bus shelter.  Happily the up side building has survived.

Edited August 21, 2024 by ikcdab