Sometime during the last decade prior to closure an unidentified BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 passes Daggons Road. The Southern Region's share of this 115-strong class generally had the larger BR1B tender as seen here. The headcode disc positions indicated Salisbury to Bournemouth West via Wimborne, or vice versa, but was also carried by through trains using this route and not necessarily serving Bournemouth West. This is one such train, as indicated by the additional regalia attached to the smokebox door. A number of these trains operated on summer Saturdays between Cardiff or Swansea to destinations in the Bournemouth and New Forest area. The photograph shows Daggons Road station to have been in something of a time warp, a not uncommon situation with rural stations at that time. Only the running-in board shows any hint of modernity while all other signs that are visible have long since seen better days. The platform was oil lit and would remain so until closure. The darker section of wall on the station house is merely a shadow, the photograph being taken when the sun was almost directly overhead. On the right, what had been a single-ended siding, known as the Down Siding, had been converted to a loop, a passing loop according to some sources, in 1904. No doubt of some use when goods trains were operating, the loop doubtful saw much use for crossing passenger trains, if indeed that was the intention, as Daggons Road only ever possessed one platform. As the photograph suggests the loop saw more use as a double-ended siding, at least during later years, this being further evidenced by the provision of a walkway for staff, between running line and loop, covering point rodding. Daggons Road signal box, a small almost hut-like affair, stood out of view to the right adjacent to where the point rodding passes beneath the track. The box had been downgraded to ground frame status in 1903 and was never a Block Post. After 1903 only shunt signals were provided, despite the OS six inch map published in 1911 suggesting to the contrary but this map would have been surveyed some years previously. The points at bottom right led only to a short headshunt, in effect trap points. There was a longer headshunt at the other end of the loop, upon which in this view some mineral wagons are stabled. Not obvious in this photograph due to the presence of the train, points, facing in the Up (away from the camera) direction, connected to further sidings on the west side of the station (left). There was a dock behind the platform, to the left of the first two carriages, while another siding served a brick and pottery works located roughly behind where the mature trees can be seen.
Photo received from Andrew Bibby

A clear view of the station buildings at Daggons Road circa early 1960s. The two storey station house is on the left adjacent to the booking office. The smaller building is the gents' toilet and beyond it the ladies waiting room and toilet. Two luggage trollys are seen at the end of the platform. A siding can just be made out running behind the platform. The brickworks and pottery had closed by this time but the siding was retained for railway use.
Photo from John Mann collection