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"In the meantime, construction work had
been going ahead. Rushey Platt platforms were being built at a cost of £250
each and the SMA (Swindon, Marlborough and Andover Railway) offered to pay
half the cost of the connecting subways. Shopland, the engineer, considered
lighting them by gas, the New Swindon Gas Company offering to lay the
necessary pipes. The junction between the SMA and the SCE (Swindon and
Cheltenham Extension Railway) was inspected by Col F. H. Rich on 9 September
1883;; he found that one lever needed interlocking and the permanent way
needed repacking. it was re-inspected and passed on 12 October 1883. Goods
traffic began between Rushey Platt and Cirencester on 1 November 1883, and
Major Marindin inspected this stretch of 13 miles 35 chains on 27 and 28
November. He reported that it was a single line with passing places at
Rushey Platt junction station, Cricklade and Cirencester. The works were
well and substantially constructed, but on the day of inspection wet weather
had caused a slip in the embankment near the Wootton Bassett Road, at the
point where the chalk and the clay soils met. Major Marindin would not pass
the line for passenger traffic, but goods continued to work over it. Overed
Watson, the contractor, said that in the four months from September to
December more rain had fallen than for fifty years during the same period.
He added that of the opposition, Great Western, landowners and the weather,
the last was the worst. It was calculated that the work on the bank would be
finished in eight days, so the opening demonstration was postponed from 5 to
13 December, but numerous engagements prevented the inspector from coming
until 17 December. He passed the line, though recom- mending that the slip
should be watched during the winter and trains run cautiously. As the
inspection train reached Cricklade, South Cerney and Cirencester stations,
bills were posted announcing that the line was passed and would be open to
traffic the following day. The inspection train returned over the sixteen
miles between Cirencester and Swindon in twenty-two minutes. Cirencester
people had of course arranged a celebration for opening day, but as the
rearrangements had been hasty and Christmas was so near, it was postponed
until the New Year. However the contractors invited some friends to a
champagne luncheon on 18 December. The train carrying the guests left
Swindon at 1 p.m. and was welcomed by crowds at Cricklade-the town band
playing 'A flower that bloometh'. The following day the Vale of White Horse
Foxhounds travelled by train to Swindon for their usual weekly meet at the
end of the county. Unlike Cirencester, Cricklade could not wait until after
Christmas and held its celebrations in the White Hart Hotel on the 21st.
Sports were held on the following day, with a tea- for the children and old
people, and a firework display. On 8 January came Cirencester's rejoicings.
A public luncheon was held in the King's Head Hotel and the humbler folk
filled the market place and played games and sports-jumping, running,
bobbing for treacle buns, climbing greasy poles.
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"Soon the line passed
lakes formed by gravel working and the ascent of the Cotswolds began. South
Cerney originally had only one platform but another was added later. A goods
loop in addition to the passing loop was opened in September 1900, and there
was also a horse dock and three sidings. Sometimes 2-6-0 No. 16 came out
from Swindon with a brake van to pick up ten to fifteen trucks of gravel
from the sidings. The gravel had been dug up by hand, shovelled into a
two-wheeled, horse-drawn cart, taken to the station and shovelled into the
open wagons - a laborious task. The station has had two changes of title:
originally Cerney and Ashton Keynes, it became just Cerney until 1 July
1924, when it was amended to South Cerney. Freight traffic was withdrawn on
1 July 1963.
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