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OS Ref: SY935861

Last Visited: 2004

Pike's Tramway Map

Pike's Tramway is one of three old clay railways that used to run across the Purbeck heaths, the other two being Fayles Tramway from Norden to Goathorn Pier, and the much earlier Middlebere Tramway from Norden to Middlebere Creek.

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Original Trackbed

The 2ft 8½in gauge Pike's Tramway ran from Pike Brothers' clay pits around Furzebrook in an almost dead straight line to Ridge Wharf on the River Frome, and was operated by seven steam engines, named Primus through to Septimus.

Of these only Secundus, which dates from 1874, survives. It was last seen hiding in Corfe Castle Goods Shed but will eventually be moving to the new Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum at Norden.

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Stoborough Heath

As for the track formation, a lot of it was concreted over when the line was closed in 1955, and is still used by the clay pit lorries to this day. The best preserved stretch runs north from the A351 from a point opposite the bus stop near the Halfway Inn. There is no parking here, and it is best approached either from Natural England's Stoborough Heath car park at Sunnyside Farm, or (if you can find somewhere to pull off the road) from the west along the paths marked in green across Stoborough Heath National Nature Reserve.

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Engine House

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Engine House

The only other significant survival is the Engine House at the former Ridge Clay Works. This can be seen opposite the entrance to the Ridge Wharf Boatyard.

At the time of my visit there was a notice on the door about a planning application, but it appeared to relate only to repairs to the existing structure.