It's time to take up the story of the Portland Railway once again.

Last week reader Tony Ford shared his experience of riding on the final goods train from Weymouth to Portland.

He shared his copy of the Weymouth to Portland Railway Centenary programme with us.

Tony's copy was signed by train drivers, but we couldn't quite decipher the names. So it was a lovely surprise to hear from Jim (Tommy) Greening, who worked with the drivers at Weymouth motive power depot at Radipole from 1963.

Multi-talented 'Tommy' was also a fireman!

He tells us: "The correct names of the drivers and firemen named on the souvenir programme are David Pointer, Terry Bush, Denis Turner and Leslie Moore." Thanks to 'Tommy' for filling us in.

Returning to The Railways of Portland by Charles E.Lee, we reached the year 1825 when the Portland Railway was incorporated.

Tonnage rates were set - for all stone of the best quality it was decided that a charge of 8d per ton per mile would be levied. Roach stone and other stone of inferior quality would be charged at 6d. per ton per mile.

Other provisions were that the company might from time to time reduce the rates and raise them again as occasion might require; the railroad was not to interfere with the military defence of Portland Castle and that no building was to be erected within 200 yards of the castle and that if the work was not completed within three years the act was to be void. Negotiations with commoners and the Department of Woods and Forests were rapidly completed and the necessary land was secured. Within 16 months of the incorporation of the company the line was built and in October 1826, the first load of stone was conveyed.

But it wouldn't be until 1865 when a passenger line would become available. Great Western Railway held a meeting at the Royal Hotel in Weymouth on October 7 1861, where two plans were unveiled. The meeting was well attended by residents who had a keen interest in the passenger line.

The plan eventually adopted was for a mixed gauge line from a point on the GWR just north of Weymouth station, crossing from Backwater to Rodwell and Portland. An integral part of the arrangements was the building of a tramway from Weymouth to the harbour.

The opening of the railway was deferred owing to disagreement between the leasing companies as to terminal arrangements at Weymouth.

On October 16 1865 the ordinary passenger service began on the four miles and the 29 chains between Weymouth and Portland. The Weymouth harbour tramway was brought into service for goods traffic but was not opened to passengers until July 1 1889.

The original passenger train service was worked by LSWR on the narrow gauge rails using Beattie tank engine Nile.

Another Portland railway of this period was the Portland Breakwater Railway or Admiralty Line.

The fourth railway on the island was the Easton and Church Hope, incorporated on July 25 1867 to build a line from Easton to Church Hope (Ope) Cove, a distance of 1.5 miles, complete with a pier. Work began on the line and was suspended in 1874, construction started again in 1888 The railway opened for goods on October 1, 1900. This railway, three miles and 39 chains long, began at Chiswell in a junction to the Portland Breakwater Railway and formed a connecting link with the Weymouth and Portland Railway. The Portland Breakwater Railway was opened as a through running line on October 1, 1900.

And that is the fascinating story of the evolution of the Portland Railway.