I read with some interest of the latest news regarding the 'Blandford arches' and I feel that although saving as much of the good 'ol former S&D is to be applauded, I cannot for the life of me see why anyone would wish to waste money on saving two crumbling brick piers, which, let's be quite honest, will NEVER see another train cross them.  If there was any possibility of the railway re using this crossing point, I would be the first to say: "Yes! Let's keep them!" And who would want to visit them ?(except for maybe sad individuals like me for whom nostalgia is a way of life) But let's keep this 'real'. On thier own, these piers and flood arches are worthless in thier isolation.  Money wasted on any preservation and upkeep of these remains would SURELY be better spent on projects where the railway COULD be re instated and provide a REALISTIC and viable service to the public generally.  The fact that the S&D was ever closed at all, has been a sore point for many, but we cannot turn back the clock.  So let's concentrate on maybe a deviation by passing Blandford in the future and get the government to issue a few CPO's !!  I would like a new S&D geared to serving the public and providing a means of moving heavy freight OFF inadequate roads. The government transport policy of the 50's was the destruction of our sensible rail links in favour of biased road lobbyists with  vested interest in roads.
The clock seems to be turning full circle, so let's TELL the government that we DEMAND they at least help us to return trains to a revised route closely approximating the original where possible.