West Somerset Railway
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| West Somerset Railway |
| Railway Stations Taunton (special operations only) |
The West Somerset Railway (WSR) is a heritage railway that runs along the edge of the Quantock Hills in Somerset, England, between Bishops Lydeard and Watchet, and then along the coast to Minehead. The Exmoor National Park is nearby.
At 23 miles, it is the longest privately owned passenger rail line in the UK. It operates using heritage steam and diesel locomotives, and provides transport for the community as well as a leisure attraction for visitors. In the first respect however the WSR's ability to provide a true public transport alternative to the car is limited by its having to stop short of the major town of Taunton (see below).
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[edit] History
[edit] Construction
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Image:WSR 9351 Bishops Lydeard Station Photograph By Robert Kilpin.JPG There were many proposals to build a West Somerset Railway, but the first was the 1850s West Somerset Mineral Railway (WSMR), which constructed a "narrow" line from the iron-ore mines of the Brendon Hills to Watchet. The company then had a proposal for an extension to Minehead, but this was not proceeded with.
Two meetings then took place in 1856. The first in Williton was attended by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It originally debated connecting Watchet with Bridgwater via a tunnel under the Quantock Hills - but Brunel suggested that although there may be coal under the hills, the tunnel was too long and costly compared to a direct route following the Qauntocks and accessing the Bristol & Exeter railway at Taunton. The second meeting was held in Taunton, which proposed a route which cut closer to the Quantocks, and then meandered down to Minehead. However, the first group had Brunel survey the route, and plans for broad gauge railway were submitted in November 1856.
The West Somerset Railway Company was incorporated on 17 August 1857 by way of Act of Parliament, and a propspectus issued to raise the required £120,000 - but share holders failed to take any interest. After a considerable delay, Furness of London started construction on 7 April 1859 at Crowcombe Heathfield.
[edit] Operation
Soon it was taken over by the Bristol and Exeter Railway, which in turn was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1874. The line, built to broad gauge standard, was converted to standard gauge in one day in October 1882.
After the Beeching Axe review, the line was closed by British Railways in January 1971. The land was purchased by Somerset County Council, as the route of a potential new road to Watchet and Minehead for the heavy tourist traffic. However, this idea was dropped in consultation with the National Park authority, as the road would have impinged on Exmoor National Park.
[edit] Preservation
It reopened as a private heritage line at Easter 1976. Although a rail connection still exists with the national rail network via Norton Fitzwarren to Taunton, it is presently necessary to catch a bus between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard. This heavily restricts the WSR's ability to provide a true public transport alternative to the car, by having to stop short of the major town of Taunton. However, the through line from Taunton is used on Gala Weekends and by charter trains. The junction signalling is in the course of being upgraded to allow more frequent use by through trains.
The West Somerset Railway Association provides an army of volunteers who carry out a wide range of tasks to support the Railway, from booking clerks to gardeners to engine drivers.
[edit] Stations
The railway has nine stations and one halt for normal operations. Stations are listed in the down direction (in increasing distance from London)
[edit] Special Operation only
- Taunton (National Rail station)
- Norton Fitzwarren (no passenger facilities currently)
[edit] Normal Operations
- Bishops Lydeard (normal southern terminus)
- Crowcombe Heathfield
- Stogumber
- Williton
- Doniford Halt
- Watchet
- Washford
- Blue Anchor
- Dunster
- Minehead (northern terminus)
[edit] Locomotives
[edit] Steam Locomotives
- BR Standard No. 80136 - In service - BR Black
- GWR '38XX' 2-8-0 No. 3850 - In Service - GWR Green Button badge
- GWR '45XX' 2-6-2T No. 4561 - Awaiting Overhaul (Currently in Bishops Lydeard Museum) - BR Black
- GWR '55XX' 2-6-2T No. 5542 - In service (Away at the South Devon Railway) - GWR green
- GWR '64XX' 0-6-0T No. 6412 - In Service - GWR Green button badge
- BR(W) '78XX' 4-6-0 No. 7828 "Odney Manor" - Under Overhaul at Minehead -
- BR(W) '78XX' 4-6-0 No. 7820 "Dinmore Manor" - Awaiting Overhaul at Minehead -
- BR(W) '5101' 2-6-2T No. 4160 - In Service On Bluebell Railway For Winter - BR Green
- WSR 2-6-0 No. 9351 (rebuild of no 5193) - In Service - GWR green
- SDJR 2-8-0 Class 7F No. 88 - In Sevice (current boiler ticket expires in 2016) - S&DJR Blue
- SR 4-6-2 No. 34046 "Braunton" - Under Overhaul at Williton -
- Peckett 0-4-0ST No. 1788 "Kilmersdon" - In Service at Wasford Yard - Green
- Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST No. 3437 "Isabel" - In Service at Wasford Yard - Red
[edit] Diesel Locomotives
- BR 0-6-0 Class 03 no. 03119-BR Blue-In service
- BR 0-6-0 Class 03 no. D2133-BR Green-In Service
- BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. D3462 In Service-Br Green
- BR 0-6-0 Class 14 no. D9526 In Service-Br Two-Tone Green
- BR Bo-Bo Class 25 no. D7523 In Service-Br Two-Tone Green
- BR Bo-Bo Class 33 nos. D6566-Br Blue In Service and 33057-To be repainted into BR Green
- BR B-B Class 35 nos. D7017- BR Green and D7018-Br Blue Both Out Of Service At Williton Under Repair
- BR C-C Class 47 no. D1661 BR Two-Tone Green (arriving in service, May 2007)
- BR C-C Class 52 no. D1010 "Western Campaigner" In Williton Shed Under Repair-Carrying Maroon livery
[edit] Diesel Multiple Units
- BR Class 103 unit 50413+56169
- BR Class 115 unit 51852+59678+51887 and 51859+51880
- BR Class 117 unit 117311 (51352+59505+51376)
[edit] Trivia
- During the summer the railway employs 28 people, in addition to many volunteers. It carries 200,000 passengers each year, and has so far (end of 2003) transported over 3 million people
- The West Somerset is featured in the PC simulation game "Train Driver"
[edit] See also
- Other local railway attractions
[edit] External links
- Official web site
- The West Somerset Railway on the Web (unofficial site)
- bbc.co.uk/somerset: The Minehead Meander
- West Somerset Railway Association
