EAST SOMERSET RAILWAY

The 'East Somerset Railway' operates a 2.5 mile preserved railway on standard gauge.

Contents

History

Preservation

Events

Stations & Route

Locomotives

Operational Steam

Undergoing Overhaul

Awaiting Overhaul

Operational Diesel

Just Overhauled

References

External links

History

The line was built in 1855 as a broad gauge line. The line was originally between Witham railway station and Shepton Mallet and this line opened on 9th November 1858. It was later extended to Wells, this part of the line was opened on 1st March 1862. The East Somerset Railway was bought by the Great Western Railway in 1874. It remained in use with the GWR and later BR until passenger service finally ceased in 1963.

Preservation

Today the railway plays host to a variety of preserved diesel and steam locomotives.
The East Somerset Railway only operates the line between Cranmore and Mendip Vale, the section between Cranmore and the mainline is used for heavy quarry traffic to the nearby Merehead Quarry.
On the 25th of March 2007 the East Somerset Railway announced that it had received a £7,500 grant from Shepton 21 Group, a local organistation, set up to regenerate the area around Shepton Mallet. The money will be spent on conducting a feasibility study into extending the line towards Shepton Mallet, with a possible new terminus at Cannards Grave, on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet.

Events

The railway hosts several events throughout the year

★ "Spring into steam"

★ "Mendip steam dream"

★ Santa Special trains

★ "The way we were" days

Stations & Route

KBFa
|}

★ Cranmore

★ Cranmore West

★ Merryfield Lane Halt

★ Mendip Vale

Locomotives

Operational Steam

★ Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No.1719 - Austerity Blue

★ Duro USA Tank No.30075 - BR Black

★ No 813 0-6-0ST - GWR green - Great Western Green

Undergoing Overhaul

★ LB&SCR E1 Class No.110

Awaiting Overhaul

★ Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No.1398

★ Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No.705

★ GWR 5600 Class No.5637 - BR Black

Operational Diesel

★ Sentinel 0-4-0DH No. DH199 Cattewater - Red

★ Sentinel 0-6-0DH No. DH39 - Blue

Just Overhauled

★ Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No.1719 - Austerity Blue

References

External links

★ The Railway website