S & D Bridgwater Branch
NOTE In early March 2016 the West Somerset Railway celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset by having a special Gala Week. Stations were re-named and loco re-numbered. Please look in our features section January to July 2016 for coverage of this event.
A letter from Dave Bown :-
Just been trawling around looking for any more info on the Bridgwater Railway when I came upon your website.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know about my book & website, all about this railway, the branch line from Bridgwater to Edington Junction. Hope you might be interested in adding a link or something as I'm sure some of your members might find some of the info interesting.**
Book Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/The-Bridgwater-Railway-through-Bawdrip-319676441489684/
Webpage http://www.geocities.ws/dbown100/BawdripHalt.htm
Regards, Dave Bown.
** It is highly recommended that you click on the links above - over 80 maps and excellent photographs of this 7 mile country branch line from Bridgwater to Edington Junction. You will see many views of Bridgwater, Station, Bawdrip Halt, Cossington, and Edington Junction. **
Just been trawling around looking for any more info on the Bridgwater Railway when I came upon your website.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know about my book & website, all about this railway, the branch line from Bridgwater to Edington Junction. Hope you might be interested in adding a link or something as I'm sure some of your members might find some of the info interesting.**
Book Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/The-Bridgwater-Railway-through-Bawdrip-319676441489684/
Webpage http://www.geocities.ws/dbown100/BawdripHalt.htm
Regards, Dave Bown.
** It is highly recommended that you click on the links above - over 80 maps and excellent photographs of this 7 mile country branch line from Bridgwater to Edington Junction. You will see many views of Bridgwater, Station, Bawdrip Halt, Cossington, and Edington Junction. **
Bridgwater North
The frontage of Bridgwater North station seen on the 14th April 1982 The platform at right angles at the back of the station building was at right angles. Copyright Roger Winnen
Bridgwater North Opposite to the station is the stationmaster house seen here on the 14th April 1982 Copyright Roger Winnen
The shed at Bridgwater North had been taken over for other uses - seen here on the 14th April 1982. Copyright Roger Winnen
Inside the shed at Bridgwater North on the 14th April 1982. Copyright Roger Winnen
Bridgwater North shed. A CRS party inspects the interior of the former shed at Bridgewater North. 17th September 1983 Copyright Roger Winnen
Bawdrip
For pictures of Bawdrip try clicking here https://www.facebook.com/The-Bridgwater-Railway-through-Bawdrip-319676441489684/
Cossington
Cossington on the 4th November 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen
Cossington Station. Copyright Roger Winnen.JPG
Cossington Station on the 4th November 1977. Copyright Roger Winnen. Looking smart this side.
For more pictures of Cossington try clicking here https://www.facebook.com/The-Bridgwater-Railway-through-Bawdrip-319676441489684/
S & D Wells Branch
771104g Polsham Halt. Copyright Roger Winnen
771104g Polsham Halt. Copyright Roger Winnen
Wells Priory Road
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wells (Priory Road) was a railway station on the Somerset and Dorset Railway in the county of Somerset. Opening on 15 March 1859 as Wells, on the Somerset Central Railway at that time a broad-gauge line operated by the Bristol & Exeter Railway prior to that Company's amalgamation with the Dorset Central Railway to form the Somerset & Dorset, it was the terminus of the branch from Glastonbury.
The East Somerset Railway, an offshoot of the GWR owned Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, extended its line to Wells in 1862 with its own station to the east of Priory Road. In 1870, the Bristol and Exeters branchfrom Yatton reached Wells with a third terminus station at Tucker Street to the north west of Priory Road. Finally, in 1878, with all three lines by this time converted to standard gauge, the GWR linked the Cheddar Valley line to the East Somerset line by running over a stretch of the Somerset and Dorset line, including through Priory Road station. The East Somerset station closed on the commencement of through-running, but the through trains did not stop at Priory Road until 1934 and for 56 years passengers from, say, Glastonbury to Cheddar would need to change stations in Wells. Priory Road adopted the full name in October 1883, and the Cheddar Valley line station was renamed as Tucker Street in 1920.
Priory Road station consisted of one platform with a station building and an overall roof. The adjacent goods yard and junction with the GWR were controlled from a signalbox. The station closed to passengers on 29 October 1951 and the train shed roof was taken down soon after, although passenger traffic on the former GWR line through the station continued until 1963, with goods traffic until 1969.
Wells (Priory Road) was a railway station on the Somerset and Dorset Railway in the county of Somerset. Opening on 15 March 1859 as Wells, on the Somerset Central Railway at that time a broad-gauge line operated by the Bristol & Exeter Railway prior to that Company's amalgamation with the Dorset Central Railway to form the Somerset & Dorset, it was the terminus of the branch from Glastonbury.
The East Somerset Railway, an offshoot of the GWR owned Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, extended its line to Wells in 1862 with its own station to the east of Priory Road. In 1870, the Bristol and Exeters branchfrom Yatton reached Wells with a third terminus station at Tucker Street to the north west of Priory Road. Finally, in 1878, with all three lines by this time converted to standard gauge, the GWR linked the Cheddar Valley line to the East Somerset line by running over a stretch of the Somerset and Dorset line, including through Priory Road station. The East Somerset station closed on the commencement of through-running, but the through trains did not stop at Priory Road until 1934 and for 56 years passengers from, say, Glastonbury to Cheddar would need to change stations in Wells. Priory Road adopted the full name in October 1883, and the Cheddar Valley line station was renamed as Tucker Street in 1920.
Priory Road station consisted of one platform with a station building and an overall roof. The adjacent goods yard and junction with the GWR were controlled from a signalbox. The station closed to passengers on 29 October 1951 and the train shed roof was taken down soon after, although passenger traffic on the former GWR line through the station continued until 1963, with goods traffic until 1969.
Wells Priory Road. 1963 Closed to Passengers 29th October 1951 Closed goods 13th July 1964 Copyright John Thorn
Wells stations area
Stations in the City of Wells. The area has been virtually cleared of all railway remains. A road occupying much of the GWR route through the city. There was double track at Tucker Street station. Many thanks to Peter Butt for the simlified map above. Copyright
View (1a) Wells Tucker Street Goods Depot. 4th November 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen
View (1b) Goods Shed at Wells Tucker Street. 4th November 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen
View (1c) Inside Wells Goods Shed. 4th August 1996 Copyright Roger Winnen
View (1d) The former Goods Shed at Wells Tucker Street. As seen on 4th August 1996 Copyright Roger Winnen
View (1e) The former Goods Shed at Wells Tucker Street. 4th August 1996 Copyright Roger Winnen
View (2) Wells Tucker Street Station lay just beyond the bridge, now demolished, this carried Tucker Street over the railway. 4th November 2004 Copyright Roger Winnen
A view looking under Tucker Street bridge along the course of the railway towards Priory Road. 4th November 1977 Wells Copyright Roger Winnen
View (3a) Taken from Tucker Street Bridge. The line from Tucker Street continued around the curve to cross the sidings of Priory Road Goods Yard which came on an alignment roughly parallel to the long side of the industrial building at the centre of this view. Taken 4th November 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen.
This view taken on the 4th August 1996 shows that a road has taken the route of the GWR line. The buildings in the centre can be related to View (3a) Copyright Roger Winnen
Another view slightly further round the bend heading across the former Priory Road Goods sidings towards Priory Road station which lay just out of sight. 4th August 1996 Copyright Roger Winnen
Wells - the plaque at the site of Wells Priory Road station.alongside what is now a road. The site is marked with an asterisk on the map above of Wells City stations. Copyright Chris Osment
Detail of the plaque at the site of Wells Priory Road station. Copyright Chris Osment
960804c Five Railway Cottages were built at Wells. These are pictured here by Roger Winnen Copyright