Railroad engineering principles and practices

¶ … Railway Lines That Cross the Route of the Somerset and Doreset

The Somerset and Dorset railway ceased to exist after 1960s and much of the railway was pulled down. History collected by various sources show that the railway line connected Midlands down to the seaside resort of Bournemouth. The Somerset & Dorset line passed via the Mendip Hills, the mid Somerset Levels to Dorset. It was originally planned to connect Bristol with South Wales and simultaneously Midlands with the South coast and ambitiously to France. Initially it was built in broad gauge between Highbridge & Glastonbury in 1854. It was a twelve mile line. (Nevard, 2002)

Some of the old routes of the defunct railway are to be gathered from the bills passed in the parliament. The report of the board of trade in the House of commons dated 5th February 1864 shows that the Somerset and Doreset Railway company was authorized to make railways from Bristol to south of Cheddar and Axbride and to also engage in partnership with other companies. (Great Britain Parliament, 1864) This line was run to Bristol and Exeter and in the same year extended to Highbridge Wharf. By the end of the year it was extended to Burnham on Sea. In 1859 another line was established from Glastonbury to Wells. Later in 1869 on account of an amalgamation the company was called Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway. The rail line expanded with a direct run between Burnham on Sean and Wimborne Minster. The new company also applied and got permission to ply between Broadstone Junction over London and South-western Railway into Poole. (Nevard, 2002)

While at this stage the company was in difficulty and it caused another extension between bath pass over the Mendip Hills, to Evercreech Junction. Thus it passed over the North Somerset coal mining district and terminated at the Bath Green Park. The line was later leased by London & South Western Railway on account of this branching the Burnham on Sea, to Evercreech Junction became known as "The Branch' and the extended line were called the 'The Mainline'." (Nevard, 2002) in 1888 a new line was added to Corfe Mullen and Broadstone to end in Wimborne Minster. During the Second World War, it was used for transporting supplies between Midlands and the South and after the war; tourist interest caused the line to also connect Birmingham and Wolverhampton including the "Pines Express which ran from Manchester to Bournmouth West." (Nevard, 2002) All trains by 1965 were rerouted via Oxford avoiding the Somerset & Dorset line completely. In 1966 the lines closed for ever but the Broadstone Junction to Blandford Forum lines were kept open for goods traffic likewise from Highbridge to Bason Bridge was kept open upto 1972 for milk traffic. The last section to work and continue was the Radstock to Writhlington Colliery section for coal traffic. The entire section thus was closed in 1976. (Nevard, 2002)

Later records kept by rail enthusiasts and photographers reveal that by the year 1960 steam was replaced by diesel and other type of locomotives, and in 1966 the Somerset and Dorset line with a whole 72 miles from Bath to Bournemouth was stopped, and torn up. The end of the steam locomotives also closed the line. (Holland, 2010)