Railway Engineering

Railway Engineering Report: Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, Bath Extension Wellow-Midford-Bath Park Background Information on Wellow Station (from Clapcott) Open 20 July 1874 Built close to the village Two platforms, with main station on upper platform Area controlled by 18 lever signal box at East end of down platform, adjacent to the level crossing Closed to goods traffic 10 June 1963 Closed to passenger traffic 7 March 1966 Part of the Somerset & Dorset Bath Extension Signal box was "jointly owned by the London & South Western and Midland Railways, although it is clear that the former carried out most of the signaling work" (The Signal Box) Current Issues Trackbed missing in the majority of route from Wellow to Bath Trackbed needs to be repurchased; land has been privatized Severe disrepair in parts where tracks still exist Corrosion is severe in all components (rail web, base plate) Base plates have been compromised nearly the whole way Corroded rail foot Defective, missing, dry or corroded joints Headwear, rail heads nearly nonexistent Diversion of electrical components; preventing signaling in current state Land use issues; large swathes have been subsumed by local development Irregularities in land surface due to weather, climate change (undulations, sinkhole-like erosion, tree growth creating irregularities in existing track lines) Water and sewage main conflict and subsequent water drainage issues Signal Box and Station both privately owned; access limited At Midford -- line goes over the bridge next to viaduct, which has been dismantled entirely; need new bridge here MPs, Ministry of Transport, local businesses support renovation of the line Suggestions Work with the new Somerset & Dorset company formed 2009 Mark out route in sections to re-plan Complete soil and ground analyses New Somerset & Dorset bought Midford and is restoring Spetisbury Relay track entirely from scratch; stick to original Bath -- Wellow line but deviate as per: http://www.somersetanddorsetrailway.co.uk/resources/maps/new-sd-map-small-icons.pdf Deviations require new land use permits References Clapcott, K.

(2007). The Somerset and Dorset.