A BIT OF HISTORY

Introduction

Most people remember this line as the final stage in their journey from the Midlands down to the seaside resort of Bournemouth. The Somerset & Dorset line was one of the most scenically splendid lines in Britain, passing through the Mendip Hills, the mid Somerset Levels and the gently undulating 'God's Country' of Dorset.

The Railway in true Victorian tradition was part of a great plan to link Bristol, South Wales and the Midlands with the South coast and perhaps even France. This is what the promoters had hoped for back in the middle of the 19th century.

History

The Somerset Central Railway built a broad gauge line between Highbridge & Glastonbury. This twelve mile section opened to traffic on the 28th of August 1854. The Bristol and Exeter ran this section of line. Later in the same year the line was extended to Highbridge Wharf. On the 3rd May 1858 the line was opened a further mile and a half westwards to the coastal town of Burnham on Sea. An additional line to Wells from of Glastonbury was opened on 16th March 1859.
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In 1860, during this broad gauge expansion, the 'narrow gauge' (4'8"1/2) Dorset Central Railway was building a line between Wimborne Minster and Blandford Forum. The two companies met at Cole just north of Wincanton and decided to link up. Two years later in 1862 the two companies amalgamated to form the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway. A year later trough running began between Burnham on Sean and Wimborne Minster. To over come the differing track gauges between the former Somerset Central Railway and the Dorset Central Railway, the lines were dual gauge from Evercreech to Burnham on Sea.

With the new amalgamation the new company, The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Company then acquired running powers over the final few miles from Broadstone Junction over London and South-western Railway into Poole.

It was hoped that much traffic would be attracted on this route between the Bristol Channel and the South Coast. This was not to be so, and the company was falling into financial difficulties. The company decided to gamble everything on a final extension between bath and Evercreech Junction. The extension would pass over the Mendip Hills which would mean an incredible amount of engineering. This would pay off in the fact that the line would pass through the large North Somerset coal mining district and would provide a source of traffic. The extension would terminate at at the Midland Railway Bath Green Square (later known as Bath Green Park).

In 1874 the extension was completed and consequently the company suffered total financial exhaustion and was put up for sale. The Midland and the London & South Western Railway jointly leased the line from the following year. The Great Western Railway also bid for the line but were unsuccessful. This may have influenced the closure of the line in 1966 by the Western Region of British Railways - a grudge going back almost a century.

With new extension to Bath, the traffic increased substantially; the Burnham on Sea, to Evercreech Junction became known as 'The Branch' and the new northbound extension became know as 'The Mainline'.As traffic increased many of the single line sections were double tracked to cope with the increased traffic. A new line was built in 1885 between Corfe Mullen and Broadstone to cut out the Corfe Mullen to Wimborne section so trains wouldn't have to reverse anymore at Wimborne Minster.

In 1923 Britain's many railway companies were were grouped together into four major companies; The Great Western Railway (GWR), Southern Railway (SR), London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS)and the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). The Somerset & Dorset line became jointly owned by the LMS & the SR. Despite this the Somerset & Dorset line retained its individuality. The engines retained their royal blue livery for a further seven years & even the gold letters 'S&DJR' remained.

The traffic slowly increased until WW2 when the line became a vital link between the Midlands and the South carrying vital supplies and ambulance trains.

In 1948, shortly after the end of hostilities the railways were nationalised, the line becoming under the control of the Southern Region of British Railways. Through passenger traffic built up to a peak in the mid 1950's with many passenger trains from places like Birmingham and Wolverhampton including the Pines Express which ran from Manchester to Bournmouth West.

1958 bought yet another change with the Western region of British Railways took control of the line form bath to Templecombe. The line was soon downgraded with the withdrawal of many of the interregional services. It has been though that this was a grudge held over from the previous century when the GWR tried to buy the line. On the 8th of September 1962 the last Pines Express ran over the route, the train was from then on went via Oxford avoiding the Somerset & Dorset line completely. Also from this date all other remaining through trains were withdrawn - the line from now becoming purely a local affair.

Feeling was that the line would close shortly. Without much surprise during the latter half of 1965 it was announced by the Western Region that the line would close as from the beginning of 1966. The line did have a short last minute reprieve when one of the local bus companies weren't ready to commence with the replacement bus service. The 6th of March 1966 was to finally sound the end of the Somerset & Dorset line. Over the last few days several special trains ran over all parts of the entire network with enthusiasts from all over the country travelling over the line as mark of respect.

After closure in 1966 the track was kept in place from Broadstone Junction to Blandford Forum for goods traffic until the 6th of January 1969. Another section of the line from Highbridge to Bason Bridge was kept open until the 2nd of October 1972 for milk traffic. Finally, another section remained open from Radstock to Writhlington Colliery for coal traffic. The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Trust took over this section unsuccessfully, this line here going sometime in 1973-74.

Now over thrifty years after closure of the line the remains the old S&DJR become more and more sparse with bridges and large sections of trackbed disappearing all of the time for redevelopment. Hopefully these pictures will provide a small record of the Somerset & Dorset line after closure.

Words &  pictures are the copyright of Chris Nevard