West Somerset Mineral Railway

16th August 2007

The West Somerset Mineral Railway was built in stages between 1856 and 1861 completing a line from Watchet to Gupworthy. The line carried passengers from Watchet to Comberow, however they could go no further due to the steep 1 in 4 incline that wagons were pulled up and down the incline. Stations were located at:

Watchet
Washford
Roadwater
Comberow
Brendon Hill
Luxborough Road (Built for passenger services that never materialised)
Gupworthy

All stations past Comberow never saw passenger traffic.

The line was closed in 1880 to mineral traffic with passenger services remaining until 1898. In 1907 the West Somerset Mineral Syndicate took over the line and it was again in use until March 1910. Again in 1911 the lower section of line was used for an experiment on automatic signal warning devices but the line once again remained out of use and soon after world war one the rails were lifted.

Watchet station house	Station house plaque	Platform of Wtachet now covered over.	Watchet good shed front
Looking towards watchet mineral yard. The mineral platform was located where the garages are.	Watchet stone good shed	View from sea wall looking at Wtahcet station site.	Watchet mineral yard retains it's name despite having minerals anymore.
Watchet harbour wall. The mineral pier was located near the centre right of the image.	Looking towards site of engine sheds and Washford at Watchet.	Wooden Good shed front	Watchet stone goodshed back
Wooden good shed back.	WSR overbridge at watchet	Line outside Watchet near paper mill.	Kentsford Farm crossing near Watchet
Embankment of line as it enters Washford taken from West Somerset Railway.	Track leading down to trackbed at Washford	Level crossing near Washford	Looking at site of Washford station situated where the house is in the picture.
Looking at Washford Level crossing near the station.	Road bridge at Washford. The raiwlay line travels underneath it.	Looking towards washford station from top of bridge	Torre crossing as the line passes through a rock cutting.