WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY Many Years Ago Part 5

When Brunel's original broad guage West Somerset Railway was built from the mainline at Taunton in the 1860's its destination was the port of Watchet to bring in and take out goods from the Ships.Ten years later the line was extended to Minehead to also cater for holiday makers visiting the town.The whole line was converted eventually to standard guage in 1882. We are now looking at stations in that extension by visiting Washford and Blue Anchor. Over a hundred years later in 1971 British Railways decided the railway was not running at a sufficient profit so after trunkating facilities and services eventually decided to close the whole railway. Many facilities along the line were demolished.and soon grass grew to knee height between the tracks and in the station gardens. In 1976 volunteers formed a new West Somerset Railway and started to restore the railway back to life.Work at Washford was mostly carried out by enthusiasts from the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust who had relocated there from Radstock. They rebuilt the sidings and goods shed at the station to hold rolling stock and refitted the redundant signal box with the mechanism from Midford on the S&D Railway which had also been closed. By1989 when the video was taken, most of the station had been restored and a museum dedicated to the S&D established. The undergrowth at the Blue Anchor end of the platform had still to be cleared. The little boy on the platform was earlier seen in part 4 boarding the train at Watchet. He was obviously a budding railway enthusiast and today probably he and his sister have a family of their own! The views at Blue Anchor closely resemble those seen today. A wider railway museum had also been established there. Originally there was only a single track at the station, with one siding which was later removed. The signal box was only 2/3 of the height.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY
• STEAM RAILWAY
• WASHFORD
• BLUE ANCHOR.

[robmasterman]

Isn't it interesting to see how well the stations look today compared with then Mike, thanks for uploading and fascinating to watch..5* Bob

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

It just goes to show how much has been done by so many people out of love for the railway.

[az09az0909az]

Macchine interessanti,ex DR?,ottima anche la qualità del video

Good conversion grazie;sono in discussion with an Italian that also has him converted of the video analogical, of the years '90, only that are in 360 x240s he affirms that it was the feasible max, these your video they deny him/it

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

Hi Roberto,Thank you for your comments. All the railway equipment is genuine British ex GWR and BR, still rolling along!Its good to be able to see old analog videos at reasonable quality on youtube.

[howarth004]

Another good one Mike

[somersetgal1]

Another great video Mike...5* thanks Sara

[Bidone1967]

Very nice video. Great quality for a analog video!

5*!

Bidone

[pwalpar]

Excellant video Michael, thanks for sharing it 5*