Monument record MDO47912 - Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, Dorset Central Railway

The Somerset and Dorset Railway. Dismantled railway. Course of former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, the first sections of which were opened in 1854. The earliest section the Glastonbury - Highbridge line, was built by the Somerset Central Railway. In 1858 an extension was opened to Burnham on Sea, and a branch to Wells from Glastonbury was also built. All of these lines were broad gauge. However, when the Dorset Central was authorised to build a narrow gauge railway to link the developing Bournemouth - Poole area with the West, the Dorset Central saw its chance to join forces with the Somerset Central to link Poole with Bristol. The Dorset Central built its line between Wimborne and Cole between 1860-3, where it met the Somerset Central's Extension line from Glastonbury. The companies amalgamated in 1862, forming the Somerset and Dorset, and the line West of Cole was gradually converted to narrow gauge. The only major branch line built was that to Bath, the dream of a Bristol link having been baulked. In 1870 a bill for extending the line from Evercreech Junction to Bath was passed, and work commenced in 1872. Part of the Somerset Coal Canal Tramway between Radstock and Midford was purchased and formed part of the route, which opened to passengers in 1874.

Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (course of)

Course of former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway system (see extent plan Authy 2) which extended from Wimborne Junction (SZ 019989) and Broadstone Junction (SZ 005962) to Bath (ST 745647) Burnham-on-sea (ST 304488) and Bridgwater (ST 304374) and from Glastonbury (ST 502402) to Wells (ST 535452) incorporated the earlier Somerset central and Dorset Central Railway systems.
The Somerset Central Railway (operated by the Bristol & Exeter Railway until 1862) opened a line from Highbridge to Glastonbury in 1854 with extensions from Highbridge to Burnham in 1858 and Glastonbury to Wells (Priory Road) in 1859. The Dorset Central opened a line from Wimborne Junction (connecting with the Southampton & Dorchester Railway of 1847) to Blandford in 1860. During 1862 the two companies amalgamated to form the Somerset & Dorset Railway, and opened an extension from Glastonbury via Cole to Templecombe with a further extension to Blandford in 1863. This provided a direct link between Wimborne and Burnham-on-Sea; a later connection at Templecombe in 1870 allowed access to the Salisbury & Yeovil Railway.

An extension from Evercreech Junction via Midsomer Norton to Bath Junction (connecting with the Midland Railway of 1869) was opened in 1874 and jointly used Bath (Queen's Square-later Green Park) station. During 1875 the London & South Western and Midland Railway companies took joint control of the Somerset & Dorset which thereafter became known as the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway. In 1885 a connecting line between Corfe Mullen Junction to Broadstone Junction was opened which allowed trains to operate direct to Poole and Bournemouth West, avoiding the reversal at Wimborne Junction.

Closures began in 1920 when passenger services were withdrawn from the Corfe Mullen Junction to Wimborne Junction section, with goods being discontinued in 1933; a short section between Corfe Mullen Junction and 'Carters Siding' was retained until 1959. The Glastonbury to Wells section was closed to all traffic in 1951 when also passenger services were withdrawn from the Highbridge to Burnham section; goods facilities on this section survived until 1963-4. The remaining Broadstone Junction to Bath and Highbridge sections were closed to passengers in 1966. (Extent shown as course of Old Railway on OS 1: 50000 1974 Sheet Nos 172, 182-3, 194-5) (1) (2)

<1> Atthill, R, 1967, Somerset and Dorset Railway (Monograph). SDO20612.

<2> Allen, I, 1965, British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazeteer. 3rd edition, Plan 3 (Monograph). SDO20611.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 867808 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 3:15PM