Lost Lines: The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway

16th May 2005 to 15th March 2008

In recent years the Railway Ramblers club has been visiting parts of the Somerset & Dorset line that linked Bath with Bournemouth over the Mendips. This much-lamented line closed in March 1966 - I was fortunate enough to travel on its final train. In 2005 the RR visited Bath and walked south to Midford through Combe Down Tunnel. In 2006 it was the turn of the southern end of the line, taking in sections from Templecombe to Blandford Forum. In 2007 visits were made to the Midford to Radstock section as well as to Shepton Mallet, Winsor Hill tunnels, and Midsomer Norton. In 2008 we visited the extreme southern end of the line, including Bailey Gate, Corfe Mullen, and Broadstone.

Approaching Winsor Hilltunnel up line bore from the north 2007-10-13 13:07:28	The southern portal of the up line bore of Winsor Hill Tunnel 2007-10-13 13:09:54	Midsomer Norton South station 2007-10-13 13:52:31	Midsomer Norton South station 2007-10-13 13:52:59
Beneath Midford Viaduct 2007-10-13 15:36:21	Looking north down the 1 in 50 gradient towards Midford viaduct 2007-10-13 15:40:21	Railway Ramblers gather around the plaque on Midford Viaduct which commemorates their contribution to its restoration 2007-10-13 15:43:19	The plaque on Midford Viaduct that commemorates the Railway Ramblers contribution to its restoration 2007-10-13 15:43:54
Bridge no 19 south of Midford 2007-10-13 15:56:21	A sculpture has been erected beside the cycle path to commemmorate William Smith, "the father of geology". It represents his discovery that the surface of the earth is made up of rock layers 2007-10-13 16:15:26	At Wellow the trackbed is blocked by riding stables and the cycle path diverts onto the roads for a couple of miles. 2007-10-13 16:24:11	Wellow viaduct 2007-10-13 16:31:17
Near Wellow: there was once a railway in a cutting on the far side of this bridge! 2007-10-13 16:56:54	Passing the site of Writhlington Colliery near Radstock 2007-10-13 18:16:00	The site of Radstock S&D station in the gathering dusk 2007-10-13 18:38:53	Near Charlton Marshall on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway 2008-03-15 13:21:00
Near Charlton Marshall on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway 2008-03-15 13:21:00	Spetisbury on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway 2008-03-15 13:28:00	Steps down from the platform at Spetisbury on the S&DJR, still in good condition over 50 years after closure 2008-03-15 13:28:00	Spetisbury on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway 2008-03-15 13:50:00
Corfe Mullen Crossing on the S&DJR 2008-03-15 14:40:00	Near Corfe Mullen on the S&DJR 2008-03-15 14:44:00	Bailey Gate Crossing on the S&DJR. Honestly, a railway did run through here! 2008-03-15 14:53:00	And just to prove that there was a railway here... 2008-03-15 14:54:00