Although closed to traffic in 1966, with most of its infrastructure swiftly destroyed by British Railways, this unique railway line still lives in the minds of many, some too young to remember it in its heyday. For more then a hundred years it courted disaster and could on a number of occasions have succumbed to overpowering financial pressures, but it survived with the help of partnerships with larger, more secure companies, namely the Midland Railway and the London & South Western Railway. Later on, after the grouping in 1923, the line came under the control of the L M S and the Southern Railway. It was unfortunate that the line suffered in later years, from inter regional rivalry between the Western and Southern Regions of British Railways, which led to its eventual closure. The variety of companies involved in its running meant that during its lifetime the small pool of locomotives needed to service the line was supplemented by the best each partner could offer. So from the beginning to the end there were a myriad number of types of locomotive running over the Mendips providing a lively variety of motive power. This heavily illustrated book traces this unique and fascinating history and brings to life this singular, much missed and loved railway.

This album of photographs and stories brings alive again what has made the Somerset and Dorset Railway so special for so many and provides a most fitting 40th anniversary celebration.

Take a journey on The Somerset & Dorset Railway back to the halcyon days of steam to a time when a tablet was either taken for a headache or used to ensure only one train was on a single track section at a time, and blackberries were picked on the line-side to make a pie. The book will take you on the journey from Bath to Bournemouth describing the stations along the route and is complemented by tales from the footplate told by Somerset & Dorset men Wallace Moon and Geoff Akers. Then fast forward to the present and 50 years ago what to many was the best loved line of all was swept aside by the ruthless actions of Dr Beeching. But out of adversity comes opportunity and a spirited group of enthusiasts, all volunteers, has worked relentlessly since 1996 to lovingly restore the station at Midsomer Norton. We are now welcoming steam locomotives once again to the Somerset & Dorset Railway with the aim of edging closer and closer to Chilcompton Tunnel and beyond.

Following the runaway successes of Alan Hammond’s first six books on the Somerset & Dorset Railway, this volume follows the same winning formula, with emphasis placed on the people who worked on the railway as much as on the locomotives and buildings themselves. With a foreword by well-known television personality Jools Holland, and lively text packed with anecdotes of railway pranks and fun, accidents, and strange happenings, this book is a must have for all S&D enthusiasts! There are accounts of working on the line, of train crews struggling to cross the Mendips, and most importantly, of people going about their daily lives. These stories are accompanied by some of the most fascinating photographs yet assembled, many of which capture scenes of the everyday life of the railway staff. Essential reading for all those keen to learn more about this famous line, and ideal for the many who wish to add this volume to their collection.

Explore the fascinating photographic comparison between Dorset's past and present railways through time.