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.

A wonderful collection of photographs showing the Somerset & Dorset Railway in operation, after abandonment and during the present day.

Railways.

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.