In 2016, the passenger numbers were at 186,603, and have risen to 189,359 making 2017 a great year for the west somerset railway. Mineral line bridge was constructed when the line was extended westwards over 5 years ago and as the name suggests it carried the new railway over the existing west somerset mineral railway tracks which led from the brendon hills to the harbour. A list of mines in north devon and west somerset 2nd edition october 1997. The return journey takes approximately 40 minutes and is a 5 mile round trip. The brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset railway m. The author spent his working life in the china clay industry and took many. Today one can just imagine what travel to moosehead lake must have been like as one speeds to this area via modern roads. I have been interested in, and captivated by, the west somerset mineral railway since the 1950s, and have always eagerly snapped up anything written about it. The east cornwall mineral railway ecmr was an independant railway in the east of the county of cornwall, england. The trackbed of the mineral railway is now in use as a footpath.
The brendon hills are a range of hills in western somerset, england. Its main purpose was to carry iron ore from the mines on the brendon hills done to the port at watchet, but it also provided a public passenger service. The operation was unprofitable and the mines were closed in 1883 and the railway in 1898. The group is currently negotiating with railway paths to create a. Oakley, mike somerset railway stations, dovecote press, 2002, pp160. News wsmla association contact newsletter archive minutes calendar. West somerset mineral railway and the story of the. Notes on some of the brendon hills iron mines and the west. An independent and sometimes eccentric line, which connected the local port of watchet with long abandoned mines and deserted villages more than feet high on the brendon hills, the west somerset mineral railway enjoys a place in west somerset folklore. The devon and somerset railway was a 44 mile branch line that ran from taunton to barnstaple. The somerset rr, as well as the plant, is owned by aes corp and operated by csx as the somerset secondary. Watchet west somerset mineral line railway welcome images, south wales. The brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset railway by jones, m. Here is the official west somerset railway guide book which is one of a set of three comprehensive books that silver link are pleased.
The line took ore from the mines to the port of watchet from where it was shipped across the bristol channel to south wales, where it was taken to the iron furnaces of ebbw vale. This railway line has the advantage of a sustrans path adjacent for the majority of the route. West somerset railway presents a great western routes and. West somerset railway stock book and spotters guide. It is also now over half a century since the sight and sound of great western steam engines working on the lines of south west england faded from daily life. The mainly unpublished photographs range from long abandoned trackbeds to lines that are in current use. About east somerset railway a trip back in time come and meet our friendly staff and take a relaxing ride on our heritage steam train through the beautiful mendip countryside. Sellick, rj et al 1962 the west somerset mineral railway and the story of the. Radstock could see part of its railway reinstated if north somerset railways plans get enough support. From there the ore was shipped northwards to newport where it was unloaded onto railway wagons and hauled to ironworks at ebbw vale. We require all cancellations in writing or by email as soon as is possible. Coal trains from mines on the old monongahela rr run via youngstown, oh and erie pa to buffalo, then up the niagara branch to a point called the tuscarora wye where they swing off onto the lockport branch, travelling east to lockport, then. The west somerset railway reserve the right to cancel a steam engineman course if the minimum number of bookings per experience is not reached. Originally expected to be miles 420 yards long its length as built was 11 1.
The brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset mineral. The west somerset mineral railway, constructed in 1856, stands therefore as an early example of railway engineering in the region and the incorporation of the incline, the special selfacting cable section on the steep slope between brendon hill and combe row, was considered in the mid19th century to be an outstanding piece of technology that. Most of the trains which take the loop line in order to serve frome station are on the bristol to weymouth route, and most trains on the reading to taunton line bypass the station on the. Our purpose is to inform people about the history of the west somerset mineral railway wsmr and its associated mines and communities. The bredndon hills iron mines and the west somerset mineral railway a new account. West somerset railway guide book 2016 paperback 11 mar. It received royal assent in 1855, and work started on it in 1856 and was completed in 1861.
A chance to hear and see more about the old mineral railway that was primarily used to transfer iron ore from the brendon hills to the nearest port of watchet. Jones the industrial history of great britain records numerous enterprises which failed to fulfil expectations and have since vanished almost. The existence of iron ore in the brendon hills on the eastern edge of exmoor was established from ancient times, and large scale extraction began in 1853. More about the west somerset mineral railway part 1.
It is highly detailed with much background information about the iron and steel industry and some of the personalities associated with it and the railway. Somerset railway history the brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset mineral railway a new account by m. The line was opened in stages from watchet on the somerset coast to comberow, a hamlet some six miles to the south at the foot of the brendon hills. Opened in 1873, it joined with an existing branch from frome to radstock, and was later. Comberow was an intermediate station on the west somerset mineral railway wsmr, which was built primarily to carry iron ore from mines to watchet. The complex web of freightonly lines is studied in great detail with many maps and unpublished photographs. It ran successfully until 1898, when failure of the mines caused its closure. The hills merge level into the eastern side of exmoor and are included. West somerset mineral railway information and photos aditnow. The brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset mineral railway m h jones, hb, 275x210mm, printed on gloss art paper, casebound with colour dustjacket.
Photos of west somerset mineral railway mine exploration. It was constructed as a narrow gauge 3 6 singletrack line to carry ore and stone from the mines and quarries in the area around callington down to quays on the river tamar at calstock. West somerset mineral railway and the story of the brendon hills iron mines by sellick, r. Barrier on the west somerset mineral railway geograph 1662080. The star inn in watchet was somerset camras pub of the year for 2005. The west somerset mineral railway was a standard gauge line in somerset, england. Printed on gloss art paper, casebound with colour dustjacket. The inclined plane on brendon hill at comberow station on the west somerset mineral railway, seen from the southwest. Plans for a north devon railway were first mooted in 1845. Dunster castle and hestercombe gardens, as well as day trips around exmoor and exploring the remains of the old west somerset mineral railway. East somerset railway shepton mallet 2020 all you need. Two long branch lines which served the china clay industry are explored. The old mineral line provides historic photographs and expert commentary by r.
Back on the main walk, pass under the mineral line bridge, join the whitehall road, turning left onto a footpath just before the river bridge. The west somerset mineral railway was built between 1857 and 1864 to take iron ore from the mines on the brendon hills to watchet harbour, where it was loaded onto ships and transported across to south wales for smelting at ebbw vale. A standard history of the somerset and dorset, with contributions on locomotives by ossie nock. People accidents lottery projects mining iron ore on the brendon hills mineral railway glossary goods wagon short history smelting mike jones locomotives west somerset mineral railway. West somerset mineral railway the old mineral line exmoor. Media in category west somerset mineral railway the following 34 files are in this category, out of 34 total. Information, photographs and plans for west somerset mineral railway on the mine exploration web site uk. Opened in 1873, it joined with an existing branch from frome to radstock, and was later worked with it as a. Passenger numbers in 2017 the west somerset railway confirms that the passenger numbers for 2017 have increased in comparison to 2016. You are welcome to use this album for uploading photographs of west somerset mineral.
The incline, lying between brendon hill and comberow, and. Watchet west somerset railway the longest heritage railway in. The bristol and north somerset railway was a railway line in the west of england that connected bristol with radstock, through pensford and further into northern somerset, to allow access to the somerset coalfield. Mem15203 the incline, west somerset mineral railway. Archive resources west somerset mineral line railway. West somerset mineral railway has been listed as one of the engineering and technology good articles under the good article criteria. All photos have extensive, informative captions, each one of which is almost a story in itself. The west somerset railways 2018 spring steam gala will take as its theme great western routes and branches, marking the 70 th anniversary of the gwr being nationalised and becoming part of british railways. Here is the official west somerset railway guide book which is one of a set of three comprehensive books that silver link are pleased to. West somerset mineral railway information and photos. The history of the old somerset railroad was an interesting and nostalgic story of a short line rr in the woods of maine.
Mike jones the broad gauge west somerset railway was opened for passengers from taunton with a terminus at watchet on 21st march 1862. West somerset mineral railway industrial railway society. Author michael welch presents a selection of colour photographs showing steam at work in the county of somerset. West somerset mineral railway, brendon hill mines 1907 flickr. You are now in watchet proper enjoy the harbour, the promenade, the shops before making your way to watchet station in time for the train back to bishops lydeard which leaves at either 2. Buy the brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset railway by jones, m. The west somerset mineral railway, and the story of the brendon hills iron mines by roger sellick and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The lines core purpose was to carry iron ore northwards from mines on the brendon hills to watchet harbour on the bristol channel. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can reassess it. West somerset mineral railway historical association.
W and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Vg in a vg dust wrapper with slight wear to the dust wrapper at the head of the spine. Further west, little known and rarely photographed branch lines in the copper and tin mining region are studied. Any other refund will only be considered in the event of the railway being able to re sell your space. Photograph probably taken in the 1860s,1 possibly by herbert h hole who died in 1900.
The line ran almost due south from bristol and was 16 miles 26 km long. Mine exploring can be quite dangerous, but then again it can be alright, it all depends on the weather. The brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset railway. The author worked in the chine clay industry for most of his life and usually had a camera by his side. The west somerset mineral railway and the story of the brendon hills iron mines. The west somerset mineral railway was designed primarily to carry iron ore from the brendon hill mines to an outlet port at watchet, but also carried passengers. The west somerset mineral railway was a standard gauge line that served the iron mines of the brendon hills in west somerset. An illustrated survey of the west somerset mineral railway from watchet to the brendon hills as it was and is today by sellick, r. The west somerset mineral railway and the story of the. A recent inspection indicates the mineral line bridge at watchet will need some attention during the coming winter season.
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