It ran successfully until 1898, when failure of the mines caused its closure. 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. 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. 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. The lines core purpose was to carry iron ore northwards from mines on the brendon hills to watchet harbour on the bristol channel. The trackbed of the mineral railway is now in use as a footpath. The return journey takes approximately 40 minutes and is a 5 mile round trip. A recent inspection indicates the mineral line bridge at watchet will need some attention during the coming winter season. The hills merge level into the eastern side of exmoor and are included. The brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset railway. Information, photographs and plans for west somerset mineral railway on the mine exploration web site uk. 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.
Printed on gloss art paper, casebound with colour dustjacket. The history of the old somerset railroad was an interesting and nostalgic story of a short line rr in the woods of maine. Watchet west somerset mineral line railway welcome images, south wales. Oakley, mike somerset railway stations, dovecote press, 2002, pp160. Plans for a north devon railway were first mooted in 1845. West somerset mineral railway has been listed as one of the engineering and technology good articles under the good article criteria. The group is currently negotiating with railway paths to create a. An illustrated survey of the west somerset mineral railway from watchet to the brendon hills as it was and is today by sellick, r. Radstock could see part of its railway reinstated if north somerset railways plans get enough support. 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. 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. Dunster castle and hestercombe gardens, as well as day trips around exmoor and exploring the remains of the old west somerset mineral railway. Opened in 1873, it joined with an existing branch from frome to radstock, and was later. The brendon hills are a range of hills in western somerset, england.
The west somerset mineral railway and the story of the. This railway line has the advantage of a sustrans path adjacent for the majority of the route. The inclined plane on brendon hill at comberow station on the west somerset mineral railway, seen from the southwest. Jones the industrial history of great britain records numerous enterprises which failed to fulfil expectations and have since vanished almost. West somerset mineral railway and the story of the brendon hills iron mines by sellick, r. The somerset rr, as well as the plant, is owned by aes corp and operated by csx as the somerset secondary. From there the ore was shipped northwards to newport where it was unloaded onto railway wagons and hauled to ironworks at ebbw vale.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Originally expected to be miles 420 yards long its length as built was 11 1. 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. 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. Media in category west somerset mineral railway the following 34 files are in this category, out of 34 total. You are welcome to use this album for uploading photographs of west somerset mineral. Opened in 1873, it joined with an existing branch from frome to radstock, and was later worked with it as a.
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. Barrier on the west somerset mineral railway geograph 1662080. Sellick, rj et al 1962 the west somerset mineral railway and the story of the. West somerset mineral railway, brendon hill mines 1907 flickr.
Passenger numbers in 2017 the west somerset railway confirms that the passenger numbers for 2017 have increased in comparison to 2016. 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 east cornwall mineral railway ecmr was an independant railway in the east of the county of cornwall, england. 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. 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. The complex web of freightonly lines is studied in great detail with many maps and unpublished photographs. West somerset mineral railway information and photos. Notes on some of the brendon hills iron mines and the west.
West somerset mineral railway information and photos aditnow. Here is the official west somerset railway guide book which is one of a set of three comprehensive books that silver link are pleased. Archive resources west somerset mineral line railway. All photos have extensive, informative captions, each one of which is almost a story in itself. 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. Two long branch lines which served the china clay industry are explored. West somerset mineral railway historical association.
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. 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. 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 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. West somerset railway presents a great western routes and. The mainly unpublished photographs range from long abandoned trackbeds to lines that are in current use. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can reassess it. West somerset mineral railway the old mineral line exmoor. The brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset railway m. A standard history of the somerset and dorset, with contributions on locomotives by ossie nock. 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.
The west somerset mineral railway, constructed under an act of 1855, was one of the more unusual of britains minor railways. It received royal assent in 1855, and work started on it in 1856 and was completed in 1861. Photograph probably taken in the 1860s,1 possibly by herbert h hole who died in 1900. Watchet west somerset railway the longest heritage railway in. A list of mines in north devon and west somerset 2nd edition october 1997.
The west somerset mineral railway and the story of the brendon hills iron mines. 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. The bredndon hills iron mines and the west somerset mineral railway a new account. Any other refund will only be considered in the event of the railway being able to re sell your space. The operation was unprofitable and the mines were closed in 1883 and the railway in 1898. The author spent his working life in the china clay industry and took many. The devon and somerset railway was a 44 mile branch line that ran from taunton to barnstaple. 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. Author michael welch presents a selection of colour photographs showing steam at work in the county of somerset. The railway line will give accessibility to an area of natural beauty with tremendous views. The brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset mineral. The west somerset mineral railway was a standard gauge line that served the iron mines of the brendon hills in west somerset. Our purpose is to inform people about the history of the west somerset mineral railway wsmr and its associated mines and communities. Mem15203 the incline, west somerset mineral railway.
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. 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. In the foreground is the 1866built locomotive pontypool with a train of two passenger coaches. West somerset mineral railway industrial railway society. 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. West somerset railway guide book 2016 paperback 11 mar. We require all cancellations in writing or by email as soon as is possible. Further west, little known and rarely photographed branch lines in the copper and tin mining region are studied. The line ran almost due south from bristol and was 16 miles 26 km long. The west somerset railway reserve the right to cancel a steam engineman course if the minimum number of bookings per experience is not reached. Mike jones the broad gauge west somerset railway was opened for passengers from taunton with a terminus at watchet on 21st march 1862. Mine exploring can be quite dangerous, but then again it can be alright, it all depends on the weather.
East somerset railway shepton mallet 2020 all you need. Today one can just imagine what travel to moosehead lake must have been like as one speeds to this area via modern roads. The old mineral line provides historic photographs and expert commentary by r. West somerset mineral railway and the story of the. 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. The west somerset mineral railway was a standard gauge line in somerset, england. The star inn in watchet was somerset camras pub of the year for 2005.
The incline, lying between brendon hill and comberow, and. More about the west somerset mineral railway part 1. 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 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. Buy the brendon hills iron mines and the west somerset railway by jones, m.