bason bridge

(Photo courtesy Jim Type, copyright C L Caddy Collection)

Bason Bridge was the first station after Highbridge heading towards Evercreech Junction on the branch. It survived another 9 years after closure to passengers as it lay alongside a busy milk depot. I seem to remember that closure, as always with the S&D, wasn't for economic reasons but because they were building the M5 which intersected this route, so modern transport had to be sacrificed for something ephemeral and fleeting with no future. Crazy times.

Originally the branch was expected to be retained as far as Clark's factory in Glastonbury after closure for passengers. I suspect the people of Glastonbury already regret that that didn't happen, as this longer route may well have survived into the rail era and would still be there, probably already reopened for passengers. Oh well, it will be back soon enough!

shapwick

(Photos courtesy Jim Type, copyright C L Caddy Collection)

On the branch today, two excellent shots of Shapwick, both late 50s/early 60s.

The branch is something of a dilemma to us. Whilst clearly Wells andf Glastonbury both need to be connected to the network ASAP, as does Burnham, it's not clear that a long branch connecting at Evercreech and Highbridge is the best way to serve these places in the future. Glastonbury and Wells would probably benefit more from a logical route across the Mendips to a junction somewhere in the Masbury area, giving this sizeable town and city a direct connection to Bristol and Bath. But perhaps a change at Highbridge or Evercreech is not such a bad option from the economic point of view. There's also the Cheddar Valley route that shadows this line somewhat to the north, which could perhaps be used instead, linking Wells and Glastonbury to Yatton. There's also the flooding problem on the original branch, which will only get worse with time.

The only definite re the branch is that clearly both Wells and Glastonbury will need rail connection in the not too distant future!

facebook

I think all the various S&D Facebook groups have now been updated. The main New S&D one is here, please join if not already a member!

superb site!

Nick Howes put me onto this superb website which as well as covering some unusual railway subjects also has some excellent social history type shots of towns and villages. You'll also find trams, trolleybuses and buses.

the S&D's second city

Photo © John Thorn

This is Wells Priory Road in 1963/64. Wells in England's smallest city and once boasted three stations. This branch of the S&D was the first major section of the route to close, the branch connecting to the Highbridge line (itself a branch) at Glastonbury. There was of course a more logical route through Wells via the Cheddar Valley which explains the early closure.

How Wells will be served by trains in the future is still undecided. It will be essential to connect Glastonbury and Wells back to the network though whether it will be via the line to Highbridge, Evercreech, the Cheddar Valley route (to either Witham or Yatton) or perhaps even by a new direct route over the Mendips to join the main line near Masbury ... who can tell at this early stage?

branching out

Two above courtesy Jeffery Grayer.


Courtesy Adrian Vaughan.

We'd like to welcome Steve Overthrow on board the New S&D team. He'd only discovered this blog a few days ago, has since joined and is now acting as track steward for Evercreech Junction to Burnham and the Bridgwater North and Wells branches. He will also be taking a keen interest in these branch affairs via a co-opted committee role. He has a long family history with the 'branch'.

We have always intended to restore the branches as well as the main line. All S&D branches served important towns and a city - Wimborne, Wells, Glastonbury, Burnham and Bridgwater - and also provided potential modern transport to many villages en route.

Restoration of the branch presents few physical obstructions and compared to the main line follows a very easy and lightly-engineered route. Early on I mooted restoration of Burnham-Highbridge or even an isolated (at first) route between Wells and Glastonbury as possible first steps towards restoration of the branch, mainly to find our feet as rail operators and to show that we are very serious. I can imagine Parry People Movers (of which more tomorrow) being ideal transport on these flat routes. The branch had a particular charm which I think will be recovered when it is restored - the landscape through which it runs has changed little during the four decades of temporary closure.

we are definitely not alone!

(Bottom pic Mick Knox)

Just posted to the message board -

I'm afraid the problems with aiming at restoring any railway, seem to be people who have no interest in providing a SERVICE eventually. Its all about playing ( ! ) "choo - choo's" and thier own self importance. There are several railways where this attitude is prevelant.

To my way of thinking, the ULTIMATE aim should be LONG railways LINKING towns, villages and other population areas that will provide an alternative to overcrowded and unsuitable roads. I imagine quite a few people who are dead because of road traffic accidents on poorly maintained and overused roads would possibly be alive and well today HAD the railways been left and used, and they had the option of travelling by rail.

However, the point of the exercise above all else in 'preservation' should be, first and foremost, track mileage and the aqquisition of such mileage BEFORE any stock or buildings are envisioned. Maybe the East Somerset COULD have reached Wells or EVEN Cheddar by now HAD the priority been track miles as opposed to engine sheds etc! All very pretty, but what use is 2 miles of track which terminate NOWHERE ! People soon tire of the short little 'hops', but if the S&D could link, say Sturminster to Blandford for example, there would be a possibility of providing local people with regular, safe and reliable transport for shopping, business and leisure also, but not least: The railway would provide JOBS from staff, to engineering to all aspects of training YOUNG people towards a sustainable and progressive industry on the rails!

Ideally, the COMPLETE restoration of S&D metals to the south coast and Bristol Channel again, with ALL towns and cities LINKED once again. Wells, Glastonbury, Bridgwater, Wimborne, Blandford, Poole and Bournemouth with 'main line' rail links at Templecombe, Poole, Bristol and Highbridge so it would be possible to travel CONTINOUSLY by rail to say Minehead via GW and West Somerset or Portsmouth via Poole and Southern main line etc etc. In other words a new NETWORK.

options for the 'New'

The New S&D will hope to quite quickly set up a short section of line to announce our presence and intent to the world! Ideally the line would be a few miles long and would, right from the start, fulfil a genuine transport need.

My own views are that the following sections would fulfil this - Burnham to Highbridge (up platform side) and Wells to Glastonbury. I'd like to see a mix of utilitarian (and inexpensive) trains such as the Parry People Mover and a steam worked tourist service. Both would need to be economically viable. Burnham has the advantage of a captive market and a seaside destination, as well as a network connection, but Glastonbury to Wells would link a prime tourist destination to England's smallest (and probably most attractive) city. Both lines would be under 3 miles long, ideal for a start up.

The Wells line also has the advantage of being expandable towards a connection - ie by heading east from Glastonbury back to Evercreech then down to Templecombe (or by a connection at Bruton at first). Beyond that the line could be extended northwards to Shepton Mallet, giving a useful network with connections to the main line - and becoming tantalisingly close to the Midsomer Norton line as it heads southwards.

But this is all a long way into the future! But a PPM at Midsomer Norton would be a nice start!