East Somerset Railway
| East Somerset Railway | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Cranmore railway station is the line's headquarters | |
| Locale | Somerset |
| Commercial operations | |
| Original gauge | 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) Brunel gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Length | 2 1⁄2 mi (4.0 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 9 November 1858 |
| 1 March 1862 | Extension opened |
| 1874 |
Converted to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Closed to passengers | 1963 |
| Closed | 1985 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1972 | Restoration (of the ESR) begins |
| 1974 | ESR Granted Light Railway Order |
| 1975 | ESR re-opened |
| 1981 | ESR extended to Merryfield halt |
| 1985 | ESR extended into Mendip Vale |
| Headquarters | Cranmore |
The East Somerset Railway is a 2 1⁄2-mile (4 km) heritage railway in Somerset, running between Cranmore and Mendip Vale. Prior to the Beeching Axe, the railway was once part of the former Cheddar Valley line that ran from Witham to Yatton, via Wells, meeting the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway at the latter station, in-between.
The East Somerset Railway Company was incorporated under the East Somerset Railway Act on 5 June 1856 and was built as a 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) broad gauge line. The line was originally between Witham railway station and Shepton Mallet and this line opened on 9 November 1858. It was planned by Mr. Brunel and built by engineer Mr. Ward and contractor Mr. Brotherwood. The station buildings at Shepton and Witham Friary, as well as the bridges along the route, were constructed of Inferior Oolite from nearby Doulting Stone Quarry. Shepton was now 129 miles (208 km) from London by rail, a journey of just over four hours.
Four years later the line was extended to Wells; this part of the line was opened on 1 March 1862. The East Somerset Railway was bought by the Great Western Railway on 2 December 1874, shortly after it was converted to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge.
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