East Somerset Railway

East Somerset Railway

Company type	Heritage railway
Industry	Railway transport
Founded	June 5, 1856 (1856-06-05)
Defunct	December 2, 1874 (1874-12-02)
Fate	Absorbed by Great Western Railway
Headquarters	Cranmore , England, United Kingdom
Area served	Somerset
Products	Heritage rail services, freight transport (quarry)
Website	www.eastsomersetrailway.com

The East Somerset Railway is a heritage railway located in Somerset, operating between Cranmore and Mendip Vale. Originally, it formed part of the former Cheddar Valley line that ran from Witham to Yatton, linking up with the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway at Wells. The route was under threat of closure even prior to the publication of Dr Richard Beeching's 1963 report.

History

The East Somerset Railway Company was established through the East Somerset Railway Act 1856 (19 & 20 Vict. c. xvi) on 5 June 1856 and constructed as a broad gauge line. The first section, spanning from Witham Friary to Shepton Mallet, commenced operations on 9 November 1858. The design was overseen by Mr Brunel, with engineering by Mr Ward and construction managed by contractor Mr Brotherwood. Local Inferior Oolite stone sourced from Doulting Stone Quarry was used for stations and bridges. At that time, Shepton was approximately four hours away from London by rail.

By 1862, the railway extended its reach to Wells, bringing the total length to . On 2 December 1874, shortly after converting to standard gauge (), the East Somerset Railway was absorbed by the Great Western Railway.

In 1878, the Great Western Railway linked the East Somerset line with the Cheddar Valley line to Wells through running rights over the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR), utilizing Wells' Priory Road station—though GWR trains only began stopping there in 1934. This development shifted primary traffic to through services running between Yatton and Witham, resulting in the closure of Wells' original East Somerset Railway station; consequently, Wells (Tucker Street) became the main city station on this route. Passenger operations on the Yatton to Witham line persisted under GWR and later British Rail until their termination on 7 September 1963, while freight services transporting bitumen continued until 1985.

Preservation

During 1971/72, artist David Shepherd acquired Cranmore station along with a portion of track to accommodate and run his two locomotives: BR 2-10-0 Class 9F No. 92203 "Black Prince" and BR Standard 4 4-6-0 No. 75029 'The Green Knight'. The line reopened in 1973 offering Brake Van rides, initially extending to Merryfield Lane in 1980 (from Cranmore West), then progressing to Mendip Vale, and ultimately reaching Cranmore station again by 1985.

The East Somerset Railway (ESR) currently operates services connecting Cranmore, Cranmore West, Merryfield Lane Halt, and Mendip Vale. This route passes through the environmentally significant Doulting Railway Cutting, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The stretch between Cranmore and the mainline of the Heart of Wessex Line remains active for heavy quarry freight managed by Mendip Rail, servicing nearby Merehead Quarry.

In 1991, a new building at Cranmore was constructed housing a cafe, ticket office, gift shop, and restroom facilities. The platform extends toward the old station building, now functioning as a museum, which features a rare circa-1927 K4 red telephone box equipped with an integrated stamp machine and post box. Opposite this platform stands a signal box built in 1904 following GWR designs. Close by are the engine sheds and workshop facilities known as Cranmore Shed, established during restoration efforts in 1973.

Cranmore Traincare and Maintenance Services (CTMS), founded in 1995 at ESR’s Cranmore site, specializes in professional carriage repairs and diesel locomotive bodywork refurbishments. CTMS operates from a dedicated preservation-era building located opposite ESR’s locomotive workshop.

A Secretary of State for Transport order issued in 2005 permitted use of an additional 660 yards (600 meters) of track. On 25 March 2007, ESR obtained a £7,500 grant from Shepton 21 Group to conduct a feasibility study exploring an extension toward Shepton Mallet, potentially creating a new terminus at Cannards Grave, situated on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet.

Steam locomotives in service

Number & name	Type	Wheels	Built	To ESR	Details	Image
46447	LMS Ivatt Class 2	2-6-0	1950	2012	Constructed by British Railways at Crewe in 1950 based on an LMS blueprint, this locomotive is one of 128 produced. Initially assigned to Crewe North depot, it was withdrawn from service in 1966 and sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers. It was preserved in 1972, with restoration finalized at Cranmore, and made its inaugural run on 26 October 2014.
4110	GWR 5101	2-6-2T	1936	2020	Built at Swindon Works in 1936, this engine was salvaged from Barry's Woodham Brothers scrapyard in 1979. After changing hands among preservation groups and undergoing partial restoration, it was obtained by the Dartmouth Steam Railway in 2019 and transferred to Cranmore in January 2020. Once refurbished, it is planned to operate at the East Somerset Railway for a three-year period.
Lady Nan	Andrew Barclay Sons & Co.	0-4-0ST	1920	1975	Manufactured by Andrew Barclay (works no. 1719) in 1920, this locomotive operated under various owners with names such as 'Hurlford Fireclay Works No. 2'. Though intended for scrap in 1972, it was preserved instead and arrived at East Somerset Railway in 1975. It received the name Lady Nan in 1985, spent time on loan at the National Railway Museum, and returned to Cranmore in 2000 sporting a blue paint scheme.

Locomotives previously based here include significant types like 56xx 5637, 9F 92203 "Black Prince", Standard 4MT 75029 The Green Knight, GWR Castle 5029 Nunney Castle, SR Westcountry 34027 'Taw Valley', and GWR Manor 7822 Foxcote Manor.

Steam locomotives undergoing restoration

Number & name	Class	Wheel arrangement	Built	To ESR	Details	Image
31 Meteor	RSH	0-6-0T	1950	?
4247	GWR 5205	2-8-0T	1916	2021

Diesel locomotives

The East Somerset Railway operates a Class 108 DMU alongside a collection of Sentinel shunters, outlined below:

Number & name	Type	Built	To ESR	Details	Image
L231 (51909 & 56271)	Template:Brc	1960	2013	This two-car diesel multiple unit was withdrawn from service in 1993, stored until relocating to Template:Stnlnk in 2011 before transferring to Cranmore in 2013. It has been restored to the British Rail blue livery. Car number 51909 functions as a Driving Motor Brake Second; car number 56271 is a Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory. The unit is owned by The Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group.
DH16	0-4-0DH CD Sentinel	1964	2015	Originally built for the Manchester Ship Canal (works no.10175), this locomotive later served Bowaters Paper Mill at Ellesmere Port. Donated to the East Lancashire Railway in 1981, sold in 1999, and restored in Manchester Ship Canal colors. It was based at the West Somerset Railway until moving to ESR in 2015. Owned by Sentinel Diesel Preservation Group (SDPG).
39	0-6-0DH SR Sentinel	1965	1999	Constructed for the Port of Bristol Authority as number 39. Preserved since 1984 at the Dean Forest Railway, it arrived at Cranmore in 1999. It is privately owned and painted Oxford blue in PBA colors.
42 Eric	0-6-0DH SR Sentinel	1965	2007	'Eric' was built for the Port of Bristol Authority as number 42; subsequently worked at Rover factory and Blue Circle Cement, Westbury. Donated to SDPG for restoration.
199	0-4-0 DH CD Sentinel	1964	2007	Originally built for Esso Petroleum, operated in Glasgow then Plymouth. Given to SDPG in 2007; named Cattewater during restoration but later had the name removed.
Joan	0-4-0 DH SR Sentinel	1963	2005	Produced by Rolls-Royce as a demonstration locomotive (works no.10165), sold to Oxfordshire Ironstone Company in 1964 replacing steam loco Jane. Later worked for Stewarts & Lloyds and British Steel Corporation before withdrawal in 1989. Preserved at Dean Forest Railway, arrived Cranmore in 2005; restoration finished in 2017 with original maroon paint. Owned by SDPG.

Features

The span between Cranmore and Mendip Vale measures .