General History


Burnham Heritage Project

The railway line and sttaion in Burnham on Sea may have disappeared long ago but should you wish to re-live the time when the train brought holiday makers and wealth to Burnham, please visit us. When visiting the town, the Heritage Trail details can be downloaded on to your smartphone, or you can find out about it at the Tourist Information Centre on the sea front.

Wikipedia S&DJR

Railscot

Maps and histories of various railways across the UK including the Somerset & Dorset Railway.

Somerset Heritage Centre

The home of much of the Trust’s archive material, where it is secure and accessible to the general public.

Modelling


HMRS

The Historical Model Railway Society was founded in 1950 by historians and modellers to collect and exchange records, drawings and photographs in the interests of historical accuracy in modelling.

Bath Green Park

Taunton Model Railway Group’s breathtaking model of Bath Green Park Station in 4mm.

Chris Nevard

Chris Nevard’s superb modelling, much influenced by the S&D.

Redditch Model Railway Club

Chilcompton Layout Chilcompton is the latest of a number of Somerset & Dorset based exhibition layouts and is currently under construction. It is based on the prototype station of the same name. The era is set sometime between 1950 and 1955 and all the stock used represents what would have actually run over the real line, at this time.

S&D Related Organisations


The Shillingstone Railway Project

The Shillingstone Station Project aims to restore the station and available surrounding area to how it was in the early 1960s.

The S&DRHT Midsomer Norton Station Project

The S&D Railway Heritage Trust is restoring the station at Midsomer Norton, with the aim of re-opening a section of the line northwards to run trains.

Gartell Light Railway

2-foot gauge railway running on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, south of Templecombe. The only steam still running on the trackbed of the old S&DJR. The website features pictures and information about when the line is open to the public.

Radstock Museum

The museum reflects the history of the Somerset coalfield, and includes artefacts from the Somerset & Dorset Railway.

Bath Railway Society

The Society holds meetings and runs tours in the S&D area

Railwest

A highly detailed website covering historical information about the railways of the UK West Country, including a detailed section dedicated S&DJR signalling.

Spetisbury Station Project

Working with the community to preserve and enhance the former Spetisbury Railway Station.

Preserved Lines


The West Somerset Railway

The West Somerset Railway (Home of the S&DRT) recaptures the era of the branch line country railway in the days of steam. Enjoy 20 miles of glorious Somerset scenery as the train gently rolls back the years on its journey beside the Quantock Hills and the Bristol Channel coast. Just sit back in your seat and watch the steam and countryside drift past the window…

The West Somerset Railway (Unofficial)

Other


The Signalling Record Society

The Railways Archive

West Somerset Mineral Railway

UK Heritage Railways

The Bridgwater Railway through Bawdrip

The Bridgwater Railway opened for business on 21st July 1890 and ran from Bridgwater Station (re named Bridgwater North in Sept 1949) through Bawdrip, and Cossington, to Edington Junction near Burtle, a total distance of 7 miles, 3 furlongs, where it connected to the Glastonbury to Burnham railway. Through the years 1888 to 1890 the line was built by the Bridgwater Railway Company but the line was run as part of the S&DJR. After 64 years of service the Bridgwater Railway Line was finally closed in October 1954. This webpage seeks to explore the history of the Bridgwater line, particularly the part through Bawdrip Parish, and will show information unseen for many years and some of it certainly never printed previously in any books.

Avon Valley Railway

The former Midland Railway Mangotsfield to Bath branch.

Photographic


 

Roy Burrow Midland Collection Trust

The Trust is making the comprehensive Midland Railway collection assembled by Roy Burrows accessible to the public for educational purposes.

Lantern Films

A well known film company whose web site has still pictures from a trip made over the Somerset & Dorset between Bath and Evercreech Junction in the 1960s. Lantern Films also produce the highly acclaimed S&D film ‘Puffed Out’.

Books, Maps & Printed Material

Maps of Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway

Ordnance Survey maps of the Dorset section of the SDJR.