ITEMS -  TOTAL  check order

The Minehead Branch: 1848-1971 (Revised Second Edition)

cover illustration
The Minehead Branch: 1848-1971 (Revised Second Edition)


Ian Coleby

392 pages. 275x215mm. Printed on gloss art paper, casebound with a dustjacket.

ISBN13 : 9781899889204

£24.99


 

CONTENTS

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
MAP OF WEST SOMERSET AND ITS RAILWAYS
1. THE ATTRACTIONS OF WATCHET AND ITS HARBOUR
2. ONWARD TO MINEHEAD
3. THE RAILWAY IN THE 19TH CENTURY
4. THE MINEHEAD BRANCH IN THE 20TH CENTURY
5. SIGNALLING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
6. TRAFFIC AND TRAIN SERVICES
7. CAMP COACHES
8. THE ROUTE DESCRIBED - PART 1: THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY
WATCHET JUNCTION TO WATCHET
WATCHET JUNCTION AND NORTON FITZWARREN
NORTON SIDING
BISHOP'S LYDEARD
CROWCOMBE
LEIGH WOOD AND ROEBUCK CROSSINGS
LEIGH BRIDGE LOOP
STOGUMBER
WILLITON
WATCHET
9. THE ROUTE DESCRIBED - PART 2: THE MINEHEAD RAILWAY
WATCHET TO MINEHEAD
KENTSFORD LOOP
WASHFORD
BLUE ANCHOR
SEA LANE CROSSING
DUNSTER
MINEHEAD
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES
APPENDICES
1. SUMMARY OF THE FINANCES OF THE WSR AND MR COMPANIES
2. MINEHEAD BRANCH BLOCK SECTIONS AND MODES OF OPERATING
3. ACTS OF PARLIAMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE MINEHEAD BRANCH
4. BOARD OF TRADE REPORTS ON THE MINEHEAD BRANCH
5. LIST OF BRIDGES AND CULVERTS ON THE MINEHEAD BRANCH
6. A SELECTION OF TICKETS AND LUGGAGE LABELS
7. MINEHEAD BRANCH EMPLOYEES
INDEX

 

INDEX

Abernethy, James, 19
accidents, in early years, 53-54, 83; Aplin, James, 57; Crang, Henry, 286; Curry,
James, 53; derailments, 55, 58, 146, 171, 342; during construction of WSR,
25-26; Govier's Lane Crossing, 237; Hayman, George, 57; Jenkinson, Henry,
53; Jones, Joseph, 55-57; Radnidge, Thomas, 55-57; Scott, Thomas, 230; Strong,
Sofia, 237; Swayne, Mr, 209; Williton, collision, 54
Acland, Sir Peregrine Fuller Palmer, appeal to landowners, 20; appointed chairman
of WSR, 20; cuts first sod of WSR, 22; family history, 27; lease negotiations,
21, 26; opening of WSR, 26
Acland-Hood, Sir Alexander, advocates better services, 104; cuts first sod of WSR,
22; director of West Somerset Railway, 20; lease negotiations, 21; meeting with
B&E ref rent, 26; shares, 21-22; supports WSR proposal, 13
Acts of Parliament, 371; Bristol & Exeter Railway, 1863, 24, 29; Minehead Railway,
1865, 36; Minehead Railway, 1871, 38; Railways Act, 1921, 68; Regulation of
Railways, 1873, 85; Transport, 1962, 75; Watchet Harbour, 1857, 19; West
Somerset Mineral Railway, 1855, 13; West Somerset Railway, 1857, 18; West
Somerset Railway, 1860, 23
Allercott, Edgar, 182
amalgamations, GWR with B&E, 55; Minehead Railway with GWR, 61; WSR
with GWR, 68
Angus automatic train control, 254
Aplin, James, 57
area managers, 74
Ash Common, 15
automatic train control, 254
Avill Flood Relief Channel, 289, 304, 381
Badcock, Edward, 43
Baker, George, 110; Rose, 183; Sydney, 174
Ballast Field, Dunster, 309
Barnstaple branch, 69, 95; gauge conversion, 57; proposed closure of, 73
Bartlett, George, 182; William, 326
BBC transmitter, Washford, 216
Beach Hotel, Minehead, 42, 45
Beatles, The, 74
Beeching report, 73
Bennett, F.E., 31
Bilbrook cutting, 37, 39, 279
Birch, Mr, 146
Bishop's Lydeard, 141-161; automatic token changing, 95, 147; buffer depot, 118,
149; crane, 142, 146; crossing loop, 33; Crowcombe, supervision of, 153; Dday
casualties, 149; doubling of line to Norton Fitzwarren, 95, 146-147, 375;
goods facilities withdrawn, 153; goods shed, 142; ground frames, 146, 372;
improved, 1930s, 146; location of station, 17, 141-142; motor lorry, 150;
original facilities, 142; rabbit traffic, 150; signal box, 96, 143, 154; south end
remodelled, 95, 146; staffing, 74, 153; station buildings, 24; station masters,
141; sugar beet, 150; telegraph instruments, 83; traffic and trade, 148-153;
West of England Sack Hiring Company, 153
Blaythwayt, Colonel, 13
Blizzard, Great, 1891, 55
block sections, 369-370
block telegraph, 85
block, tokenless, 95
Blue Anchor, 37, 66, 109, 279-299; camp coaches, 125; construction of station,
39; flooding, 72; goods facilities withdrawn, 289; goods shed, 39; goods yard,
285, 373; ladies room, 282; level crossing, 281; original facilities, 281; platforms
extended, 91, 286, 373; signal box, 86, 97, 280, 281, 373; station building, 281;
station gardens prize, 69; station masters, 279, 285-286; traffic and trade, 288
Board of Trade, reports, 371-375; tokenless block, 95
Bolitho, Thomas S., 38, 367
Boon, Alfred, 266
Bosanquet, Henry Ansty, 61
Boyles, R., 40
Bradbeer, Stan, 79
Bradley Gate, 37, 281
Bratton Farm, Minehead, 67
Brendon Hills Iron Ore Company, 13, 33
Brereton, Robert, 20; appointment, 36; consultant to Egremont Trustees, 22; designs,
24; reports, 26; succeeds Brunel as engineer to WSR, 22
bridges, 25, 377-381; cast iron, 58; Mineral Railway bridge, 40; Norton Fitzwarren
to Bishop's Lydeard, 95; road, 95; see also individual bridge names
Bridgwater, junction of West Somerset Railway, 14
Bridgwater & Minehead Junction Railway, 12
Bridgwater & Watchet Railway, 58, 105
Bridgwater Engineering Company, 43, 84, 85
Bridgwater Times, 14
Bristol & English Channels Connection Railway, 12
Bristol & English Channels Direct Junction Railway, 12
Bristol & Exeter Railway, Act of Parliament, 1863, 24, 29; amalgamation with GWR,
55; Bridgwater & Minehead Junction Railway, 12; buys WSR, 51; coal charges,
47; lease, 17, 21, 24, 28, 39; lends rails to Furniss, 39, 41; Norton Fitzwarren
station, 131; Norton siding, 140; support of WSR, 18; withholding of rent, 26
British Rail, involvement in re-opening, 80-82
Brock, William, 142
Brown, Marjorie, 183; Thomas, 13
Brunel, Isambard Kingdom, advice on route of WSR, 14, 15; advice to Watchet
Harbour Commissioners, 19; appointed engineer to WSR, 20; comments on
route of WSR, 16; construction costs of WSR, 17, 18; death of, 22; involvement
with George Furness, 18; letter supporting WSR, 14; rebukes James Burke, 20;
ridiculed in newspaper, 16; survey for West Somerset Railway, 20
buffer depot, Bishop's Lydeard, 118, 149
Burge, Robert, 53
burglaries, Stogumber, 196; Washford, 263; Watchet, 239
Burke, James, assistant to Brunel, 15; assistant to Robert Brereton, 22; surveying
WSR, 16, 21; volunteers Brunel's services, 20
bus services, 78, 272
Butlin, Billy, 74; holiday camp, 345; objects to branch closure, 75
Buxton, William, 39; sued by Edward Badcock, 43
Byam-Shaw, G.D., 81
Bye Farm, 253
camp coaches, 125-128
cartage, 119
Casley, Richard, 183
Castle Hotel, Taunton, 30
cat, Minehead, 329
cattle traffic, 115
Cavan, Earl of, 13
ceremonies, closure of branch, 79-80; cutting first sod of Minehead Railway, 39;
cutting first sod of WSR, 22; driving of first bolt on WSR, 24; opening of
Minehead Railway, 40; opening of WSR, 25-27; re-opening of Minehead
branch, 82
Chidgey, Jonathan, 237
Chown, C, 71
Church & Phillips, builders, 135
Clarke, Fred, 80
Cleeve Abbey, 261
closure of branch, announced, 76; freight facilities, 74; further moves to, 74; last
train, 79; public inquiry, 75; replacement bus services, 78
coal, 49; lower prices, 13; rates, 47, 50; supply, 69
Cogload Junction, 90, 135
Coleman, J., 31
Coles, Clara, 182
Collins, Fred, 67
Combe Florey, 23, 90
Connett, Stanley, 70, 208, 346
Connolly, Mr, 71
Cook, John, 66, 286
Cooper Brothers' Formula, 77
Cooper, Cicely Elaine, 305
Corbutt, J, 31
'Cornish Riviera Express', 108, 261
costs, of running branch, 77
Cothelstone Estate, 150
Cottiford Bridge, 380
cranes, 40, 231; Washford, 271
Crang, Henry, 87, 281, 285-286
Cridland, Ken, 79
388 Appendices
Crocker, John, 286; Harry, 39
Crowcombe, 72, 167-178; automatic token changing, 92; crossing loop, 91, 168-
171, 372, 373; cutting first sod of WSR, 22; esparto grass fire, 245; original
facilities, 167; platforms, 91, 374; signal box, 86, 96, 169, 177; station buildings,
24, 167; station masters, 167; station master's house, 168; supervision, 153;
traffic and trade, 174; West Somerset Imperial Yeomanry camp, 65; withdrawal
of staff, 74
Crowcombe Heathfield, see Crowcombe
culverts, 377
Curry, James, 53
Date, James, 60; Thomas, 207
D-day landings, 149
debentures, take up by WSR, 24, 365
Defiance stagecoach, 29
delivery lorry, 119-121, 150, 315
Dene Bridge, 95
Dene House, 21
Denham, Lieutenant, HM, RN, 10
Dennis, William, background of, 45; claims against Minehead Railway Co, 44;
engineer to Minehead Railway, 36; estimated costs, 38; Lynmouth & Minehead
Light Railway, 62; opening of Minehead Railway, 41; plans Minehead Railway
stations, 39; reports Minehead Railway Co, 45; threatened with dismissal, 41
derailments, see accidents
Devon & Somerset Railway, 57, 131
Devon & Somerset Staghounds, 71
diesel railcars, 95
dieselisation, 113
disc and crossbar signals, 83, 85-86
discs, train identification, 124
Doniford, 72, 111; army camp, 72, 242; siding, 227
doubling of line, Minehead to Dunster, 91, 314, 336-338, 374; Norton Fitzwarren
to Bishop's Lydeard, 90, 146-147, 375; Norton Fitzwarren to Milverton, 95
Duchess of Hamilton, 348
Dunball Wharf, 47, 48, 140
Dunster, 303-323; army camp, 70, 111; ballast field, 309; bridge near station, 40;
construction of station, 39; crane, 40; doubling of line, 91, 336-338, 374;
flooding, 72; ground frames, 85, 88; Home Guard, 70; original facilities, 305;
platforms, 91, 315; polo traffic, 316-319; Royal Train, 71; Shell Mex depot,
315; signal box, 87, 117, 309, 314; stagecoach to Williton, 29; station gardens
prize, 69, 70; station location, 37; station masters, 303; traffic and trade, 315
Dunster Beach, 319
Dunster Castle, carting arrangements, 119
Dyer, Chris, 80; James, 216
Easterbrook, Walter, 43, 83, 85
Ebbw Vale Ironworks, 13, 14
Ebbw Vale Steel & Iron Company, 40
economic track maintenance system, 98
Edinburgh, Duke of, 72
Edwards, Dr, 15, 17
Egremont, Countess of, 22; Earl of, 11; Trustees, 18, 19, 38
Egremont Hotel, Williton, 13, 16, 27
Eleven Mile Crossing, 57
Elgin Tower, 325
Elliott, Alfred, 71
Emlyn, Viscount, 61
Emmett, Sydney, 284
engine sheds, Minehead, 340; Watchet, 40
esparto grass, 115, 235, 240, 245
evacuees, 110
excursions, 35, 54, 104
Exe Valley Line, proposed closure of, 73
Exeter, Tiverton & Minehead Direct Railway, 13
Exmoor, 72, 315
Exmoor Society, 76
explosives, lithofracteur, 39
facing point lock, Langley & Prince, 186
Fear, Douglas, 80, 81
Feathers Hotel, Minehead, 45
financial arrangements, Minehead Railway Company, 366-367; West Somerset
Railway, 365-366
first bolt, driving of, 24
first sod, cutting of on Minehead Railway, 39; cutting of on WSR, 22
Fisher, T., 24
flooding, see weather
fogmen, 98
Forbes, William, 47, 140
Ford, Mr, appointment as WSR agent, 49
Forest, Robert, 62
Fox, Francis, 25, 28; defends Minehead Railway, 37
freight, 116; concentration scheme, 74, 121; withdrawal of facilities, 74, 153
Furness, George, 36; completion of WSR, 25; negotiations, 21, 22; outstanding
works on WSR, 28; quote to build WSR, 18; sale of plant, 30; signing of
contract, 22
Furniss, Frederick, 36, 37, 85; assistant to George Furness, 22; bankruptcy, 44;
borrows rails from B&E, 39, 41; called to complete Minehead Railway, 41;
contracts, 39, 40; Easterbrook engaged, 85; orders packers off Minehead Railway,
43; partnership with William Buxton, 39; sued by Edward Badcock, 43; sues
Minehead Railway Co, 44
Gadd, Charles, 282, 286
Gamble, Albert, 72
gangers, 96, 150; gangs disbanded, 98; motorised trolleys, 98; Washford hut, 272
gardens, 40, 69-70, 343
An undated view of Minehead goods shed.
The timber-built goods office extension
looks new, which suggests an early 1920s
date. Exactly when it was provided has not
been ascertained but it appears in much the
same condition as this in the GW official
photographs taken in January 1923, so may
have been built in the summer of 1922.
Note the selection of advertisements along
the goods shed wall facing the platform and
the grid of wooden battens to which they
were pinned. The larger boards survived well
into the 1950s but the smaller enammelled
advertisements and most of the battens seem
to have gone in the 1930s.
John Scott-Morgan collection
THE MINEHEAD BRANCH 389
Gardner, Edwin, 67
gauge, conversion of, 57
Gay, Richard, 69
Gear, James, 83
George, Charles, 346
Gibson, Alexander, 53; Mr., 27
Gooch, Daniel, 57
Goodland & Sons, 121, 150
Goodman, porter, 54
goods sheds, 28; design of, 24
Gore, Edward, 196
Gosse, Phillip, 197
Gould, Margaret, 302
Govier's Lane crossing, 23, 67, 69, 235-238
gradient diagram, 140
Great Western Railway, amalgamation with B&E, 55; amalgamation with WSR,
68; report into state of interlocking, 86
Great Western Society, 79
Grierson, James, 57
Griffiths, Thomas, 48
ground frames, Bishop's Lydeard, 146; Dunster, 88; Minehead, 351; Washford, 272
Grubb, William, 348
Guest & Company, 24
Halliday, John, 20; Mr., 27
Hammett Street, Taunton, 20
Handford, J., 40
Harris, James, 183
Harrison, William, 39
Hartnell & Sons, 149, 150
Hayman, George, 40, 57, 253; Samuel, 63
headcodes, 124
Hennett, George, 12
Hensley, Bob, 208
Hill, John, 182; Ken, 218
Hitchcock, William, 20
Hobbs, Percy, 70, 343
Hole, Herbert Henry, 60; Robert, 55
Holmans of Camborne, 150
Home Guard, 70
Hood, Lady, 22
Hopkins, Rice, 15, 17, 19
Horn, Harry, 99, 217
Horne, Sir Robert, 344-345
Horniblow and Co, 234
hotels, Beach, Minehead, 42, 46; Castle, Taunton, 30; Egremont, Williton, 13, 16,
27; Feathers, Minehead, 45; Pattisons Hotel, Taunton, 20, 26; Plume of Feathers,
Minehead, 35; Railway, Stogumber, 202; Railway, Washford, 266; Railway,
Williton (ex-Lamb Inn), 29; Waghorn's, Taunton, 15; Wellington, Minehead,
35, 45
Hubbard, Alexander, 61
Hunt, Eleanor, 302; Fred, 102
identification discs, 124, 346
iron ore, 11, 15, 17
Jackson, Bryan, 80
Jenkins, James, 183
Jenkinson, Henry, 53
Jennings, Oliver, 55-57
Jersey, Earl of, 62
Jessop, William, 11
Jones, John, 205; Joseph, 55-57, 181
Kemp, William, 69
Kentsford Signal Box and loop, 91, 96, 243, 253-257, 267, 373; opening hours,
110
King, W.J., 149, 174
Lamb Inn, Williton, 29
Langdon, James, 39, 43, 86
Langley & Prince's facing point lock, 186
last train, 79
lease arrangements, between WSR and B&E, 17, 21, 24, 28, 49
Leigh Bridge Signal Box and loop, 91, 183-187, 373; opening hours, 110; signal
box closed, 96; token apparatus, 86
Leigh Woods level crossing, 179-183; authorised, 18; crossing keepers, 179; gates
demolished, 54; lodge, 83
Leleux, Sidney, 128-130
Lethbridge Trustees, 21
level crossings, authorised in WSR Act, 1857, 18; keepers, 179; lodges, 18, 25, 83;
see also specific crossing name
Lewes, fishmonger, Washford, 272
Light Railway Order, 82
Lithofracteur, 39
locomotives, 121; D63xx, 160; diesels introduced, 113; equipped with auto token
changers, 95; 'Metro' tanks, 67
Long, J., 181
Longlands Bridge, 53, 95, 141, 376
loops, crossing, evidence for existence of, 33
Lorna motor coach, 108
Luttrell, Alexander, 61; Alys, 70; Colonel, 14, 105; family history, 37; Geoffrey, 91;
George, 37, 39, 41, 61, 310, 327; Henry, 35, 12; landlords of Minehead, 35
Lynmouth, 14, 62, 72
Lynmouth & Minehead Light Railway, 62
Lynton, 14; coach, 333, 346-347
main line, quadrupling, 90
Manning, Ralph, 99
Matthews, Sir Gilbert, 72
Maxwell, Robert, 348
May, Mr, Taunton Bailiff, 15
McDonald, John, 196
Mead, William, 67
Meeds, John, 26, 83
'Metro' tanks, 67
mileposts, 45
Millard, E., 336
Milton, Charles, 67; Clifford, 67
Milverton, 15, 95
Minehead, 325-361; carting, 119; cat, 329; cattle pens, 40; coaching links, 35;
contract for construction of station, 39; crane, 40; delivery services, 119;
derailments, 342; doubling of line, 91, 336-338; early holiday resort, 35; engine
shed, 40, 58, 340; excursionists, 54, 109; floral displays, 343; gas fittings, 40;
locking frame, 85; mule trade, 67, 347; original facilities, 325; parcels office,
328; signal box, 96, 328, 373; stable block, 119; staff outing, 109, 349;
stagecoach to Williton, 29; station building extended and altered, 334, 342;
station gardens prize, 70; station masters, 325, 326; station masters'
accommodation, 334; traffic and trade, 117, 343-350; turntable, 95, 333, 339,
341; water supply, 325; weighbridge, 334; WSMR's proposed branch to, 17, 35
Minehead & Central Devon Junction Railway, 13
Minehead Chamber of Trade, 90
Minehead Publicity Association, 90, 345
Minehead Railway, Act of Parliament 1865, 36, 37; Act of Parliament 1871, 38;
amalgamation of B&E with GWR, 55; bridges and culverts, 377; construction
costs, 38; construction costs, 45; construction of, 39; cutting of first sod, 39;
inspection by BoT, 40, 372; lease, 39; method of crossing WSMR, 38; mileposts,
45; opening of, 40; operating illegally, 45; route proposals, comments on, 37;
signalling, 43, 83
Minehead Railway Company, amalgamation with GWR, 61, 367; chairmen and
directors, 367; claims against Furniss, 44; financial arrangements, 366-367;
finishes railway construction, 44; settles accounts with contractors, 44; sued by
Furniss, 44; sued by William Dennis, 44; Watchet signal box, 85
Minehead Railway Preservation Society, 80
Minehead Urban District Council, 90
Mineral Railway Bridge, 40, 381
Mitchel, W.G., 282
Montague, Lord, 82
Morris, Cyril, 69
Morse, William, 39
motorised economic maintenance system, 98
Mountney, Mr, 41; assaulted by navvies, 40
mules, 67, 347
Mulley, Fred, 76
navvies, assault on Mr Mountney, 40; employed on WSR, 30; injuries to, 39
390 Appendices
Newnes, Sir George, 62
Newport, 253
newspapers, Bridgwater Times, 14; Somerset County Gazette, 12; Somerset County
Herald, 14; Taunton Courier, 16; Williton and Watchet West Somerset Railway
Express, 16; see also West Somerset Free Press
Nornvis Bridge, 98
Nornvis lengthman's cottage, 167
Norrish Road Bridge, 379
North Devon Railway, 12, 49
Norton Bridge, 95, 140, 376
Norton Fitzwarren, 131-139; doubling of line to Bishop's Lydeard, 95, 146-147,
375; motor lorry service, 150; quadrupling of track, 90; sidings, 49, 140; signal
box, 95, 96
Norton Junction (Watchet Junction), 83, 131, 140
Norton Siding, 140-141, 372
Oakington slate quarry, 15
occupation key machines, 99
Owen, Thomas, 183
Page, James, 69
Palk, Leonard, 216
Palmer, A.E., 336
pamphlet, Why Local Railways Do Not Pay, 16
paper mill, 231, 234, 235, 243; siding, 373
Pardoe, Frank, 72
Parker, Henry, 53
passenger returns, 104; Bishop's Lydeard, 148; Blue Anchor, 288; Crowcombe, 171;
Dunster, 315; Minehead, 343-345; Stogumber, 202-203; Washford, 272;
Watchet, 239; Williton, 217
Pattisons Hotel, Taunton, 20, 26
Payne, Henry, 266, 346
Pearse, John, 39
Pepping, Herbert, 216
Petherbridge, Mr., 62
petitions, 17-18, 75
petty cash book, Williton, 211
photographers, 60
Pike, E., 197; Mark, 283, 284
Pilot stagecoach, 29
pitwood, carriage of, 48
platelayers, 24
Plume of Feathers, Minehead, 35
polo traffic, 316-319
Ponsford, Thomas, 37, 57
Pontypool, 253
Porlock, 14, 62, 105; stagecoach to Williton, 29
post-war services, 111
Preddy, Mr, appointed B&E agent, 29
Prince of Wales stagecoach, 29
Priscott, William, 309
private owner wagons, Goodlands, 121; Hartnell & Sons, 149; King, W.J., 174;
Stone, H., 240
Prosser, William, 13, 33
Public Inquiries, closure of Minehead branch, 75; Lynmouth & Minehead Light
Railway, 62; re-opening of Minehead branch, 82
Pursey, J., 24
Purseys Railway Hotel, Williton, 29
PW Gangs, reformed after strike, 69
Quark Hill Farm, 198
Radnidge, Thomas, 55
railcars, diesel, 95
rails, lent to Frederick Furniss, 39, 41; purchase of for WSR, 24
Railway Amalgamation Tribunal, 68
Railway Bills Select Committee, 37
Railway Hotels, Stogumber, 202; Washford, 266; Williton, 29
railways, Bridgwater & Minehead Junction, 12; Bridgwater & Watchet, 58; Bristol
& English Channels Connection, 12; Bristol & English Channels Direct
Junction, 12; Bristol & Exeter, see Bristol & Exeter Railway, ; Devon & Somerset,
131; Exeter, Tiverton & Minehead Direct, 13; Lynmouth & Minehead Light,
62; Minehead & Central Devon Junction, 13; North Devon, 12; Somerset &
Dorset Joint, 58; Somersetshire & North Devon Junction, 12; Watchet &
Minehead, 36; West Somerset Mineral, see West Somerset Mineral Railway
Railways Act, 1921, 68
Randall, John, 286
Reed, William, 235
Regulation of Railways Act, 1873, 85
Rennie, George, 11
reports, Beeching, 73; state of interlocking, 86; William Forbes on WSR, 47
Reshaping of British Railways, 73
Rice, George, 134
Richards, Constable, 181
Robinson, Walter, 61
Roebuck level crossing, 65-67, 179-183; authorised, 18; crossing keepers, 179;
provision of lodge, 83
Rogers, Charlie, 243
rolling stock, inventory of by GWR, 57
Rose, William, 20
Rowcliffe, solicitors, 21
Royal Leicestershire Regiment, 72
royal visits, 71-72
Rundle, Chris, 80
Saffin, J., 71
Salter, Elias White, 313; Fred, 67
Sandhill Park, 149, 167
Sandhill Quarry, 40
Saxby & Farmer, 85
Scott, Thomas, 230
Sea Lane Crossing, 183, 238, 301-302; bungalow, 301; crossing keepers, 301;
flooding, 72; signalling, 302
Select Committee, Railway Bills, 37-38
shares, 24, 68; Minehead Railway Company, 366-367; West Somerset Railway, 365-
366; WSR subscription lists opened, 18
Shattock, Harriett, 21
Shell Mex depot, Dunster, 313, 315
ships, Arran Monarch, 241; Bojan, 69; Elsa of Goteborg, 241; Emma Ernest, 60;
Garso, 241; Josephine Marie, 65; Lily Wolsey, 114; Majfrid, 69; Patrick M, 244;
Rane, 243; Rushlite, 241; Tigrito, 247; Ulf Jarl, 241
Short, Frank, 242
siding capacity diagrams, Bishop's Lydeard, 147; Blue Anchor, 287; Crowcombe,
168; Dunster, 320; Minehead, 344; Stogumber, 192; Washford, 272; Watchet,
232; Williton, 208
sidings, Doniford, 227; Norton, 140-141; paper mill, 235; provision of on WSR,
25; Woolston, 227
signal boxes, 83-87, 369-370; Bishop's Lydeard, 146; Blue Anchor, 281; classification
of, 89; closed, 96, 117; Crowcombe, 168-169; Dunster, 314; Kentsford, 257;
kept open during snow, 73; Leigh Bridge, 91; Minehead, 328, 337, 351; Norton
Fitzwarren, 95; Stogumber, 197; table of vital statistics, 102; Washford, 265;
Watchet, 231, 244; Williton, 206-207, 210
signals, distant, brought back into use, 95; converted to yellow arms, 89; provision
of, 83
Silk Mill Crossing, 95, 96, 154
Smeaton, John, 11
Smith, George, 216
Snell, Norman, 72
Snow, Richard, 21
Snow's van, 29
Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, 58-61
Somerset Bridgwater Carriage Shed Rifle Corps, 27
Somerset County Council, involvement in re-opening, 80-82; objects to branch
closure, 75; use of redundant trackbed, 78
Somerset County Gazette, 12
Somerset County Herald, 14
Somerset Light Infantry, 67, 68
Somerset Mineral Syndicate, 253, 254
Somerset Rifle Corps, 26, 71
Somersetshire & North Devon Junction Railway, 12
Sparks, Henry, 26
speed restrictions, 96
Spencer, Don, 72
Spurdle, Francis, 70
stagecoaches, affected by opening of WSR, 29; Defiance, 29; Pilot, 29; Prince of
Wales, 29; Valley of the Rocks, 63
THE MINEHEAD BRANCH 391
Staghounds, Devon & Somerset, 71
station buildings, design of, 24, 39, 142
station masters, Bishop's Lydeard, 141; Blue Anchor, 279, 285-286; Crowcombe,
167; Dunster, 303; Minehead, 325; replaced by area manager, 74; Stogumber,
191; Washford, 261; Watchet, 227; Williton, 205
stations, classification of, 89; goods facilities, 116
Stimulant for a Somerset Porter, 197
Stoate, William, 20
Stock, Mr, ticket inspector, 55
Stocks, Sarah, 237
Stogumber, 191-203; brewery, 198; burglary, 196; camp coaches, 126; crossing loop,
33; goods shed doors, 54; original facilities, 191; platforms extended, 91; Railway
Hotel, 202; signal box, 86, 117, 197; snowdrifts, 73; station buildings, 24;
station masters, 191; traffic and trade, 198-203; waiting shelter, 192; water
supply, 196; withdrawal of staff, 74
Stokes, George, 192
Stone, Herbert, 240
strikes, 69, 109, 118, 345
Strong, Sofia, 237
Sully, James, 39; Tom, 216
Sussex, Mr, 146
Swayne, Mr., 209
swimming pool, Minehead, 344
Tapp, Albert, 319
Taunton, area manager, 74; coal prices, 13; freight concentration scheme, 74, 121;
main line junction, 14
Taunton Courier, 16
Taunton Town Council, objects to branch closure, 75
telegraph instruments, general provision of, 83-85; provision at Bishop's Lydeard, 83
Thorne, Henry, 24
Thyer, Walter, 79
tickets, first and last illustrated, 79; sold on train, 74; travelling without, 55
token changing, automatic, 92, 93-95; Bishop's Lydeard, 95, 147; Crowcombe, 171;
Dunster, 95; Leigh Bridge, 86, 186-187; system redesigned, 95; Washford, 95,
267; Williton, 95, 209
tokenless block, 95
Tozer, Alfred, 171
track improvements, doubling Bishop's Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren, 95, 375;
doubling of Minehead to Dunster, 91, 375; during 1930s, 90-91; further
demands for, 90-91; 20th century, 89
traffic and trade, 73; Bishop's Lydeard, 148-153; Blue Anchor, 288; Crowcombe,
171-174; Dunster, 315; Minehead, 343-350; Stogumber, 198-203; Washford,
270-272; Watchet, 239-245; Williton, 213-218
traffic surveys, 75, 116-118; Govier's Lane, 237
train loads, maximum, 123
train services, 103; Bacon Special, 110; coal shortages, 69; discontent, 104-105;
freight and goods, 113-116; improved, 1930s, 109; last train, 79; post-war,
111; strikes, 69; Sundays, 103, 108, 110, 112; wartime, 108, 110
train staff, electric, 87
Transport Act, 1962, 75
trespass on railway, 63
Triscombe Quarry, 149
Trowbridge Flour Mill, 191
TUCC, public hearing, 75-76
Turle, Henry, 20
turnpike trusts, roads, 11, 140, 279
turntables, 95, 335, 339-341
Valley of the Rocks coach, 63
Vignoles rail, 40
Vowles, Henry, 196
wage bill, 117
Waghorn's Hotel, Taunton, 15
Walker, Lawrence, 20, 36
Wall, James, 104; cartage contract, 119
Ward, George, 69
Warner, Rev Richard, 279
Washford, 261-278; automatic token changing, 95; BBC transmitter, 216; burglary,
263; contract for construction of station, 39; coronation day, 71; crane, 40;
derailment, 58; developments in the 1930s, 267; goods shed, 272; landslip, 72;
locking frame, 85; original facilities, 261; platforms, 91; proposed rebuilding
of station, 108, 265; Railway Hotel, 266; signal box, 87, 94, 96, 265, 272;
stagecoach, 29; station gardens prize, 70; station masters, 261; traffic and trade,
270-272; withdrawal of staff, 74
Watchet, 227-252; break-in, 239; collision at station, 53; decoration of town for
opening, 25, 26; early expansion, 33; early history, 11; engine shed, 40; extension
to Minehead, 230; footbridge, 41, 230; harbour blocked by snow, 72; harbour
sidings, 28; lime trade, 13; original facilities, 228; paper mills, 234, 235; platform
surfacing, 230; platforms, 91; possible terminus of WSR, 14; PW Gang
dissolved, 69; signal box, 85, 117, 231; signalling, 231; station buildings, 24-
25; station masters, 227; traffic and trade, 239; traffic receipts, 117; turntable,
31; wagon turntables, 58, 229; waiting shelter, 230; water tower, 228-229,
230; weighbridge, 47, 48, 58, 231, 234; see also Govier's Lane Crossing
Watchet & Minehead Railway, 36
Watchet Harbour, affected by closure of branch, 73; affected by strikes, 69;
completion of new works, 23; damaged by gales, 22, 65, 240; developments,
11; harbour master, 49; steam crane, 48; trading figures, 13
Watchet Harbour Act, 1857, 19
Mogul No. 6323 arrives at Watchet
on 21st July 1957 to be met by a
respectable throng of passengers,
probably mostly bound for the shops
in Taunton. The restricted nature of
the site and the fact that Watchet was
originally built as a terminus led to
the most unusual layout, emphasised
in this view. The goods shed is tight
against the running line and the
station building at right angles to the
platform, with the two seemingly
joined by the footbridge spanning the
line at this point. N.C. Simmons
392 Appendices
No. 4128 departs Minehead in the summer of 1959 with an 'A' headlamp train, probably destined for the main line at Taunton, carrying passengers
for Paddington or the north. The large water tower on the north side of the line served several water cranes around the station, including the one
immediately adjacent. Note how the siding was kinked outwards to clear it. Colin Caddy
Watchet Harbour Commissioners, 17, 59; constitution of, 19; sale of land to
WSR, 20
Watchet Junction, see Norton Junction
Watchet Urban District Council, 59, 237
Water Lane Bridge, 380
water tower, Minehead, 340; Watchet, 230, 228-229
Watersmeet Bridge, 378
Watkins, Mr, 36
weather, blizzard, 1891, 55; flooding, 54-55, 72; snow, 72-73, 111
weighbridge, Watchet, 47, 48, 58, 231, 234
Wellington Hotel, Minehead, 35, 45
Welman, Mr, 131
West of England Sack Hiring Company, 153, 271
West Quantoxhead, 227
West Somerset Free Press, articles quoted, closure to freight, 74; comments on route
proposals, 37; drunken behaviour of excursionists, 54; opening of Minehead
Railway, 41; opening of WSR, 28; Watchet waiting shelter, 230
West Somerset Imperial Yeomanry, 65
West Somerset Mineral Railway, 13, 15, 58; Kentsford, connection with GWR,
253-254; Minehead extension, 17, 35; Newport, 253; opposition to Minehead
Railway, 37, 38; opposition to WSR, 17-18; petition ref Watchet Harbour, 18;
Pontypool, 253; stock removed, 253
West Somerset Railway, Act of Parliament, 1857, 18; Act of Parliament, 1860, 17,
23; amalgamation of B&E with GWR, 55; amalgamation with GWR, 68;
authorised level crossings, 18; bridges and culverts, 377; chairmen, 366; coal
rates, 47; construction, 22; debentures, 24; directors' first meeting, 20; extension
from Govier's Lane, 23; financial arrangements, 365-366; first rental cheque,
29; first sod, cutting of, 22; Hammett Street offices, 20; inspection by BoT, 25,
371; interim committee, 14; lease, 17, 21, 24, 28, 29, 49-50; navvies, 30; Norton
siding, 140; opening, 25-27; opposition from WSMR, 17-18; outstanding
works, 27, 28; plant, sale of, 30; promotion of, 20; purchase of land at harbour,
20; rails, purchase of, 24; revenue, 30; route, 15, 17; shares, 18, 365-366;
signalling, 83; sold to B&E, 51
West Somerset Railway Association, 81
West Somerset Railway Company, formed 1971, 81
West Somerset Steam Railway Trust, 81, 282, 363
Western National Omnibus Company, objects to branch closure, 75; objects to reopening
of branch, 82; replacement bus services, 80
Wheatsheaf Inn, Washford, 39
Whisky Trail Crossing, 167
Whitehalls Bridge, 58, 380
Whittaker, Alfred, 86, 93
Why Local Railways Do Not Pay, 16
Williams, William, 54
Williton, 205-226; automatic token changing, 95, 209; coaching arrangements,
29; collision, 54; construction work, 28; crossing loop, 33, 54, 95, 207, 218,
372, 373; Date, Mrs, 207; decoration for opening, 25, 26, 27; derailment
near, 52; floods, 17, 72, 205; footbridge, 207; fruit selling, 205; level crossing,
23, 205, 208, 371; original facilities, 206; petty cash book, 211; proposed road
by-pass, 78, 81; roadbridge, 211-213; signal box, 94, 206, 210; station buildings,
24; station masters, 205; traffic and trade, 213-218; traffic receipts, 117
Williton & Watchet West Somerset Railway Express, 16
Windsor, W., 31
Wiveliscombe, 15, 131
Woolans, 202
Woolston, 227
Woolston Moor, ganger cottage, 98; proposed halt, 90
World War One, Minehead branch casualties, 67; train services, 108
World War Two, defences, 70, 283; evacuees, 110; passenger services, 110
Wyatt, Robert, 55
Yandell, George, 183
Yard Farm Bridge, 379
Yolland, Colonel, inspects proposed crossing at Watchet, 38; inspects Watchet
extension, 23