East Somerset Railway
The East Somerset Railway is a 2½-mile standard-gauge heritage railway at Cranmore, Somerset, founded by the railway and wildlife artist David Shepherd OBE in 1971. The railway was created as a base for Shepherd's personal locomotives, BR Standard 9F 92203 Black Prince and LMS 4MT 75029 The Green Knight, both of which he had bought new from BR scrap in the 1960s.
The line runs west from Cranmore on the trackbed of the former GWR Witham–Wells branch through Merryfield Lane Halt to a present terminus near Mendip Vale. The original 1858 line was a short rural branch that closed to passengers in 1963, although stone trains from the Mendip quarries continued (and still continue) to use the eastern section connecting Cranmore to the Network Rail main line at Witham.
The Cranmore site is small but full of character, with substantial restoration workshops housed in a superb timber building of GWR pattern. The line is one of the most charming small heritage operations in the West Country.
History
David Shepherd purchased Black Prince from BR Crewe Works at the end of mainline steam in 1967, and The Green Knight in 1968. After several years storing the engines at Longmoor and elsewhere, he established the East Somerset Railway in 1971 by purchasing the closed Cranmore station and a section of the Witham–Wells branch. The first public services ran from Cranmore in 1975.
The line has expanded its operational length progressively, with extensions to Merryfield Lane and on to Mendip Vale. Shepherd remained closely associated with the railway throughout his life; he died in 2017 and is widely remembered both for his preservation and his artistic legacy.
Original line history
The Witham–Wells branch was opened in 1858 by the original East Somerset Railway company (a separate Victorian concern), absorbed by the GWR in 1874. It was a typical rural branch carrying agricultural produce and connecting the cathedral city of Wells to the GWR main line at Witham. Passenger services ended in 1963 under Beeching, although the eastern half of the line remains in regular freight use today, conveying limestone from the Mendip quarries to the national network.
Stations and infrastructure
Cranmore is the headquarters with the original GWR station building and a substantial timber engine shed and works. The line extends west via the small halts at Merryfield Lane to Mendip Vale.
Route and stations
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Special events and operations
The line runs regular weekend services from spring to autumn, with steam galas, diesel galas, Santa Specials, and David Shepherd-themed events celebrating the founder.
Visitor information
Cranmore is signposted from the A361 between Frome and Shepton Mallet. The line operates weekends and selected weekdays in season.