East Somerset Railway

[railfan99]

While I've been to quite a few preserved railways in the UK (Bodmin and Wenford, Churnet Valley Railway, Dartmouth Steam Railway, Dean Forest Railway, East Lancashire Railway, Embsay and Bolton Railway, Kent and East Sussex, Llangollen Railway, Mid Norfolk Railway, North Norfolk Railway, Strathspey Railway, South Devon Railway and West Somerset Railway plus the Great Little Trains of Wales), I haven't travelled on the East Somerset Railway.

Are there any plans to extend the ESR, or is this impractical due to finances, or buildings/roads built over former rights of way?

A quick look at ESR's website suggests it's silent on the topic.

 

[Barclay]

The trackbed beyond Mendip Vale is clear to the edge of Shepton Mallet, but industrial and residential development would prevent going any further towards the town centre.

The easier extension for the ESR would be taking over the existing but infrequently used NR connection which runs a couple of miles east from Cranmore to Merehead Quarry.

 

[158760]

The connection went through a long spell where it wasn’t used from about 2019 until 2024, but since then it’s been much more frequently used. Most notably the new Britannic Explorer train uses Cranmore as one of its stopping points.

I very much doubt the ESR would want to take it over anyway, even if NR offered to sell it - a mile of railway with track in poor condition and horrendously out of control vegetation doesn’t exactly sound appealing. You would also have to move the ground frames and catch points down towards Merehead West Jn and Whites Crossing Siding.

 

[Forty29]

Many preserved lines exist because they have been restored from a derelict condition. However would be a costly exercise if not having the financial resources to do it. Have donated to the ESR in the past but as yet haven't found the time to visit.

 

[wiltshirebloke]

As @Barclay has stated, westwards can only extend so far as the Dobbies Garden Centre in terms of public accessibility, any further past Fosse Lane has been built on by housing and industrial until you reach Whitstone Road where the trackbed has been turned into a footpath near enough all the way to Shepton Mallet old station site.

I don't think there has ever been any desire to extend as nothing has happened or been mooted in the last 30 years or so, and the Dobbies (ex Tesco) site is only really a short stretch away.

The only other place to go in a magical whimsy fantasy land would be to hang a southerly diversion and follow the old Somerset & Dorset trackbed to head towards Evercreech!

 

[railfan99]

I don't want to veer too much off topic but if visiting on a weekend when there aren't local buses to the ESR, which station is best to get a taxi from?

Would a nine or 10 mile (14-16km) taxi cost about £25?

 

[158760]

Depends which way you’re coming from - it’s pretty much equidistant in terms of time from Frome and Bruton.

I would imagine a taxi costs around £25 for that journey.

 

[JonathanH]

The alternative is to take a bus to Shepton Mallet and organise a taxi from there to the railway.

Buses run Monday to Saturday from Castle Cary and every day of the week from Bath.

The 162 from Frome to Shepton Mallet which passes Cranmore only runs Monday to Friday.

 

[Barclay]

As @Barclay has stated, westwards can only extend so far as the Dobbies Garden Centre in terms of public accessibility, any further past Fosse Lane has been built on by housing and industrial until you reach Whitstone Road where the trackbed has been turned into a footpath near enough all the way to Shepton Mallet old station site.

I don't think there has ever been any desire to extend as nothing has happened or been mooted in the last 30 years or so, and the Dobbies (ex Tesco) site is only really a short stretch away.

The only other place to go in a magical whimsy fantasy land would be to hang a southerly diversion and follow the old Somerset & Dorset trackbed to head towards Evercreech!

If we're playing fantasy preserved railway extensions I'd turn an extended ESR North rather than South at Shepton Mallet, and link up with the Somerset and Dorset operation at Chilcompton!

 

[duffield]

I don't want to veer too much off topic but if visiting on a weekend when there aren't local buses to the ESR, which station is best to get a taxi from?

Would a nine or 10 mile (14-16km) taxi cost about £25?

My last taxi ride, slightly but not much longer than this, cost nearly £50 including tip. But that was from the station taxi rank, not pre-booked or Uber or suchlike.

I hadn't taken a taxi for years and was a little bit surprised, having guessed £20-£30!

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I was a guard there about 20 years ago, was there for a couple of years or so haven't visited since I left I should do.

At that time it was known it was never going past Mendip Vale but manager Gavin at the time (if he is still there I don't know) was ideally hoping Whatley Quarry would 'dry up' and then have all the remaining track off of Network Rail, as someone mentioned here highly unlikely to happen though.

Don't know what loadings are like nowadays, normal days used to be very quiet, revenue was relied on Wine & Dines and Thomas days

Depending on when you are looking at doing the ESR I could provide a free lift if it helps?

 

[railfan99]

Depending on when you are looking at doing the ESR I could provide a free lift if it helps?

Unfortunately for my forthcoming trip I've not included this preserved railway, but will keep your generous offer in mind for the future. Many thanks!

 

[Black Watch]

Just been down in Somerset for a short break. Visited the East Somerset Railway. One volunteer told me an unfriendly farmer - owner of a section of the former trackbed - is preventing any thoughts of extending towards Shepton Mallet from Mendip Vale. Another volunteer indicated extending towards Merehead is a much better, much likelier option. If the railway is to extend at all, he said, it would be in that direction. Several locals listening to the guard's information round-up, on arrival at Mendip Vale station, expressed surprise at hearing Dobbies Garden Centre (an attraction, in the district, it seems) is so close to the western end of the line.

On a cloudy, occasionally damp Wednesday, the trains were pretty busy (and the Cranmore station cafe absolutely overwhelmed with customers), although at this time of year running days are limited. Not a huge amount to see, and the ride is over almost before it has begun. Wouldn't feel any need to return.

Also had a ride on the Somerset & Dorset Railway. Very few visitors in evidence. The volunteers were super-enthusiastic but despite the progress made over 20-odd years at Midsomer Norton they haven't, in all honesty, a huge amount to offer non-enthusiast visitors. The short ride is a bit dull although the signalman gave us an excellent tour of his reproduction box. Again, probably a 'one visit' railway.

Didn't bother with the West Somerset Railway. Its operating days didn't tie in with our other plans. The day we were over that way (visiting Cleve Abbey, Watchet etc), the trains weren't running.