East Somerset Railway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East Somerset Railway
Cranmore railway station is the line's headquarters
Locale	Somerset
Commercial operations
Original gauge	7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) Brunel gauge
Preserved operations
Length	2+1⁄2 mi (4.0 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened	9 November 1858
1 March 1862	Extension opened
1874	Converted to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Closed to passengers	1963
Closed	1985
Preservation history
1972	Restoration (of the ESR) begins
1974	ESR Granted Light Railway Order
1975	ESR re-opened
1981	ESR extended to Merryfield halt
1985	ESR extended into Mendip Vale
Headquarters	Cranmore

Location in Somerset

The East Somerset Railway is a special railway line in Somerset, England. It's called a heritage railway because it keeps old trains and railway history alive. The line is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long. It runs between two stations: Cranmore and Mendip Vale.

Before the 1960s, this railway was part of a bigger line. It connected places like Witham to Yatton. Passenger trains stopped running in 1963. This was due to big changes across the UK railway network, known as the "Beeching Axe".

History of the Railway

The East Somerset Railway Company started on 5 June 1856. It was first built with a very wide track, called a 7 ft ¹⁄₄ in (2,140 mm) broad gauge line. This first part of the railway opened on 9 November 1858. It ran between Witham and Shepton Mallet. Famous engineer Mr. Brunel helped plan it. The buildings and bridges were made from local stone.

Four years later, on 1 March 1862, the line was made longer. It now reached Wells. In 1874, a larger company called the Great Western Railway bought the East Somerset Railway. Soon after, the tracks were changed to the standard size we use today, which is 4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge.

By 1878, the Great Western Railway connected this line to another one. This meant trains could go from Yatton all the way to Witham. The original East Somerset Railway station in Wells closed. A new station, Wells (Tucker Street), became the main one for the city. Passenger trains on this line stopped running in 1963. However, trains carrying bitumen (a type of tar) continued until 1985.

Bringing the Railway Back to Life

In the early 1970s, a famous artist named David Shepherd bought Cranmore railway station and some of the track. He wanted a place to keep and run his two steam locomotives. These were No. 92203 "Black Prince" and No. 75029 'The Green Knight'.

In 1973, the railway started offering rides. At first, you could ride in a brake van. Over time, the line was extended. It reached Merryfield in 1980 and then Mendip Vale in 1985. Today, the railway has many different diesel and steam trains.

The East Somerset Railway runs trains between Cranmore, Cranmore West, Merryfield Lane Halt, and Mendip Vale. Part of the railway goes through a special natural area called the Doulting Railway Cutting. This area is protected for its wildlife. The section of track from Cranmore to the main railway line is still used. Big trains carry stone from the nearby Merehead Quarry on it.

In 1991, a new station building was built at Cranmore. It has a cafe, a place to buy tickets, a gift shop, and toilets. The old station building is now a museum. On the platform, you can see a rare old red telephone box. It was made around 1927. Across from the platform is a signal box from 1904. It's a classic design from the Great Western Railway. Near the station are the engine sheds and workshop. These were built in 1973 to help restore the old trains.

A company called Cranmore Traincare and Maintenance and Services (CTMS) started in 1995. They fix carriages and diesel locomotives. They have their own workshop at Cranmore. In 2005, the railway was allowed to use another 600 meters (660 yards) of track.

In 2007, the railway received a grant to study extending the line towards Shepton Mallet. This could mean a new station at Cannards Grave. The East Somerset Railway is also known for its excellent restoration work. They fix up old locomotives. For example, in 2014, LMS Ivatt Class 2 No. 46447 was brought back to life. In 2019, GWR 5205 Class No. 5239 Goliath was finished. They started restoring GWR 5101 class No. 4110 in 2020.

The Railway Route

• Cranmore — This is the main station and headquarters of the railway.
• Cranmore West
• Merryfield Lane (halt)
• Mendip Vale — This is where the railway line currently ends.

Fun Events

The railway hosts many exciting events throughout the year.

• "Dining Trains" where you can eat on the train.
• "Family Days" with activities for everyone.
• Santa Special trains during the holidays.
• "The Way We Were" days to experience history.
• "Steam Gala" showcasing many steam trains.
• "Spooky Specials" for Halloween.
• Special days with characters like "Paw Patrol", "Tractor Ted", and "The Gruffalo".

Locomotives at the Railway

The East Somerset Railway has many interesting locomotives. Some are working, and others are being fixed up.

Working Steam Locomotives

Number & Name	Type of Train	History and What It Does Now	Colour	Photo
No. 1719 Lady Nan	Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-4-0ST	This train was built in 1920. It worked at a fireclay factory in Scotland. In 1959, it was sold to another company and named 'Glenfield No. 2'. It came to Cranmore in 1975. After a big repair, it was renamed 'Lady Nan' in 1985. It was even loaned to the National Railway Museum. It came back to Cranmore in 2000. It's often used for "Driver for a Tenner" experiences.	Caledonian Railway Blue	Lady Nan
No. 4555	GWR 4500 Class 2-6-2T	This train was built in 1924. It has been at Dartmouth since 1973. It needed a big repair starting in 2014, which finished in 2020. It moved to the East Somerset Railway in March 2020 for three years. It needed more repairs in September 2020.	GWR Lined Green with 'Great Western' Lettering and Edwardian crest	No. 4555
No. 46447	LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0	This train was built in 1950. It worked in different places in England and Wales. It was sold for scrap in 1966 but was saved in 1972. It moved to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway in 2008. In 2012, it came to Cranmore. It was fully restored and started running again in October 2014. It will run on the East Somerset Railway for 10 years.	BR Lined Black with the Late Crest	46447 in front of Cranmore MPD

Steam Locomotives Being Repaired

Number & Name	Type of Train	History and What It Does Now	Colour	Photo
No. 31 Meteor	RSH 0-6-0T	This train was built in 1950. It worked for the National Coal Board. It was later sold to other heritage railways. It is now at Merryfield Lane on the East Somerset Railway. It needs a new firebox before it can run again.	n/a
No. 4110	GWR 5101 Class 2-6-2T	This train was built in 1936. It was saved from a scrapyard in 1979. It moved to different places for restoration. In 2019, the Dartmouth Steam Railway bought it. It arrived at Cranmore on 10 January 2020 to be restored. Once it's finished, it will run at the East Somerset Railway for three years.	N/A	No. 4110 at Cranmore

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