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Washford railway station facts for kids

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Washford
Station on heritage railway
2009 at Washford station - from the road side.jpg
Location Old Cleeve, Somerset
England
Coordinates 51°09′42″N 3°22′08″W / 51.1618°N 3.3690°W / 51.1618; -3.3690
Operated by West Somerset Railway
Platforms 1
History
Original company Minehead Railway
Pre-grouping Great Western Railway
Post-grouping Great Western Railway
Key dates
1874 Opened
1971 Closed
1976 Opened in preservation

Washford railway station is a train station on the West Somerset Railway. This railway is a special type called a heritage railway. It means old trains run on it for fun and to show history. The station is in the small village of Washford. This village is part of Old Cleeve in the county of Somerset, England.

Station History: From Old Days to Now

01I09I20013 WSR Late Summer Weekend E4
A powerful train at Washford station in 2013.

Washford station first opened its doors on July 16, 1874. It was built by a company called the Minehead Railway. Another company, the Bristol and Exeter Railway, ran the trains. Later, in 1876, the Bristol and Exeter Railway joined with the Great Western Railway (GWR). The Minehead Railway also became part of the GWR in 1897.

After many years, in 1948, the GWR became part of British Railways. This was when the government took over all the railways.

Changes Over the Years

The station's signal box, which controlled train movements, closed in 1952. Goods trains stopped coming to Washford in 1964. By 1966, there were no staff working at the station.

Finally, the railway line closed on January 4, 1971. But it didn't stay closed for long! The West Somerset Railway group reopened the station on August 28, 1976. Now, it's a busy stop for heritage trains.

About Washford Station

Washford is one of the highest stations on the West Somerset Railway line. It sits in a valley between tall coastal cliffs and the Brendon Hills.

Steep Hills for Steam Trains

Trains coming from Blue Anchor face a very steep climb. For about one mile, the track goes uphill at a slope of 1 in 65. This is the steepest part of the whole railway line! It's a real challenge for the steam trains.

The station has one platform where passengers get on and off trains. On the other side of the tracks, there is a large yard. This yard used to be home to the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust. Now, the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust uses it to fix up old train carriages.

Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust Museum

Engine shed at Washford Station - geograph.org.uk - 943851
The Kilmersdon train inside the workshop at Washford.

The Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust had its museum at Washford from 1976 until 2023. This trust collected many old items from the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR). Their collection included old station signs, lamps, tools, and train tickets. They also had photos, posters, and even old train carriages and steam locomotives.

One special locomotive was the Kilmersdon. This small steam engine was often kept at Washford. It sometimes left to visit other railways. The Kilmersdon has now moved to the Mid-Hants Railway.

Old Signal Boxes

Next to the main stone station building, there is a smaller wooden building. This building was once a Great Western Railway signal box. Inside, it looked just like the old S&DJR signal box at Midford.

Another signal box was also in the yard. It was part of a display about railway signals. This box used to be at Burnham-on-Sea on the S&DJR line.

The trust's collection and trains have now moved to new places. The main new home for many items is Alresford, on the Mid-Hants Railway. There, a new museum has been set up for these historic railway items.

New Life for the Yard

After the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust moved out, the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust took over the yard. In early 2024, they signed a 10-year lease. They now use the site to restore and repair old train carriages.

Train Services

Trains run between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard. You can catch a train at Washford on weekends and some other days from March to October. During late spring and summer, trains run daily. There are also trains on certain days in the winter.

Preceding station Heritage Railways  Heritage railways Following station
Blue Anchor   West Somerset Railway   Watchet
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