Washford railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Washford
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| Station on heritage railway | |
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| Location | Old Cleeve, Somerset England |
| Coordinates | 51°09′42″N 3°22′08″W / 51.1618°N 3.3690°W |
| 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.
Contents
Station History: From Old Days to Now
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
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 |
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Anchor | West Somerset Railway | Watchet | ||
