Minehead railway station

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Minehead station building from the front

Minehead railway station is the terminus of the West Somerset Railway, a heritage railway in Somerset, United Kingdom. The station is situated adjacent to the beach and close to the centre of Minehead. It has two platform faces with extensive carriage sidings where spare rolling stock is stored.

1 History
2 West Somerset Railway headquarters
3 Platforms
4 Loco Shed

[edit] History

Minehead station on 5 April 1970.

The station was opened on 16 July 1874 by the Minehead Railway, and the building has been extended at least twice. The railway was operated by the Bristol and Exeter Railway until it was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway in 1876. The Minehead Railway was absorbed into this company in 1897 which, in turn, was nationalised into British Railways in 1948.

The railway was closed on 4 January 1971 but has since been reopened as a heritage railway by the West Somerset Railway.

[edit] West Somerset Railway headquarters

The station is the headquarters of the West Somerset Railway. All departments are based here:

Operating
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Signal & Telegraph
Administration
Retail Outlet the "Buffer Stop"

[edit] Platforms

The original platforms are probably the longest on any preserved railway and can accommodate a sixteen coach train plus locomotive - just right for accommodating a Castle and sixteen coaches with passengers going to/from Butlins.

[edit] Loco Shed

The engine shed and old goods shed are used to maintain the steam engines that operate on the line. This facility includes part of the original station building, and is one of three such facilities on the line (together with the main facility at Bishops Lydeard and the S&DJR facility at Washford). It is also home to the line's only turntable, although this is dismantled and no longer in use. There are plans to re-use this turntable.