MARSDEN RAIL
Volume 24
Somerset & Dorset

Beginning at Bristol, with steam traction still in charge of most workings in and around the city, the programme then heads southeast to Bath, the northern terminus of the 72 mile-long former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway.

The City of Bath boasted two stations, the former GWR Spa Station and the S&D's Green Park Station, from where the S&D's tortuous route southwards through the Mendip Hills to Bournemouth is traced. After views of Bath's S&D loco depot, the city is left behind and the first major station is reached at Evercreech, where the main line is left behind as the route to Glastonbury and Highbridge is followed, together with views at Wells and Witham.

Rejoining the main line, Templecombe Jct follows, where the S&D passed under the former LSWR London to Exeter route. Complex shunting movements between Upper and Lower stations were a feature of the junction, with high speed action of the London main line contrasting starkly with the more sedate S&D operations through the single-line Lower Station.

Scenes at Poole, Parkstone and Branksome precede arrival at the southern terminus of the route, Bournemouth. Film of the towns' West and Central Stations, together with the former L&SWR locomotive depot, is complimented by street views of the resort featuring it's once-extensive trolleybus system.

Closed in 1966, the Somerset and Dorset Railway retained the unique legacy of its Midland Railway and London & South Western Railway parentage throughout its 104 year existence, an appeal reflected in this fascinating programme.

DVD Info

Region: 2
Running Time: 63 minutes