Clevedon branch line
Encyclopedia
The Clevedon branch line was a 3.5 miles (5.6 km) branch railway line that ran from Yatton railway station
on the Bristol to Taunton Line to Clevedon
in North Somerset
, England, with no intermediate stops.
It was opened on 28 July 1847 by the Bristol and Exeter Railway
, which become part of the Great Western Railway
in 1876. Initially it was built as broad gauge
but was converted to standard gauge
in 1879. Due to the increased traffic, fifteen trips a day in the summer, on the line the mainline section near Yatton was quadrupled in 1921.
The branch line stayed open until the Beeching Axe
, first losing goods traffic on 10 June 1963. At this point, Clevedon station was severely cut back, losing its goods yard and reducing to a single track in 1964. The station was unstaffed from this time as well and referred to in timetables as "Clevedon Halt". Passenger services ceased on 3 October 1966 and the track was lifted soon after.
Mostly the branch was operated as a shuttle from Yatton, although there were a few direct trains from Bristol. Particularly in its final years, the branch was operated by diesel multiple units, and sometimes by a single-car diesel railcar
. Even in its declining years, the service was fairly regular: the British Railways Western Region timetable for 1964–1965 shows 24 trains in each direction, with a few more on Saturdays and during the summer, though no Sunday service.
Clevedon station was situated at what is now Queen's Square shopping precinct, built in the 1980s. Originally a wooden structure, it was rebuilt in 1890 in typical Great Western style, much like the nearby stations of Yatton and . It was demolished in 1968. A set of points are preserved and mounted upright as a reminder of the square's history.
All the track bed in Clevedon has long since been built on as the town has expanded. The last original bits of track, around Kingston Seymour
, were lifted in the late 1980s. Housing developments in the 1990s are built on some of the track bed in Yatton.
Yatton railway station
Yatton railway station serves the village of Yatton in North Somerset, England. It is west of Bristol Temple Meads railway station on the Bristol to Taunton Line.-History:...
on the Bristol to Taunton Line to Clevedon
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
in North Somerset
North Somerset
North Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare....
, England, with no intermediate stops.
It was opened on 28 July 1847 by the Bristol and Exeter Railway
Bristol and Exeter Railway
The Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
, which become part of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
in 1876. Initially it was built as broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
but was converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
in 1879. Due to the increased traffic, fifteen trips a day in the summer, on the line the mainline section near Yatton was quadrupled in 1921.
The branch line stayed open until the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
, first losing goods traffic on 10 June 1963. At this point, Clevedon station was severely cut back, losing its goods yard and reducing to a single track in 1964. The station was unstaffed from this time as well and referred to in timetables as "Clevedon Halt". Passenger services ceased on 3 October 1966 and the track was lifted soon after.
Mostly the branch was operated as a shuttle from Yatton, although there were a few direct trains from Bristol. Particularly in its final years, the branch was operated by diesel multiple units, and sometimes by a single-car diesel railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
. Even in its declining years, the service was fairly regular: the British Railways Western Region timetable for 1964–1965 shows 24 trains in each direction, with a few more on Saturdays and during the summer, though no Sunday service.
Clevedon station was situated at what is now Queen's Square shopping precinct, built in the 1980s. Originally a wooden structure, it was rebuilt in 1890 in typical Great Western style, much like the nearby stations of Yatton and . It was demolished in 1968. A set of points are preserved and mounted upright as a reminder of the square's history.
All the track bed in Clevedon has long since been built on as the town has expanded. The last original bits of track, around Kingston Seymour
Kingston Seymour
Kingston Seymour is a small village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is situated within the unitary authority of North Somerset, between Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare on the North Somerset Levels. The parish has a population of 338...
, were lifted in the late 1980s. Housing developments in the 1990s are built on some of the track bed in Yatton.
See also
- Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Light Railway
- Line on a 1949 OS Map