SOMERSET & DORSET RAILWAY WALK
MIDSOMER
NORTON SOUTH TO RADSTOCK (S&DR)
(4th Aug. 2018) Update 17th Aug. 2018).
The
track bed from Midsomer Norton Spouth station to Radstock is walkable.
However, not completely along the S&DJct track bed due to the
final quarter of
a mile not being available. Just outside Radstock you have to
take a short detour that takes you onto the Ex North Somerset railway
track bed and into
Radstock. The North Somerset Rlwy track bed is also walkable from
Midsomer Norton North station site into Radstock. You join the NSR
track bed just where
it drops under the S&D JR Five Arch viaduct. The two track bed
split once more for the final 100 years or so, where you can take
either track bed up to the two
station sites.
From
the Ex station sites you can either walk the S&DJ as far as
Shocombe or the NSR into Frome. In this case we shall continue on the
S&DJ track bed
to Shocombe in another page. The station was not in Shocombe village
but a quarter mile or so northwards at Single Hill. The station
was called Shocombe &
Single Hill Halt.
We start the walk from the site of the preserved station at Midsomer Norton South Station.
The present day site of Midsomer Norton South Station. It has been
fully refurbished and is open to steam train runs every weekend. This
is the north eastern
end of the station where the railway bridge over the road has been
demolished. Trains can only run southwards towards Chilcompton. A path
has been created
to take walkers up on to the track bed where you can walk to Radstock.
However, this is just for a short way where another bridge has been
demolished and
the S&DJR track bed is unavailable. A short path takes you onto
the Ex North Somerset track bed that you can walk into Radstock.
North side of the ex under bridge on the B3355 with the working
station site on the other side.
The old railway bridge has been demolished over Pit Road. But you can
get down to road level and cross to the entrance back onto the track
bed.
Left: The south side path down onto Pit Road. Right: The entrance back
onto the track bed on the opposite side. It is signed.
Through the gate off Pit Road and back onto the track bed. Right: The
blockage looking southwards back to the Midsomer Norton station.
Towards Radstock.
Views northwards from the track bed.
Right: The track continued straight ahead and over he Radstock Road.
However the bridge has been demolished and a new path curves around te old
track bed down
to the main road.
Left: The track bed is diverted onto a modern path for a short way. It ran
through the overgrown way through the trees. Right: Looking back toward
Midsomer Norton.
The new path diverting around the track bed (To the left) and dropping
down to the main road where the railway bridge has been removed.
Site of the over bridge. The path leading down to Radstock Road.
This is where I got way-laid and missed the
diversion to get onto the Ex North Somerset track bed for the final
walk into Radstock and walked along the main road until it
was possible to get back onto the track bed once again. The following
photos are from my next walk from Midsomer Norton North station into
Radstock and starts from
the path I should have taken taken in the first instance.
From my walk on the 4th Of
August. Starting from where I joined the North Someret Track bed and
into Radstock. Near the "Five Arch Viaduct"
were the S&DJR ran over the top.
The blue line follows the S&DJR from Midsomer Norton South to
Radstock. The red line follows the actual path that diverts from the track
bed to Radstock Road. You then turn left
and follow the red line until you meet the Ex North Somerset track bed and
walk into Radstock, passing under the Five Arch Viaduct. You get back
onto the S&DJR track bed just
before entering Radstock.
===================================
On the Ex North Somerset track bed and on to Radstock (GWR) West
station.
'Five Arch Viaduct' West side. The S&DJR ran over the North Somerset
railway line from Bristol to Radstock (West Stn.) and onto Frome.
'Five Arch Viaduct'. East Side. The S&DJR crossed over the bridge from
Midsomer Norton from the left. The Norh Somerset Railway towards Midsomer
Norton
North station site and to Bristol.
Radstock side of Five Arch Viaduct looking back towards Midsomer Norton.
Five Arch Viaduct with S&D double-headed express runing over the top
into Radstock. Bath In Time Photo. (Authour Unknown).
Five Arch Viaduct with a S&D freight running over the top towards
Midsomer Norton. The North Somerset line is seen
below and towards Bristol. In Time Photo. (Author Unknown).
The NSR towards Radstock.
====================================================
From my first walk where I joined the NSR track bed and into Radstock.
Where the two branch lines parted and ran into their respective stations
at Radstock. Left. The S&DJR. Right: The NSR track bed towards
Radstock.
=======
Left: Looking back along the S&DJR as it comes in from off the Five
Arched viaduct. Right: Same spot towards Radstock.
Left: The Ex NSR bridge over the river. From the S&DJR track bed.
Right: The last few yards to the crossing and into Radstock GWR station
site.
The Ex level crossing site. The station stood where the mining memorial
stands today.
Radstock West station site and level crossing.
Left: S&DJR station and level crossing site. The signal box stood
here. Right: Standing on what was between the Up & Down platforms.
Towards Bath.
The S&DJR station site. Towards Midsomer Norton.
Then & Now. Radstock North station towards Midsomer Norton. In the
present photo I would have been standing on the Up platform where the loco
is.
(Old photo Author Unknown).
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To: Radstock To Shoscombe Vale
Other
railway walks:
The Dundee & Newtyle Rlwy Walks Opened in 1831 the route had three incline planes. The
first was from the terminal station on Ward Street, up the
Dundee Law, where there was
also a tunnel. The second was the Balbeuchley incline at
Rosemill and the third at Hatton that ran down to Newtyle station.
It was also the very first passenger train service in Scotland.
Worked by Horse over the levels until the first steam engine was
purchased in 1833. Came under the Caladonian Railway with it's
terminal moved to Dundee West station. Passengers
service ended in 1952 and the line totally closed in the mid 60's.
The inclines were by-passed in the 1860's.
The Cromford & High Peak Incline
railway in Derbyshire has been luckier in having much of it's
buildings, including an Engine House preserved. This is what could have happened
with
the D&N, indeed, should have happened with at least one of the
D&N inclines. However, the C&H gives an excellent comparison
of what
the D&N would have looked like, albeit the
inclines were only single track.
Boddam To Ellon Branch (Walks) By Bill Reid. Ex GNSR branch line.
Dyce To Fraserburgh and Peterhead Walks. Ex GNSR
Bath To Wellow Rlwy Walks Ex Somerset & Dorset Rlwy.
The Test Valley Railway Walk. (New Mills To Hayfield).
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