An unofficial website featuring the West Somerset Railway
Williton Station
Where Brunel's architectural style survives...
Williton Station is a fine surviving example of a Bristol & Exeter Railway station.
The main building still retains the original 'Italianate' chimney and, inside, it is like walking into a time warp.
Guarding the level crossing is the original B&ER signal box believed to be the only one surviving in full operational order.
The two platforms are separated by a rather larger distance than usual. This harks back to the old broad gauge days.
The Goods Shed is now the home of the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group, whose collection of heritage diesel locomotives reflect a more recent, but defunct, picture of Britain's railways. Of special note are the Western Region diesel hydraulic locomotives which once pulled famous trains like the Torbay Express, the Golden Hind and the Cornish Riviera.
The large building at the north end of the yard came from the Great Western Railway works at Swindon (it was donated by Tarmac Ltd), and is a very early example of a prefabricated steel building. It now the base of West Somerset Restoration and several other restoration projects.
More information...
Location...
- Postcode: TA4 4RJ
- OS Grid Reference: ST085416
- Geographic Coords: 51.16595, -3.30918
- what3words: ///clouds.signs.footballers
The Stations...
