Line to Radstock
Line to Radstock
Hello guys noticed today that the line to Radstock from Frome is still in place and is being used. On the map it seems to stop just before the site of the old station area, does anyone know where it leads and what it serves?
Line to Radstock
I'm no expert on the use of the line to the quarry but was exploring the Radstock area the other day. The tracks still lead to just before the GWR station but to my dismay their was a Bellway Homes notice bringing gloom to the site - part of the redevelopment of Radstock in partnership with the local council - did they not think of reinstating the rail link?
The Radstock area is great for railway history, but there are town centre redevelopment plans that would see much of it swept away.
The line from Frome used to be retained for the Marcroft wagon repair works, but these closed in 1989. Now the line is overgrown and runs alongside the Colliers Way cycle path, which also follows the S&D to Midford in the other direction.
The old Radstock yard is very evocative, especially the old lamps like this one. I don't know if they were a GWR or BR(W) design, but the same lamps appear in the old St Philip's Marsh pics on this site.
The line from Frome used to be retained for the Marcroft wagon repair works, but these closed in 1989. Now the line is overgrown and runs alongside the Colliers Way cycle path, which also follows the S&D to Midford in the other direction.
The old Radstock yard is very evocative, especially the old lamps like this one. I don't know if they were a GWR or BR(W) design, but the same lamps appear in the old St Philip's Marsh pics on this site.
Although born and bred in Radstock I now live in Birmingham, for some obscure reason. Oh yes, I remember now: I married a woman from Brum.
I'm old enough (just) to remember passenger trains on the Bristol & North Somerset line and all the traffic on the Somerset & Dorset line.
I think the sight of trains on these lines influenced my later life: I'm now approaching twenty seven years on the railway, starting as a freight guard at Westbury and currently I'm a train manager for Virgin at Birmingham New Street.
Back to the topic and an apology for the ramble: The B&NS line which once served Radstock is still in use between Frome North Junction and Hapsford, where stone trains diverge to Whatley quarry. The quarry was once owned by ARC, who followed Foster Yeoman's lead in buying GM class 59's. It's now owned by Hanson, whose name can be seen on hopper wagons conveying limestone all over the place.
There were plans to re-open the line to Radstock (West) as a tourist attraction, but these have come to nothing. The local council can't decide how to redevelop the former railway land in Radstock, so it's very much as it was when the last train left the old Marcroft wagon works about twenty years ago.
I'm old enough (just) to remember passenger trains on the Bristol & North Somerset line and all the traffic on the Somerset & Dorset line.
I think the sight of trains on these lines influenced my later life: I'm now approaching twenty seven years on the railway, starting as a freight guard at Westbury and currently I'm a train manager for Virgin at Birmingham New Street.
Back to the topic and an apology for the ramble: The B&NS line which once served Radstock is still in use between Frome North Junction and Hapsford, where stone trains diverge to Whatley quarry. The quarry was once owned by ARC, who followed Foster Yeoman's lead in buying GM class 59's. It's now owned by Hanson, whose name can be seen on hopper wagons conveying limestone all over the place.
There were plans to re-open the line to Radstock (West) as a tourist attraction, but these have come to nothing. The local council can't decide how to redevelop the former railway land in Radstock, so it's very much as it was when the last train left the old Marcroft wagon works about twenty years ago.
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BristleGWR
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- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:52 pm
I cycled along the colliers way 'shared-use' path in early September this year. It's quite a pleasant ride although not a long one (approx 6 miles from Radstock to the end of the path at Great Elm). The 'shared-use' path crosses over the railway line in a couple of places, where this is done a section of the line has been removed.
A few photographs:
The end of the line at Radstock:
An abandoned LMS van:
About 1 or 2 miles north of Great Elm:
A few photographs:
The end of the line at Radstock:
An abandoned LMS van:
About 1 or 2 miles north of Great Elm:
