Somerset & Dorset, Local Railways

Mitchell and Smith    [Publisher:  Middleton Press  1987]    Hardback    96 pages

Starting at Bournemouth West this book takes us up the previously neglected stretch of line as far as Evercreech Junction. The vast majority of photographs were previously unpublished and reveal a very different sort of S&D to the Northern Extension. Of particular interest is the volume of freight shown being handled by pick up goods at intermediate stations, especially Blandford, which remained open until 1969 for freight traffic.

Mitchell and Smith    [Publisher:  Middleton Press  1989]    Hardback    96 pages

The S&D's branch, including the "twigs" to Wells and Bridgwater are here surveyed in the usual style of the publisher. Highbridge Works and the wharf are well covered, with old OS map extracts and pre grouping shots being used to good effect. There is even a view of one of the Eclipse Peat Company's narrow gauge Listers crossing the SD line on the level, together with the results of a collision at this point, overall this book is a delightful record of an often overlooked piece of railway.

Neil Macmillen And Mike Chapman    [Publisher:  Lightmoor  2014]    Softback    164 pages

A revised and very much enlarged edition of Neil Macmillen's 1990 history of Camerton's collieries, originally written to record the history of coal mining in the parish after the site of Old Pit had been secured for public use. Based on published sources but also a lot of original research, this new edition has been greatly enhanced by a large amount of material that has come to light since original publication and I'm sure Neil won't mind me saying that the production quality of the new edition is also in a different league to the original. The photographic coverage is vastly extended, covering not only the colliery but also Camerton Station and other aspects of the branch and its earlier canal. There are more of Mike Chapman's excellent plans, period sketches and reproductions of old OS maps and sketches and the story also includes early coal mining in Somerset, Reverend Skinner and the work of William Smith. This truly is a spectacularly good book at all levels - at last I have something decent to sell that covers the Camerton branch!

Leslie Price    [Publisher:  Transport Treasury  2022]    Hardback    112 pages

A truly beautifully printed and presented book. Through the photographs of George Heiron we are taken on a journey north from Bristol up the main line(s) as far as Blackwell atop the Lickey incline, with a few side excursions for good measure added at the southern end of the route. Well captioned by someone with interest who has taken some trouble over the whole exercise, the images are absolutely stunning, conveying in spades the atmosphere, majesty and beauty of the late steam age. An astonishingly good book by any standards, I think my favourite section has to be that covering in and around Westerleigh, its junctions and its yard. Fantastic.

Colin Maggs    [Publisher:  Oakwood  2005]    Softback    176 pages

A considerably expanded edition of the 1992 editon, covering the 12 mile long Midland Railway branch line that ran from the outskirts of Bristol to a grandiose neo classical terminus in Bath. Double tracked throughout and forming the northern link to the famous Somerset and Dorset line, the variety and volume of traffic carried on this line in its heyday and up until the 1960s was staggering. Even the closure of the S&D in 1966 couldn't extinguish it, freight lingered on into the 1970s when the final customer had other arrangements made for them so that the whole could be closed. This book is a densely packed record, with good photographic coverage.

Chris Handley    [Publisher:  Millstream  2001]    Softback    160 pages

I found this a very enyoyable read, the story is highly interesting and puts some real "flesh" onto the bones of the Somerset and Dorset Railway's earlier history. Optimisim dogged by numerous setbacks and diluted by continual financial crises eventually produced a highly successful operation at Highbridge Wharf, which contributed to the railway's fortunes over a long period of time. This book is the result of years of interest and research, and contains a real wealth of detail, including an astonishing number of highly relevant photographs, especially given the relative antiquity of much of the subject matter. I find myself left with a real appetite to know more about the rest of the railway's operations over this interesting period and a distinct feeling that the "British Railways" era was just a minor postscript to a magnificent story about which we know too little.

Simon Castens    [Publisher:  Thunderbolt Books  2018]    Softback    56 pages

A new expanded and updated edition of a book I published back in 1999, a guide to the locations used in the making of The Titfield Thunderbolt. Detailed information on all of the locations used together with film facts and anecdotes, biographical details of key players and maps showing the locations. The original book brought together various pieces of published information with original research in one place for the first time, and this new edition is a vastly improved piece of work. It contains very many more photographs, which are all beautifully reproduced on art paper throughout the text, and the information and anecdotes have been variously corrected, updated or added to throughout.

Chris Handley    [Publisher:  Millstream  1992]    Hardback    160 pages

Volume 2 concentrates on the locomotives, train workings, track plans and signalling of the S&D in Radstock. I was not sure that there was much else to show or say after volume 1, but this book proves that there was. Full scale drawings of all structures and staggeringly detailed photographs make this completion of Chris Handley's labour of love ideal for modellers.

Chris Handley    [Publisher:  Millstream  1991]    Hardback    160 pages

An extremely comprehensive history of the Somerset and Dorset in Radstock which includes the line out to Shoscombe and Single Hill Halt and all of the collieries in the area. This is a beautiful book which has been meticulously researched by Chris Handley providing fascinating details and maps of a Radstock which is alas no more.

Jefferey Grayer    [Publisher:  Crecy  2012]    Hardback    128 pages

Comments as for the first part of this new two volume S&D essay, this second book benefits from the inclusion of views of extended post closure operations at Blandford, Bason Bridge and the line to Wimborne, in addition to the attenuated operations at Templecombe. The branch has reasonable coverage, including the late remaining significant remains at Glastonbury and Fisons narrow gauge operations at Ashcott which outlasted the standard gauge by many years. This is a fascinating look back at the less well frequented parts of what must arguably be the most photographed line in the land.

Mike Arlett and David Lockett    [Publisher:  Lightmoor  2008]    Hardback    192 pages

Norman Lockett, an accomplished photographer in his own right, was a friend of Ivo Peters and often accompanied him on his photographic expeditions. On this basis I was afraid that this might have been rather a "familiar" collection, but in fact rather the opposite is the case. There are two principal reasons for this; firstly Norman started photographing the S&D from 1935 and (apart from the war) photographed the line extensively before 1950 and secondly he visited quite a few "non Ivo" locations. Both of these aspects of Norman's photography have been fully exploited in this book and the authors have also gone back to the original glass plate negatives for reproduction, often using the full uncropped image to good effect. The result is very pleasing, a good reference for modelling detail and a terrific record of a couple of more obscure parts of the S&D - most especially the "branch" between the GWR main line and Church Street in Highbridge. There is also a rare shot showing Downside ground frame very clearly - all in all this is a very worthwhile addition to any S&D library.

Bob Bunyar    [Publisher:  Wild Swan  2016]    Softback    96 pages

The first of a new format of book from Wild Swan, the same size as the old "Bradford Barton" books, but produced as a sewn softback and printed to high standards by Amadeus. This first is a recollection of the last weekend over the Somerset and Dorset by Bob Bunyar, which includes a chapter on the years leading up to the end and selected events following the closure. Copiously illustrated in both black and white and in colour, and featuring many views that have not been published before.

Simon Castens    [Publisher:  Wild Swan  2023]    Hardback    192 pages

Newly reprinted, at the same price and in the same format as the original book, but including a number of minor corrections together with a new photograph. Beautifully laid out by Steve Phillips and well received, this is a well produced quality hardback book, which tells the detailed story of where how and why the film was made. It includes details of all of the railway stock and locations featured in the film and forms a great source book for modellers, drawing upon numerous sources and including 321 photographs and 9 plans. Beautifully produced and touching upon numerous subjects and stories, including anecdotes and information on the key people involved in the filming, this is a book that will appeal to both enthusiasts and also anyone with an interest and affection for the optimism and hope that once existed in this beautiful country of ours.

Duncan Harper    [Publisher:  Millstream  1987]    Hardback    112 pages

Something quite different; a personal, well researched and unique cameo of railway history in the Somerset and Wiltshire counties. Artistically put together but not at the expense of accuracy, this is a beautiful book which has appeal both to and beyond the railway fraternity.