Somerset Railways

Somerset steam railways

A journey by steam train in Somerset takes you not only from one beautifully tended station to another, it takes you back in time to a less hurried age where the guard has time to chat and the engine chugs cheerily through the rolling countryside.
The longest standard gauge heritage railway in the UK, the West Somerset Railway, runs between Bishops Lydeard just outside the county town of Taunton all the way to Minehead. The 20.5 mile track, supported by ten stations, gives ring side views of cottages, churches, grazing cattle and coastal communities.  A busy programme of events throughout the year includes chances to see Santa, snowdrops, gardens and visiting engines. There are even courses for budding drivers.
Over in East Somerset there is a smaller but equally characterful railway brought back to life through the vision of artist David Shepherd who bought two steam engines and needed somewhere to run them. The East Somerset Railway runs through the Mendip Hills near Shepton Mallet.