Fifty years ago Abbotsbury, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Seaton, Sidmouth and Salterton all had railways.
The Bridport one was unique, it was built by the local company it’s main reason was to help the town's
industries, the others were built by main line companies to increase passenger traffic and tourism.
Bridport had been waiting for a railway for ten years; eventually local people were interested and took the matter into their own hands.
They raised some money and built Bridport railway, which many people remember as the prettiest branch line in Dorset.|
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At that time it was owned by the Bridport Railway Company. In 1884, the line was extended to West Bay and in 1901 was bought by the Great Western Railways.
During the two world wars the line was kept open but the West Bay extension was closed to passengers. Steam trains began to be replaced by diesel and, although the government in the 1960s closed many country railways, the Bridport branch was kept open until 1975 and was the last passenger train to close in Dorset.
The lines were closed because cars were fast becoming a more popular form of transport than trains.
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Today we cross the old railway track through the kissing gate to walk to Boarsbarrow Hill. |
While it was running the Bridport branch did good business linking Bridport with bigger towns. Before this coaches and rough roads were the only way to reach other places.
There were five stations on the Bridport line: West Bay, Bridport, Powerstock, Toller and Maiden Newton.
Apart from transporting tourists, the trains also carried goods to and from the area, like coal, building materials, cattle and livestock, sand and gravel, rope and twine.
