Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway - The S&D in The Early 1960s

The S&D in The Early 1960s

The fame of the Somerset & Dorset line reached its peak in the first years of the 1960s, just before final closure as part of the nationwide reduction of railway services, usually called the Beeching Axe.

The main line was still active, carrying local passenger trains and a daily long-distance train, The Pines Express, from Manchester to Bournemouth West, reversing at Bath Green Park. Local freight on the route survived in adequate volumes, although the Somerset coalfield was largely exhausted and coal traffic had dwindled.

On summer Saturdays, the line continued to carry a very heavy traffic of long-distance trains, from northern towns to Bournemouth and back. It was part of the charm of the route that the originating towns were mostly on the former Midland Railway, as if the railway grouping of 1923 had never taken place. These trains brought unusual traffic combinations to the route, and the home fleet of BR standard class 5 4-6-0s and the BR standard class 9F 2-10-0s were augmented by strangers such as LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0s from the north and West Country Pacifics from the south. As assistance over the steep gradients was usually required, the original S&D class 7F 2-8-0s were pressed into service to assist, or handling lighter trains on their own.

The route remained steam-worked almost entirely until closure, though some diesel units were provided in the final years. After closure, diesels worked demolition trains, and some diesel workings operated to Blandford Forum after the line had closed.

Freight in the 1960s was largely in the hands of Stanier 8Fs, Standard 4-6-0s and the S&D 7F 2-8-0s, assisted by Jinty 0-6-0Ts and GW 57XX Pannier Tanks; freight trains were assisted in rear by these locomotives over the Combe Down summit and over Masbury.

The Highbridge branch trains were latterly worked by Collett 2251 0-6-0s, and Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2Ts.