Chronology
- 1836 Bristol and Exeter Railway authorised by Act of Parliament
- 1841 Opened from Bristol to Bridgwater, also Weston branch
- 1842 Extended from Bridgwater to Taunton
- 1843 Extended to temporary terminus at Beam Bridge
- 1844 Main line completed to Exeter
- 1845 Independent Exeter station opened at Bristol
- 1847 Clevedon branch opened
- 1848 Tiverton branch opened
- 1849 Lease to Great Western Railway expires
- 1853 Yeovil branch opened
- 1854 Operation of Somerset Central Railway
- 1857 Yeovil branch extended to junction with Great Western Railway Weymouth line
- 1862 Exeter and Crediton Railway opened, operated by Bristol and Exeter Railway
- 1862 West Somerset Railway opened and leased to Bristol and Exeter Railway
- 1864 Exeter station rebuilt
- 1865 Grand Western Canal purchased
- 1866 Chard branch opened; Weston station rebuilt
- 1867 Bridgwater and Taunton Canal purchased
- 1868 Taunton station rebuilt
- 1869 Branch opened from Yatton to Cheddar
- 1870 Branch extended from Cheddar to Wells
- 1871 Devon and Somerset Railway opened to Wiveliscombe, worked by Bristol and Exeter Railway
- 1872 Bristol Harbour Railway opened, jointly owned with the Great Western Railway
- 1873 Devon and Somerset Railway completed to Barnstaple
- 1874 Minehead Railway opened, operated by Bristol and Exeter Railway
- 1875 Bristol to Taunton, Weston and Yeovil branches converted to mixed gauge; Wells branch converted to standard gauge
- 1876 Amalgamated with Great Western Railway
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