Site updated October 2026
WESTON-super-Mare RAILWAY SOCIETY
We meet once every month. Our meetings feature a presentation with photo slides or digital images, and occasionally cine or video films. We regularly attract high-quality speakers from around the country, many of whom regularly have their photographs published in the national railway magazines. Also, on some evenings, our Members present their own photographs.
The Society was formed in early 1977 and attracts members from all walks of life. These include professional railwaymen, rail enthusiasts, railway photographers, and those who just wish to re-live the golden era of railways – whether that be steam, or diesels, or even electric. Of course we don't just restrict it to the UK, but cover subjects worldwide. And we can also include something more recent!
The cost of Membership is normally £18 per year, with raffle prize each meeting for £1.
We meet on the first Tuesday of each month. Unless otherwise stated, all meetings are held in the (upstairs) Duncan Gray function room at the Conservative Club, Alexandra Parade, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1QX (our Society hire the room for private function purposes and has no direct connection to the Conservative Party). This is in central Weston, opposite the Odeon Cinema . Meetings start at 8pm, and usually finish around 10.15pm having included a break when refreshments can be purchased from the bar downstairs.
Any non Members who would like to come along will need to contact Lionel Jones (or any existing Member) in advance. Stephen can be contacted by telephone 07901-946644. Non-members must be accompanied by an existing Member. You are very welcome to attend to "try us out" or to see a particular meeting for a one-night admission of just £3, payable on the evening. Of course, we hope that you'll like what you see and will want to join us!
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Tuesday 3rd NOVEMBER 2026:
Annual General Meeting
Members Only
This is the only meeting which is only open to Members of the Society
Anyone wishing to sample our evenings or, perhaps, join our Society, then please come along on for our last meeting on December 1st. You will be made very welcome and we hope will enjoy the experience.
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ABOUT US
NEXT MEETING
"Big Boy" (USA)
Congresbury
OUR MEETINGS
3rd November: Annual General Meeting
Members only (this meeting only)
1st December: Lionel Jones
35 Years of Photographing Railways Part 4
6th October:
Wales and the West in the 1980's
Society Member: Kevin Redwood
He featured photos of freight traffic from that era, and took us from South Wales (where there was then plenty of freight to be seen), before moving on to visit Bridgwater, Taunton, and then travelling into Devon before finishing in Cornwall.
Kevin drew on his detailed knowledge of the local freight network and its trains from working in the BR Bristol Area Freight Centre from October 1978 until 1986. In later years of his railway career with EWS he was based at Barton Hill depot. On his days off during those years he frequently travelled across the region to photograph the changing railway scene, which he has also captured in his four books for Amberley Publishing –“ Freight Trains of the Western Region in the 1980s”, “Railways of the Western Region in the 1970s and 1980s”, “South Wales Railways in the 1980s”, and “Railways of the West of England in the 1980s”.
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Visit to Emborough Quarry
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Visit to Gartell Railway
due to close - see below
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Clevedon (WC&PR)
2026 PROGRAMME
OTHER ACTIVITIES
NEWS and INFORMATION
Our Society in discussion with GWR has arranged to site a Station-History mural at Weston station. (similar to the one at Taunton - which gave us the idea initially). GWR were very interested in our idea, and offered their full approval and support. It is now fixed in place on the wall of Platform 1; a picture is shown above-right We are very grateful to GWR for facilitating the production and installation of this, and funding it through their Community Fund, at no cost to the Society. The board carries the Society logo and name, along with the GWR logo. The board size, format and placing were specified by GWR; it is positioned roughly opposite the main station entrance. We trust this board will provide interest, enjoyment and education - to waiting or alighting passengers for many years to come. See the picture included.
Gartell Light Railway to close to the public from the end of October
The news has come though that the Gartell Light Railway near to Templecombe is to cease its regular public opening after 45 years due to the advancing age of the owners and volunteer team, hence why committing to regular open days cannot continue. It is intended to keep things operational privately for a while longer for special events, without the commitment of regular open days. The Society had three very successful private evening visits to the line, back in 1994, 2002 (very wet!) and 2008.
A privately created and run railway, started by the Gartell family on their farmland, over the years the line has extended onto the trackbed of the former Somerset & Dorset line. Since 1991 the GLR has held regular public open days each year, and it is this aspect which is finishing.
Whilst a two-foot gauge line, partly along the trackbed of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, it has 4 stations – Common Lane, Pinesway Junction, Park Lane, and Tower View, and is controlled using a comprehensive signalling system operated from two signal boxes – Common Lane and Pinesway Junction. Both signal boxes control a mix of semaphore and colour light signals with mechanically operated points. It has three steam locos (purpose built for the line) and four diesels. Passenger carrying stock is enclosed purpose-built carriages.
There is just one running day now on Sunday 25th October 2026 (including a model railway exhibition), so if you haven’t yet visited there’s still time. For its size it’s a very impressive operation. The railway is situated on the A357 south of Templecombe (turn left onto Common Lane before Yenston), post code BA8 0NB. We have taken plenty of pictures on the penultimate running day in September and hope to soon include them on our site.
SPECIAL OUTINGS and TRIPS
Society visit to the East Somerset Railway, Cranmore on Wednesday 3rd September 2025.
We enjoyed a memorable trip to the railway. First we had a talk about the railway, covering its conception and building, starting out as the East Somerset Railway, built to broad gauge, and then being consumed by the GWR. It was converted to standard gauge and then connected through to the Yatton to Wells line - known as the 'Strawberry Line'. The last passenger service ran in 1963 with goods continuing for another five years.
The preserved railway was 'found' by David Sheppard a successful artist. After his initial interest in wildlife he became interested in steam trains, so much that he purchased a large 9F locomotive and then decided that Cranmore would be an ideal location to store and run his locomotive. But, the line from Wells was lifted and the link to British rail metals was became unavailable. However, the preserved line has survived and now provides an interesting although short steam railway journey.
Our trip included a visit to the engine shed and workshops. Then, after lunch we boarded a train, with some of us enjoying a loco cab ride. Two rides were included, between which there was time to visit the signal box and David Sheppard's picture gallery and model railway. See the picture included taken on the day.
OTHER ACTIVITIES