LAST TRAIN FROM EVERCREECH JUNCTION
Gartell Light Railway
The Gartell Light Railway was the brainchild of John Gartell, and was to see the very first rails re-laid on the S&D. The first chapter of the Gartell story began in 1984 when John became the owner of some 2ft-gauge track, a couple of small diesel locomotives and a few wagons. With no ambitious plans, he set out to create a small private railway on his own farm at Common Lane, Yenston, just outside Templecombe in Somerset.
As the project progressed, John and his two like-minded friends were drawn towards the Somerset & Dorset, and the former trackbed just happened to be in touching distance from where they were.
Opening to the public for the first time in 1990, passengers number steadily grew, and railway soon became a hugely popular visitor attraction. The line grew in tandem with the steady increase in passenger numbers, branching out onto the former S&D trackbed. 1996 was a landmark occasion for the narrow gauge gauge operation, with the introduction of a steam locomotive to the line, a sight unseen since in the area since the closure of the Somerset & Dorset in 1966.
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0-4-2T ‘Mr. G.’ in action on the Gartell Light Railway
The railway is ¾ mile (1.2 km) in length, ½ mile runs on the former trackbed of the Somerset & Dorset. Four stations operate along the line - Common Lane, Pinesway Junction, Park Lane and Tower View. The journey takes in the beautiful views of the surrounding Blackmore Vale countryside.
Common Lane and Pinesway Junction is home to the railway’s two signal boxes. Gartell proudly boasts one of the most comprehensive signalling systems of any heritage line in the country, narrow gauge or standard gauge. Common Lane has 18 levers, this number increases to 30 at Pinesway Junction, where the railway makes a connection with the S&D. Signal gantries can be seen at several points, with an array of semaphore arms.
At Common Lane - the base of the operation, can be found a ticket office, gift shop, catering facilities, museum and a large car park. The site is also home to workshops. The fleet consists of two steam locomotives: ‘Mr. G’ 0-4-0T No.6 (built in 1998), and ‘Jean’ 0-4-0 No.9 (built in 2000); and three diesel locomotives: ‘Amanda’ No.1, ‘Andrew’ No.2 and ‘Alison’ No.5.
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The line displaying its vast and impressive array of signalling
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Meeting point - over and under on the former Somerset & Dorset line
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Contact Details
Gartell Light Railway
Common Lane Farm
Yenston
Templecombe
Somerset
BA8 0NB
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Telephone: 01963 370752
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