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Williton

PHOTO GALLERY: BRISTOL & EXETER RAILWAY

Williton

OPENED: 1875     CLOSED: 1971

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Opened in the early days of interlocked signalling on the Bristol & Exeter Railway, Williton was originally the only intermediate box on the long branch from Taunton to Minehead.

Williton SB
John Hinson, 1979

The B&E built some boxes themselves, as here, but most were built by the contractor Saxby & Farmer – an example of which can be seen at Stoke Canon Crossing. In the 1870s, many cabins were built entirely in brick although this fashion quickly lost favour and the use of timber allowed smaller corner pillars for an improved view from within.

The present 25-lever frame, of Great Western 5-bar Vertical Tappet type, is the third that the box has possessed, and was provided in 1937 when the track signalling along the entire line was improved to allow longer passenger trains to be operated during the tourist season.

Williton SB
D Waldron c1970

A Swindon-built BR Cross-Country diesel multiple unit arrives at Williton in the last years of the line’s operation by British Railways. The signalman is about to exchange single-line tokens with the driver.

Williton was amongst the boxes to survive up to the closure of the line in 1971, and amazingly this unique survivor was not demolished and has since been returned to use with the West Somerset heritage railway. Its future is assured.