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• The Italianate station...
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A fine surviving example of a Bristol & Exeter Railway station. The main building still retains the original Italianate chimney and, inside, it is like walking into a time warp. Guarding the level crossing is the original B&ER signal box believed to be the only one surviving. The two platforms are separated by a rather larger distance than usual. This harks back to the old broad gauge days.
The Goods Shed is now the home of the Diesel and Electric Group, whose collection of heritage diesel locomotives reflect a more recent, but defunct, picture of Britain's railways. Of special note are the Western Region Diesel Hydraulic locomotives which once pulled famous trains like the "Torbay Express", "Golden Hind" and "Cornish Riviera".
The large building at the north end of the yard came from the Great Western Railway works at Swindon (it was donated by Tarmac Ltd), and is a very early example of a prefabricated steel building. It now houses several restoration projects.
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• Williton and surrounding area...
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Williton is the local administrative centre, the District Council main offices are in the centre of the town.
There is a good selection of shops and pubs to visit, all within a mile of the station, including the "Egremont Arms", where in 1856, a meeting was called to discuss the building of a railway "!from the West Somerset iron-fields and coast, to the Bristol & Exeter Railway"...the rest is history!
The "West Somerset Free Press", a long established local paper, has its office and printing works here.
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Williton Station
