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When the Station opened in 1874 it had only one platform, now the up side. The main station building, the only structure here when the line opened, is completely different in design from those at Washford and Dunster. In 1904 the GWR added the passing loop, down platform and waiting room, signal box and level crossing gates.
The up platform is stone faced and the downside brick faced. Both were lengthened, together with the passing loop towards Taunton in 1934. The odd shape of the ladies room, built in red brick in 1904, is because it follows the boundary of the site. The waiting shelter between the main building and the ladies room, constructed in 1989, replaced an earlier one that rotted and became so dangerous it had to be demolished. The waiting room and booking office have been lovingly restored, using Great Western fittings, many of them originals to the station
The Blue Anchor Railway Museum is on the down platform at Blue Anchor Station, and is housed in the former waiting room, a brick built structure with a self-supporting canopy. Opened in 1986 under the auspices of the West Somerset Railway Steam Trust, the first Custodians were Peter and Ginny Barnfield of Bristol, who quickly filled the building with a fine collection of railwayana.
The Museum is supported by the Friends of Blue Anchor Railway Museum, who help staff the museum and raise cash for new acquistions. Many exhibits are loaned for short or long term, this ensures the museum always has new things to look at.
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• Blue Anchor and surrounding area...
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Blue Anchor, a small hamlet clustered around the station, is probably named after the "Blue Anchor Inn", a long established hostelry situated at the east end of the long causeway. There have been many theories about the origin of the name of the inn (a subject than ran for a few weeks in the Daily Mail recently), but it is best to call in and ask the landlord!
Before the causeway and road were built, the low lying fields would have flooded with the higher tides. Also at the eastern end is a classic cliff exposure dramatically showing the junction of red marls and blue lias rocks
The Driftwood Cafe, just a few steps from the station, overlooking Blue Anchor Bay with views across the Bristol Channel, offers refreshments including ice creams!
The beach has some sandy areas and some pebbles and although not a classic seaside beach is nevertheless very popular with visitors. At high tide, the causeway is busy with anglers.
As the sweep of the Bay stretches away to the west, the remains of early attempts at beach defences can be seen. The tree trunk "pilings", constructed in the last century, look like rows of blackened teeth, as they continue to defy the power of the waves.
One of the best views of Somerset summer sunsets can be seen from Blue Anchor - the Railway run an evening train up from Minehead on summer Wednesdays, the "Sunset Special"
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Blue Anchor Station
