South Section
Weston Clevedon & Portishead Railway Home

Copyright © 2004-2016

Paul Gregory  


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The Line today - Southern section - Colehouse Lane to Weston



Although very little of the line can be clearly seen today, if you know where to look the route of the line can be seen in places (and sometimes walked). The Main map shows the general route, and using the Detail Maps button on station pages, the route of the line and location of most stations can be found. ‘The Line Today’ is split into Northern section, Clevedon section and Southern sections to improve download times. This page shows the southern section i.e. Colehouse Lane to Weston-Super-Mare.


Tip: To help to locate the route, look for electricity sub-stations. They were often positioned on the old track bed, because generally ownership of the land was unknown after the closure of the line.


The booklet “Discover Somerset’s Lost Railway” will be found useful when exploring.


Some of the places where you can still see traces of the line or the route it followed are starting from Colehouse Lane and going south :                    Click a photo to enlarge   



Colehouse Lane

Colehouse Lane was the first halt going south from Clevedon. The photo on right was taken in April 2006 looking back towards Clevedon. The lane in the foreground is Colehouse Lane. Colehouse Lane halt originally stood to the right behind the fence, but it was moved to the other side of the line to make room for the BBC transmitter station in 1939. The transmitter cables can be seen at far right. It is believed that the dark area of tarmac is where the track ran. See detail map.

Colehouse Lane

Near Broadstone halt


This view is typical of the section in the area near Broadstone halt. The track ran in almost a straight line and the route is fairly unscathed. This stretch is entirely on private land. This photo is looking towards Clevedon and was taken with the farmer’s permission in May 2008.

Broadstone area

Ham Lane

Photo on right was taken in April 2006 looking towards Weston. Ham Lane itself runs across the picture. The Ham Lane halt building was on the left while the track ran across the road to the right where the fence now is.

Ham Lane

North of River Yeo


Photo on right is of the track bed between the River Yeo and Ham Lane, and is on private land. Taken during a WC&P Railway Group route survey in February 2008.

Trackbed near River Yeo

Wharf at River Yeo


Remains of the wharf still exist but are on private land.

See Wharf page for more details and pictures taken in April 2006.

Wharf

River Yeo Bridge


Piers of the bridge still exist but are on private land.

See Yeo bridge page for more details and pictures taken in April 2006.

River Yeo bridge

Wick St Lawrence


This photo is taken from the crossing at Wick Road looking along the old track bed north towards the Yeo bridge and Clevedon. The halt would have been in the left for ground, while to the right of the fence was a siding. In the distance the siding to the wharf turned off to the left. This stretch is planned as a cycleway See also Wick St Lawrence halt.

Wick St Lawrence halt

Ebdon Lane

Ebdon Lane runs across the photo on right which is taken looking north towards Clevedon. Ebdon Lane halt was just to the right behind the pole.

Ebdon Lane halt site


This photo shows the old track bed looking from the Ebdon Lane crossing towards Worle. The halt was behind the camera on the Clevedon side of the crossing. See also Ebdon Lane halt.


This area of land is now used for flood defence purposes and is open to the public. There is a network of connecting paths and a footbridge crossing the River Banwell, linking the modern housing to this public space.




Worle

The route is completely built over by the housing estates at the north side of Worle, but a footpath now follows the route of the line between Worle High Street and Station Road. A retirement development stands on the site of Fussell’s rubber factory, which itself was preceded by a gas works. See Worle station page.


At the site of Worle station, the WC&P Railway Group erected an Interpretation Board in October 2015. Other boards have also been erected. See Interpretation Boards page for locations.





Weston terminus site


The site of the terminus can be seen at the junction of Ashcombe Road and Milton Road. The terminus was where the florists now stand. The house was owned by the railway, and upstairs was the home of the Traffic Manager. A footpath between the florists and house now runs along the route of the track through the station. See Weston Ashcombe Road station.


Ashcombe Road












This footpath runs along the line of the track in the terminus station. These houses used to look onto the station. This view is taken roughly from the buffer stops looking towards Clevedon.

See also Then & now


Ashcombe Road


In December 2011, the WC&P Railway Group erected an Interpretation Board at the site of Ashcombe Road station. The Group also erected signage naming the route of the old trackbed ‘Colonel Stephens Way’.


The Group has erected other boards - see Interpretation Boards page for more details and location maps.

Interpretation board

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Colonel Stephens Way sign

Go to Northern section - Portishead to Walton Park

Go to Clevedon section

Worle-1m.jpg Track bed at Ebdon Lane looking towards Worle