Cranmore - East Somerset Railway

The East Somerset Railway
BATH
BRISTOL
How to get to Cranmore
Cranmore is situated just
off the A361 Shepton
Mallet to Frame road,
about three
miles from
Shepton Mallet
and is signposted
East Somerset
Railway.
The original East Somerset Railway was opened in 1858 as a broad gauge
railway and you can read the full story of its subsequent history in our illustrated
guide book.
The railway of today was founded by its chairman, wildlife artist David Shepherd,
and was officially opened in 1975 by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. The
fine replica Victorian engine shed and workshops now house many interesting
steam locomotives, from David Shepherd's 140 ton steam giant Black Prince, to
the diminutive Lord Fisher, always popular with the children. We have a fine
collection of tank engines, including a rare crane locomotive built by Dubs of
Glasgow in 1901. The E1 class locomotive, built in 1877 by the LBSCR, is the
only one of its type now in existence, and is currently under restoration along
with a GWR tank locomotive built in 1928 at Swindon. Among our interesting
items of rolling stock we have the only coach built by BR with an all fibreglass
body. The railway is one of only two 100% steam railways in the country.
CRANMORE
East Somerset Railway
How you can help run the E.S.R.
Running a steam railway today is exciting and rewarding and
almost all the tasks at Cranmore are undertaken by volunteers.
The opportunities to test your skills are endless, from coach
and loco restoration, to selling prints in the Signal Box Art
Gallery. You will make lots of new friends and will be helping
to preserve part of Britain's great steam railway heritage, so
why not join us and help run the railway? Membership
application forms can be obtained from Cranmore Station.
You will be assured of a warm welcome from all of us on the
East Somerset Railway. We believe that this matters too.
The East Somerset Railway is a registered charity. No 271589
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Santa Specials
Special steam trains will run in December, and every child travelling on the train
will receive a present from Father Christmas.
For details of these services, seats for which must be booked and prepaid in
advance, please look out for local press advertisements or contact Cranmore
Station after 1 st September.
E.S.R. Wildlife Conservation and Information Centre
To ensure that the whole family has an enjoyable day out, we have established,
at Cranmore Station, our new E.S.R. Wildlife Information Centre, which depicts
the many aspects of wildlife to be found in the area. Adjacent to this, we have
developed a picnic area which includes a miniature station and play engine for
children.
Steam Specials for School Parties
Steam trains are run on selected weekdays during June for the benefit of school
parties. On each booking a set of educational notes is provided for project work.
Full details can be obtained by writing to Cranmore Station, Shepton Mallet,
Somerset.
Coach Parties specially catered for
Generous discounts are available for groups of twenty or more people and, for
parties of 100 or more, we can provide a special train by prior arrangement,
even on days when trains are not timetabled. Please contact Cranmore Station
for further details.
Picnic Areas
Well maintained picnic areas are to be found at Cranmore and Merryfield Lane
stations and at the engine shed.
Published by East Somerset Railway 1/89
Cranmore
Cranmore Railway Station, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Telephone: Cranmore (074 988) 417
Steam Hauled Passenger Trains
Opening Times Only
Daily April to October inclusive for viewing (for Steam Days
see timetable) 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (4.00 p.m. Mondays to
Fridays in April and October).
Saturdays and Sundays—November, December and March
10.00a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed January and February (except New Year's Day).
Last admissions thirty minutes before closing times.
Admission Prices and Train Fares
Combined admission price to the depot and train fare—
Adults £2 40; Children £1-20 (5 years to 16 years);
Citizens over 60 years £1 -20.
Admission price to site when trains are not in operation—
Adults £1 00; Children and over 60s 50p
Free car and coach park.
Each day combined ticket allows unlimited travel on all
timetabled tains.
Gift Shop and Refreshments
A well-stocked souvenir shop with something for all the family can be found
on Cranmore Station together with a buffet serving light refreshments.
Cranmore Railway Station
Cranmore to Mendip Vale
Timetable 1989
Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Telephone: Cranmore 417
Restaurant and Catering Services
Our restaurant car, situated at the engine shed, offers home-cooked lunches
and teas as well as light snacks, on most days when trains are running. We
will be pleased to arrange group meal bookings, birthday parties and
evening wine buffet trains on request. For details, please apply in writing to
the Catering Manageress at Cranmore Station.
Signal Box Art Gallery
A wide selection of David Shepherd's wildlife, steam railway and landscape
fine art prints is always available. Railway Prints by Don Breckon, and a
selection of David Shepherd wildlife videos are also available. In the
basement of the signal box a popular museum of railway relics has been
established.
Sundays:
Sundays:
Wednesdays:
Thursdays:
Friday:
Saturdays:
2nd April to 9th July (except 30th July and 28th May).
3rd September to 29th October (except 8th October).
31 st May to 6th September.
27th July to 31 st August.
24th March.
25th March, 22nd July, 26th August and 7th October.
Cranmore
Cranmore West
11.45
11.48
11.52
11.57
Merryfield Lane
Mendip Vale
Mendip Vale
Merryfield Lane
Cranmore West
Cranmore
12.05
3.55
12.11
12.15
12.17
4.01
4.05
4.07
Saturdays:
29th April to 27th May,
1st July to
Sundays: 26th and 30th April, 28th May and 8th October.
Sundays: 16th July to 27th August.
Mondays: 27th April, 1st and 29th May and 28th August.
9th September
(except 22nd July and
26th August).
11.00
12.00
11.03
11.07
12.03
12.07
3.05
3.08
3.12
11.12
12.12
3.17
11.20
11.26
11.30
11.32
12.20
12.26
12.30
12.32
3.55
4.45
3.58
4.02
4.07
4.48
4.52
4.57
Note: At present, passengers are unable to alight at Mendip Vale. Your combined ticket on day of issue entitles you to unlimited travel on the above timetable service
Note A: The 4.45 train does not run on Wednesdays in June.
CRANMORE
WEST
Engine Shed and Workshops
Our Victorian-style engine shed, where our locomotives are housed and
serviced, is open to visitors. In addition, inspection of the adjacent workshops
where locomotives are overhauled can be made from the special viewing
platform.
Access to the engine shed is gained either by alighting from trains, when
operating, at Cranmore West, or by using the footpath from Cranmore Station.
1989 Attractions
April 29th—'Showerings' wine buffet train
May 27th—'Showerings' wine buffet train
July 15th—'Showerings' wine buffet train
July 22nd—Jazz Night in the Shed at 8 p.m. with the Blue Note Jazz Band.
July 23rd—Vintage Vehicle Rally
August 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th—The S. & D. Theatre Evening Trains
August 26th—'Showerings' wine buffet train
August 28th—Cranmore Village Fayre
October 7th and 8th—Enthusiasts' Weekend
December—Santa Specials on Saturdays and Sundays, phone for dates
and booking details
All amenities are subject to availability.
The wine buffet trains are kindly sponsored by 'Showerings' of Shepton Mallet.
Further details of these events can be obtained from Cranmore Station.
**• Toilets
* Toilets
* Shop
Museum
* Art gallery
* Wildlife information
centre
* Engine shed
* Workshops
* Restaurant
* Picnic area
* Picnic area
Electrical Contractor
and Alarm Engineer
MERRYFIELD
LANE
RICHARD PILLINGER
MENDIP
VALE
(Site for
new station)
Rodney & Dora Phelps
welcome you
THE STRODE ARMS
Cranmore
Attractive bars, real ales
Restaurant and gardens Home cooking
Telephone:
Cranmore (074 988) 450
EAST SOMERSET RAILWAY
STEAMS THROUGH THE MENDIPS
CLARKS SHOES
HAVE STEAMED AHEAD As WELL SINCE I825
(24-hour call-out)
The National Contractor
15 Piers Road, West Cranmore
Nr. Shepton Mallet
Telephone: (074 988) 329
HOTEL &
4f
RESTAURANT
*0\&
BATH ROAD
FROME
SOMERSET, BA11 2HP
NowA MILLION PEOPLE HAVE CLARKS TRAINERS
RAC
Telephone:
0373 63223
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