Bridport West Bay railway station explained

Bridport West Bay
Status:Disused
Borough:Bridport, West Dorset
Country:England
Grid Name:Grid reference
Platforms:1
Pregroup:Bridport Railway
GWR
Postgroup:GWR
Western Region of British Railways
Years:31 March 1884
Events:Opened
Years1:1 January 1916
Events1:Closed
Years2:5 January 1920
Events2:Reopened
Years3:11 April 1921
Events3:Closed
Years4:11 July 1921
Events4:Reopened
Years5:22 September 1924
Events5:Closed
Years6:6 October 1924
Events6:Reopened
Years7:22 September 1930
Events7:Closed for passengers
Years8:1962
Events8:closed for freight traffic

West Bay railway station was the terminus of the Bridport Railway in western Dorset, England. In 1879, the Great Western Railway, who held the operating licence for the original Bridport Railway (which ran as far as Bridport town), decided to extend the railway to Bridport Harbour. Construction started in 1883, and the line opened on 31 March 1884. The station was called West Bay by the GWR in order to encourage holiday traffic. The line between West Bay and Bridport closed to passengers in 1930, and operated for goods services only until its final closure in 1962.[1]

The site today

After many years as the office of a boat yard, in 1995 the station was restored with a short length of track at the platform. The station building has operated sporadically as a cafe since then.[2] From West Bay, a section of the former track bed can now be walked into Bridport.

References

Notes and References

  1. http://www.westbay.co.uk/bridport/railway.php Bridport Railway at westbay.co.uk
  2. Web site: Disused Stations: Bridport West Bay Station . Subbrit.org.uk . 2013-09-15.