This page gives details of single-line block sections on the lines of the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR). For further information on the general subject of single-line sections, and details of other West Country railway companies, please see the Introduction page.

This page was updated last on 10 August 2013. Further information will be added as it becomes available. Sections are listed in line order. There is an alphabetical Index to Lines for quick access.

The S&DJR single-line sections have been the subject of greater research than some of the other lines covered by RailWest. Therefore it has been possible to provide a more detailed list covering the complete period from the widespread introduction of both Train Staff & Ticket and Electric Train Tablet working to the S&DJR in 1886 until final closure of the S&DJR to all passenger traffic in 1966. Further background information can be found in the separate RailWest pages about S&DJR Block Working.

With a few exceptions, before 1886 most S&DJR single-line sections were controlled by Absolute Block working without any form of physical 'token'. The nature of the various signalling installations at that time was such that some intermediate signal-boxes could be switched 'in' or 'out' very easily, so it would be very difficult to identify and list with any degree of accuracy the various possible combinations of 'short' and 'long' sections. Consequently this page records only the situation from 1886 onwards.

The S&DJR made considerable use of Tyer's No 1 ETT equipment and a few sections remained equipped with those instruments until early British Railways days. Configuration arrangements for No 1 tablets were different from later patterns, and consisted of a varying number of notches of different shapes/sizes in different locations around the edge of the tablet. The 'Configuration' entry for ETT 1 sections in the Table of Sections below gives the number of notches (where known) as 'XN' (eg the entry '2N' means '2 notches').

© Chris Osment 2002