S&DJR Single Line Sections

This page gives details of single-line block sections on the lines of the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR). For details of other West Country lines please see the Register of Single-Line Sections page. For general information about the block working of single-line sections please read the Introduction to Single-Line Block Working page.

This page was updated last on 08 December 2018. 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 (ETT) 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, with a few exceptions, this page records only the situation from 1886 onwards.

The S&DJR made considerable use of Tyer's No 1 ETT instruments and a few sections remained equipped with those machines 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. In the Table of Sections below the 'Configuration' entry for ETT 1 sections gives the number of notches (where known) as 'XN' (eg the entry '2N' means '2 notches').

© CJL Osment 2002-18

Key to S&DJR Methods of Working
EKT	Electric Key Token (BR(WR) pattern)	MKH	McKenzie & Holland ETT (square tablet)
ETT 1	Tyer's No 1 ETT	NS	'No Staff' block
ETT 3	Tyer's No 3 ETT	TST	Train Staff & Ticket
ETT 6	Tyer's No 6 ETT

Index to S&DJR Lines
Bridgwater Branch	Goods-only lines (post-1966)	Main Line (Bath - Wimborne)
Broadstone Cut-Off	Highbridge Branch	Wells Branch

Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Sections

From

Method

Config

Notes

Main Line (Bath-Wimborne) Note 1

Bath Junction (MR/LMS)

Bath Single Line Junction

Double Track

1876-1924

Midford

ETT 6

1924-1966 Note 2

Bath Single Line Junction

Wellow

ETT 1

1886-1892 Note 2

Midford

ETT 1

1892-1912 Note 2

ETT 6

1912-1924 Note 2

Wellow

Radstock

ETT 1

1886-1894

Binegar

Shepton Mallet

ETT 1

1886-1892 Note 7

Shepton Mallet

Evercreech New

ETT 1

1886-1888

Templecombe No 2 Junction

Stalbridge

ETT 1

1886-?

ETT 6

by 1939-1966 Note 6

Stalbridge

Sturminster Newton

ETT 1

1886-1948/50

ETT 6

1948/50-1966

Sturminster Newton

Shillingstone

ETT 1

1886-1951

ETT 6

1951-1966

Shillingstone

Blandford

ETT 1

1886-1905

Stourpaine

ETT 6

1905-1951 Short section

Blandford

MKH

1905-1951 Long section

ETT 6

1951-1966

Stourpaine

Blandford

ETT 6

1905-1951 Short Section

Blandford

Bailey Gate

ETT 1

1886-1901 Note 11

Bailey Gate

Wimborne S&D Junction

ETT 1

1886-1905 Note 12

Corfe Mullen Junction

Wimborne S&D Junction

ETT 1

1905-1928

Wimborne Junction (SR)

ETT 1

1928-1933 Note 5

Broadstone 'cut-off'

Bailey Gate

Broadstone Junction (L&SWR)

ETT 1

1885/6-1905

Corfe Mullen Junction

Broadstone (Junction) (L&SWR)

ETT 1

1905-1948/50

ETT 6

1948/50-1966

Highbridge Branch

Evercreech Junction North

Pylle

TST

Square

1886-1891

ETT 3

1891-1929

West Pennard

ETT 3

1929-1952

EKT

1952-1964

Glastonbury

EKT

1964-1966

Pylle

West Pennard

TST

Round

1886-1891

ETT 3

1891-1929

West Pennard

Glastonbury

TST

Triangle

1886-1888

ETT 1

1888-1952

EKT

1952-1964

Glastonbury

Shapwick

TST

Hexagon

1886-1891

ETT 3

1891-1952/3?

EKT

?1952/3-1966

Shapwick

Edington Junction

TST

Triangle

1890-1891

ETT 3

1891-1952/3?

EKT

?1952/3-1956

Highbridge Loco

TST

Trefoil

1886-1890

EKT

1956-1966

Edington Junction

Highbridge Loco

TST

Trefoil

1890-1892/3

ETT 1

1892/3-?

ETT 6

?-1952/3? Note 3

EKT

?1952/3-1956

Highbridge Loco

Highbridge 'A'

Double Track

until 1914

Highbridge West (GWR)

1914-1966 Note 8

Highbridge 'A'

Highbridge 'B'

until 1914

Highbridge West (GWR)

Highbridge 'B'

1914-1965 Note 8

Highbridge 'B'

Highbridge 'C'

until 1963 Note 9

Highbridge 'C'

Burnham

TST

Steel Key

1877-1963 Note 18

Wells Branch

Glastonbury

Wells 'A'

TST

1879-1895 Note 10

ETT 1

1895-1951

Wells 'A'

Wells East Somerset (GWR)

until 1955 Note 4

Wells Tucker Street (GWR)

until 1955 Note 4

Bridgwater Branch

Edington Junction

Bridgwater

ETT 3

1890-1954

Post-1966 Goods-only lines

Bath Junction

Bath Co-op Siding

Note 13

1966-67 Note 14

Writhlington

Radstock

1966-73 Note 15

Blandford

Broadstone

1966-69 Note 16

Bason Bridge

Highbridge

1966-72 Note 17

Notes:
1	By 1886 several sections of the line between Radstock and Templecombe No 2 Junction had been doubled already and therefore are not listed here.
2	There was also a Bank Engine staff on this section kept at Bath (Single Line) Junction.
3	Change from ETT 1 to ETT 6 had taken place by the end of 1938.
4	Wells 'A' signal-box remained as a block-post on the ex-GWR line through Wells until 1955, despite closure of the S&DJR branch from Glastonbury in 1951. See the GWR list of sections for further details.
5	From 1933 the line from Corfe Mullen Junction to Carter's Siding was worked as a siding, the rest of the line to Wimborne Junction was closed completely and removed. The remaining siding was taken out-of-use in 1959, although some of it remained in place until 1966.
6	Non-standard pattern of 'A' notch.
7	There was also a Bank Engine staff on this section kept at Binegar
8	It is believed that Highbridge West box did not become a block-post for the S&DJR line until after closure of Highbridge 'A' box.
9	It is believed that there was 'bell only' block working between Highbridge 'B' and 'C' boxes over both the main single-line and the separate Goods line. The Goods line remained in use until 1965.
10	TST introduced 1-Jan-1879 after Wells Branch Junction abolished 2-Dec-1878 and Wells Branch extended as separate line into Glastonbury.
11	Blandford to Bailey Gate was doubled in 1901.
12	Bailey Gate to Corfe Mullen Junction was converted to double-track working in 1905.
13	After closure to passenger traffic in 1966 these sections remained in use for goods traffic only. It is believed that all signals were removed except for a couple at Highbridge. As far as is known each section was worked simply as a siding, under the control of a shunter and/or the signalman at the signal-box which controlled entry to the section, without any form of 'train staff'.
14	For more information on this section click here.
15	Access was controlled by the ex-GWR Radstock West (previously North) signal-box via a new connection to the former S&DJR Down line and the Up line was taken out of use. The line to Writhlington was closed in 1973, but some sidings remained at Radstock in preservation use until 1975.
16	Access was controlled by the ex-L&SWR Broadstone signal-box. The former Down line only was used between Corfe Mullen and Blandford, and Bailey Gate and Blandford signal-boxes were retained simply as ground-frames to work points only. Click here and here for more details.
17	Access was controlled by the ex-GWR Highbridge Crossing (previously West) signal-box, until superseded by Bristol panel in March 1972. The line to Bason Bridge was closed in October 1972, but the connection at Highbridge (altered in 1971) remained until 1975 (or possibly later) to serve new sidings on the site of the former S&DJR station.
18	'Train staff' into use 15-May-1877, probably actually TST, but certainly TST by 1886.