A long-abandoned railway stretch in Somerset is finally coming to life, 161 years after its initial design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel as part of the Great Western Railway (GWR). Originally, economic challenges prevented the laying of track on this particular section, leaving Brunel’s grand vision incomplete—until now.
Volunteer enthusiasts at the Yeovil Railway Centre are spearheading the ambitious Project South Chord, laying new track and constructing a brand new station to create a fully functional heritage line. The new terminus, called Clifton Maybank Junction, will enhance visitor experiences and provide greater access to the centre’s events field.
Neil Coultas, project manager, has launched a fundraising campaign under South West Main Line Steam, aiming to raise £100,000 to complete this historic railway extension. The project focuses on utilizing a trackbed first prepared by GWR navvies in 1864—a remarkable act of finishing work begun over a century and a half ago.
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“This extension is unique in its connection to railway history,” Coultas explained. “By restoring this line, we’re not only preserving Yeovil’s steam railway heritage but also creating a new Somerset and Dorset railway crossing the county boundary.”
Beyond track laying, the project involves constructing an embankment connecting the extension to the existing line, building a new platform, and installing accessible paths for wheelchairs and pushchairs leading to the events field. Donors giving £50 or more will receive special benefits, including an exclusive sponsor’s weekend before the line officially opens.
Reflecting on the project, Coultas said, “When I’m working on the track, I think of the navvies from 1864 who labored hard preparing the original trackbed. We are finally fulfilling their legacy by laying the tracks they never got to complete.”
So far, the fundraiser has raised £3,699, with continued support crucial to bringing this historic railway back to life and preserving a treasured piece of Somerset’s heritage.