Kilmersdon Colliery, GWR Sidings and Sheds – Radstock – Nov 2010

[Munchh]

Kilmersdon Colliery was established 1875 and finally closed 1972, the last colliery in this area to be closed. The maximum shaft depth was close to 500 metres.

Part of the Writhlington group of Collieries, a cable worked incline and tramway were constructed in 1877 to remove product to the GWR sidings close to the base of the incline.

The sidings and sheds are the subject of this report and are part of a disused section of the GWR now known as The Colliers way. The most surprising and rewarding part of this find was the sheer amount of track, points etc still in situ. Unfortunately, some of the sheds had been demolished sometime between 2002-5.

The incline and tramway etc. will be investigated in due course. For those wishing to know more about the incline right now (it does help to put this report into context), visit this link, an article from 1968;

http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/18/Kilmersdon.htm

Other interesting links relating to the Colliery and incline, loco’s etc;

http://www.radstock4u.com/boballard/cards_10.htm

http://railwaysofcornwall.fotopic.net/c1716865.html

http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/Kilmersdon_Colliery

http://railphotoanthology.fotopic.net/c1916214.html

I was actually on my way to the footie and before I left, I thought I’d check out GE for anything interesting that might be in the area and found the incline etc. So I left 1 ½ hours early (not enough time as I realized later) after having plotted my access onto the site.

Like a lot of really good explores, this one developed itself ad hoc as I was actually looking for the incline and pit head. It looked as though my best bet for parking the car lay at the bottom and as a result I came upon the sheds and sidings first. I spent so long nosing around there that I ran out of time and resolved to return for the incline at a later date.

So to the pics, preceded by some GE map shots to give you an idea of the area and what’s there;

First one shows all sheds still in place in 2001



Second shows that some of these disappeared sometime prior to 2005



Third is an overview of the site as it is today with my placemarks added



Lastly, a close up of the sheds and sidings



Footbridge over stream to sheds



Large wagon shed







Small wagon shed





Track and points















Thanks for looking.