Bridgwater
Blake
Museum
Bridgwater’s Heritage
From Stone Age to Modern Age, there’s something for everyone.
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Bristol & Exeter Railway and Great Western Railway
The start of the line was in August 1835 when the Parliamentary Act was passed.
Construction reached Bridgwater in May 1841, and the first passenger train
from Bristol to the town ran on 14 June 1841. From then on, until the line was finished,
passengers were transported onwards by coach. The section to Taunton
was completed in July 1842, and the Exeter section in May 1844.
The company leased the line to the Great Western Railway for five years once the line
had reached Bridgwater. The lease reverted and the line was run by the Bristol and
Exeter Company until August 1876 when the GWR and B&E companies amalgamated.
The line was managed by the GWR until nationalisation and thereafter by British Rail.
Fire Fly class locomotive.
Fire Ball (1840–1866)
Built by Jones, Turner and Evans with a 13-foot-4-inch (4.06 m) wheelbase, Fire Ball
hauled the first train from Temple Meads to Bath on 31 August 1840, and from Temple
Meads to Bridgwater on 14 June 1841. It was rebuilt c.1849 as a saddle tank locomotive.
This was one of six Fire Fly class locomotives named with a fire theme - the term fire ball
refers to an explosion of fire.
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Bristol & Exeter Railway and Great Western
Railway
The start of the line was in August 1835 when the
Parliamentary Act was passed. Construction
reached Bridgwater in May 1841, and the first
passenger train
from Bristol to the town ran on 14 June 1841. From
then on, until the line was finished, passengers
were transported onwards by coach. The section to
Taunton
was completed in July 1842, and the Exeter section
in May 1844.
The company leased the line to the Great Western
Railway for five years once the line had reached
Bridgwater. The lease reverted and the line was run
by the Bristol and Exeter Company until August 1876
when the GWR and B&E companies amalgamated.
The line was managed by the GWR until
nationalisation and thereafter by British Rail.
Fire Fly class locomotive.
Fire Ball (1840–1866)
Built by Jones, Turner and Evans with a 13-foot-4-
inch (4.06 m) wheelbase, Fire Ball hauled the first
train from Temple Meads to Bath on 31 August 1840,
and from Temple Meads to Bridgwater on 14 June
1841. It was rebuilt c.1849 as a saddle tank
locomotive. This was one of six Fire Fly class
locomotives named with a fire theme - the term fire
ball refers to an explosion of fire.
Privacy:
First-hand Cookies are neither requested nor generated by this site.
Copyright © Bridgwater Blake Museum 2024
