We stopped off at Cranmore Heritage Railway Station on our journey from Frome to Wells. Being steam railway enthusiasts this was an ideal place to explore the station and see the locomotives in action.
At the end of the platform is a replica waiting room containing a great selection of memorabilia. We also looked around the signal box and the workmen’s hut. We watched the different locomotives steaming in and out of the station ( the rail journeys from here take 35 minutes) On the second platform is the David Shepherd Discovery Centre which is housed in an ex-railway carriage. Inside is an exhibition called “The Man Who Loved Giants”. David Shepherd was the founder of this heritage railway. There is a miniature railway with its own turntable on site. You can also visit the engine shed and the workshop. The volunteers were on hand to enthusiastically tell us all about their railway. They were particularly proud of the K4 red telephone box with stamp machine designed in 1927 – there are only ten of these surviving today. The volunteers were a brilliant set of friendly people.
There is also a shop selling model railway gear. Of course, we went into the railway themed cafe for our tea and cakes! There is a wheelchair accessible ramp from the free car park.There is a specially adapted carriage on the trains for mobility impaired customers. The East Somerset Railway is located in the village of Cranmore just off the A361 between Shepton Mallet and Frome where there are ESR brown signs.
The East Somerset Railway has a number of special events which take place in the summer season. so I would thoroughly recommend a visit.