East Somerset Railway

A steam line out of Cranmore

The East Somerset Railway runs from Cranmore station, 3 miles from Shepton Mallet, along 2.5 miles of line through the Mendip countryside. Trains head towards Shepton Mallet to Mendip Vale, where there is no station to visit but you can step onto the platform and watch the engine run round the carriages before the return. The railway describes itself as a heritage steam railway, and says the line was inaugurated in 1855.

The standard round trip takes about 35 to 40 minutes. The railway also sells Day Rover tickets, which let you ride several trains in a day.

When it runs

It is a seasonal heritage railway, so trains run on set days rather than every day, mainly at weekends with some weekdays added. Always check the timetable on the railway’s website for your date before you travel, because the days and departure times vary through the year. Special events, dining trains and footplate experiences run on set dates, and Sunday Lunch trains take longer than the standard trip.

At the station

Cranmore has a shop, the Station Cafe, a play area beside the cafe patio and a replica waiting room museum at the end of the platform. A short walk from the station takes you to the Engine Shed and Workshop, where volunteers restore locomotives, and the David Shepherd Discovery Centre, opened in the railway’s 50th anniversary year of 2024, tells the story of the line. Check the railway’s website for what is open on the day you plan to go.

Dogs, parking and access

Dogs are welcome and travel free, on a lead and off the seats. Parking is free and large, with no height restrictions. For flat access onto the platform, take the lane to the right of the main entrance, which leads to a few disabled spaces and a drop-off area. See the railway’s FAQ for the full access notes.

The county’s other heritage line is the West Somerset Railway, which has its own page.