Track and Signalling

The track was standard gauge, laid with 56lb/yd (Weston to Clevedon) and 60lb (Clevedon to Portishead) flat bottomed rail on wooden sleepers. Initially semi-circular cross-section split timber sleepers were laid for cheapness (with the curved part to the top - photo on right), but these were replaced with normal timber sleepers around 1900. Rails were fastened to the sleepers with wrought iron spikes. The WC&P Railway Group has four lengths of original rail found alongside the track bed in the Gordano Valley and a number of spikes..

In 1919, Colonel Stephens experimented with the use of concrete sleeper blocks or ‘pots’, made in Clevedon, to replace wooden sleepers. The blocks measured 20” x 12” x 7.5” spaced at 2ft 2in, but some were larger at 24” long. Wooden pegs were cast into the blocks and the rail fastened by spikes driven into the pegs. Every third pair of blocks were tied together by metal tie rods. These blocks were laid on various parts of the line. This method was reasonably successful. In some places every third pair was replaced with a wooden sleeper. See Kingston Road picture.

Photo on right is one of 16 sleepers owned by the WC&P Railway Group thanks to a donation. The Group now has a 17th. Amongst these there are two sizes: 20" x 12" x 7" and ‘large’ – 24" long.

Click to enlarge.

There were around 80 level crossings (including farm crossings), mostly ungated, with wooden cattle grids, which were painted white. Where there were gates, women were sometimes employed to open them, but otherwise the fireman would run ahead to open them, while the conductor closed them, and the train stopped twice!

Complex gated crossings existed at Clevedon Triangle and at Clevedon All Saints. Until 1938, ungated crossings had no traffic lights, even where crossing the busy Bristol to Weston main road. Trains would whistle and slow to 8 mph on approach to these crossings. In 1938, train-operated traffic lights were installed at the New Bristol Road and Locking Road East crossings.

When more than one train was running, a train staff was used. Staffs were exchanged when passing at the Wick St Lawrence loop.

Signals were fairly few and were of lower quadrant type. There were signals at both Weston and Portishead termini and at Clevedon, Wick and Worle. Signals and siding points were operated by ground frames. Photo on right shows a signal at the end of the platform at Weston, looking towards Clevedon.

Click to enlarge. Photo courtesy of Weston-super-Mare Library.