1 in 4 is a steep slope; that was the gradient of the West Somerset Mineral Railway's Comberow Incline, near Roadwater on the eastern fringe of Exmoor, down which trucks full of iron ore from the Brendon Hill mines were lowered on their journey to the port of Watchet. The old mineral railway closed in 1910, but the grassy ascent may soon be open to walkers with plenty of puff -Exmoor National Park has acquired both the incline and its ruined but spectacular winding house.
The West Somerset Mineral railway was a private venture by The Brendon Hills iron ore Company
to extract iron ore 1000 feet above sea level in the Brendon Hills. The
ore was transported to Watchet Harbour (West Jetty) for onward transmission
to the Ebbw Vale Co. in South Wales. It included a 3/4 mile long 1 in
4 incline at Comberow. Although the line built primarily as a freight
line and for the use of miners it occasionally carried some other passengers
from September 1857. To serve the isolated communities (along the Brendon
Hills at the various mines), a public passenger service between Watchet and Comberow was introduced on 4th September 1865 and it was possible
to travel up the incline and on to Gupworthy in a truck, free, but at
one's own risk. The mines finally closed in September 1883 due to competition
from cheap imports and the passenger service was reduced to two mixed
trains daily. All traffic ceased on 8th November 1898 when the rolling
stock was moved to Ebbw Vale by means of a temporary connection to the
GWR Minehead Branch at Kensford.
Winding house at the top of the incline
at Brendon Hill viewed from the east in May 2003
Part of the route between Watchet and Comberow was re-opened in 1907
by The Somerset Mineral Syndicate using cheap second hand wagons and
an ex-Metropolitam Railway tank engine. They also re-opened the incline
but did not extend the reopening to Gupworthy but built a steam worked
2 ft gauge narrow-gauge line along the roadside to Raleigh's Cross (Raleghs Cross) Inn
and then down an incline to Colton Mine. Although there was a public
excursion on July 4th 1907 complete with Watchet Council and the town
band, they travelled in open wagons. No passenger service was introduced.
This venture collapsed in March 1910.
Winding house at the top of the incline at
Brendon Hill viewed from the east in May 2003
Australian Inventor A.R.Angus took over the Watchet to Washford section
to demonstrate his patented automatic train control in December 1911
using two GWR locomotives.
The track was commandeered by The Ministry of Munitions
in 1917 being lifted by 1919.
An Act of Parliament Abandoned the line with an auction
of the land and property in 1924 with the company being wound up in 1925
Although closed in 1898 this 1912
Ordnance Survey map still shows the track in situ
Further reading:
The West Somerset Mineral railway by Roger Sellick - published by David & Charles
1962.
Railways Around Exmoor by Robin Madge - Exmoor Press 1971 ISBN 0 900131
18 7
The Old Mineral Line by R.J.Sellick - Exmoor Press 1976 ISBN 0 900131
39 X
The Watchet Museum (by the harbour) also has a large collection of photographs
of the line.
Comberow Incline Winding House
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