Langport History
Langport Railway Stations
At one time Langport had two stations - Langport East and Langport West, but both fell victim to the 'Beeching axe' in the 1960s.
Langport West was the first to be opened, in October 1853, originally called just 'Langport' until the second station arrived in 1906. Here is an early picture of it during that period.
It was on the Yeovil Branch line, linking to the Bristol to Exeter line at Durston, near Taunton. The station was at Westover and was prone to flooding, as this photograph from 1960 clearly shows.
Langport East was first opened to passengers on 2nd July 1906, on the Castle Cary to Taunton section of the Great Western Railway line. This early action photograph commemorates the first non-stop train.
The caption reads: The 1st non-stop train (Directors & Press), Paddington to Plymouth passing Langport East 29th June 1906.
In the early part of the century visitors from London used to use this line to visit the splendid sight of peonies growing at Kelway's Nurseries. A special temporary station called 'Peony Valley Halt' was made near the valley at Barrymore Farm, although no photograph of this halt has so far come to light.
Local resident Robert Webb took the train from Langport West station to get to school in Taunton. He remembers that if you missed the train at Langport West, you could just about make it to Langport East by pedalling very fast, and still catch a train to make it to school on time.
If anyone else has any memories or photographs of Langport's railway stations they would like to share, please contact the Langport & District History Society by emailing janetseaton@fastmail.fm .