An Intercity 125 from Bristol to London

Even as Brunel's Great Western Railway from London to Bristol was being built, the directors of the company were looking to expand into other areas and funnel further traffic onto their line. It wasn't long after the railway arrived in Bristol that it was being extended towards Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth and Cornwall. Early branches where built off the main line too - one of the first being from Thingley junction through the market town of Melksham to Trowbridge, Westbury, Yeovil, Dorchester and Weymouth.

Map locator - Thingley


The Weymouth line at Thingley

Although there were numerous intermediate stations on the main line (and branch) in the past, the main line trains now travel from Chippenham (about 3 miles to the east) right through to Bath (about 12 miles to the West) without stopping at places such as Corsham and Box.

On the branch, stations at Lacock and Holt are closed but Melksham Station remains open; we have further pictures of the Melkshamtrain available.

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