History

Early in 1981 Robin Butterell, a local architect, well known miniature railway historian and author approached Woodspring District Council with a plan to build a miniature railway on the Beach Lawns at Weston-super-Mare. The council officers were enthusiastic, as a seaside resort Weston needed new attractions. Robin produced a plan for the railway, which would run for just over half a mile on the southernmost Beach lawn and around an existing Putting Green.

Miniature railway builders Cromar White were approached and layout plans discussed, and a figure of eight layout was decided upon with a station and booking office situated at the northern end of the Beach lawn which was soon moved to the Putting Green. The leisure Committee granted Robin a three year licence to operate the railway and stated that they did not consider planning permission was necessary. How wrong they were!

News of the proposed railway soon leaked out and then the trouble started. The Beach Lawns at Weston were given to the town for the use and enjoyment of visitors and residents in 1883 and no permanent development was to be allowed. Residents in Beach Road soon made there objections to the railway known eventually forming a residents association and collecting over 700 signatures in a petition to get the railway stopped. The objectors, who included the local Labour Party (!) thought that the railway would ruin the Beach lawns, prove a danger to the public and destroy the Putting Green. The proposal was looked upon as the thin end of a very large wedge which would signal the beginning of development on the Beach lawns.

The local press carried many articles and letters, some in favour of the railway mostly against, for weeks and eventually Woodspring Council had to agree that Robin did need planning permission. By this time most of the track had been laid as it was hoped to have the railway running by July to benefit from the summer season trade. The planning application was heard on the 17th July and passed on the chairman’s casting vote. The protesters then took Woodspring Council to the Ombudsman claiming maladministration over the planning application but they were not successful.

Six coaches were obtained from Cromar White/Severn Lamb for the opening. A pertrol engined “Diesel” locomotive was hired from Dobwalls and the loan of a steam Hunslet saddle tank named “Dolbadarn” was arranged. The station was not finished but it was decided to go ahead with the opening as the main season was fast approaching.

The railway opened on Sunday the 24th July. Large crowds came for a ride but the steam locomotive, which had been hired for the season, refused to steam properly and eventually most trains were hauled by the petrol locomotive. Over the next seven weeks the railway proved quite popular and closed for the season in the middle of September.

Robin Butterell had invested a lot of money in the railway and this caused him some financial problems. He decided to go to Saudi Arabia to work and the railway was taken over by Peter Webb for the 1982 season.
A Romulus steam locomotive was delivered from Brett Rogers and a Union Pacific diesel built by Severn Lamb also arrived along with a second hand Cromar White Hymek. In spite of Peter Webb’s best efforts the railway was not a financial success. At the end of the season the locomotives and rolling stock were returned to Severn Lamb and the railway put up for sale. No buyer was found and it looked as though the railway had reached the end of the line.

Bob and Sue Bullock were looking for a business and an agreement was reached with Robin to rent the railway for the 1983 season with an option to purchase at the end. Four of the original coaches were purchased from Severn lamb and a GP 30 style diesel locomotive “Hiawatha” hired from Don Fifer. Bob and Sue opened the railway at Whitsun and ran until the end of September. However, the project was not a financial success mainly because of the railway’s location at the quiet end of a long seafront. Bob approached Woodspring Council to suggest that he should take over operation of the Putting Green which combined with the railway would perhaps make a viable business. Agreement was reached and a new licence negotiated. Robin agreed to sell the railway and it reopened at Easter 1984 as The Weston Miniature Railway. Twenty-six years later and Bob and Sue are still there!