Ahead of tomorrow’s publishing of the review of Bachmann’s S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 model, today we see a few pictures of the impressive structure of what was the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway’s (S&DJR) northern terminus – Bath Green Park. 

The former station now houses a car park/market area next to a supermarket.

Opened in 1870, it was used by passengers for nearly a hundred years and was closed in 1966 after the Beeching Report.

The S&DJR used to have it’s locomotive depot near here on the west side of the River Avon.

The station facade was built in a Georgian style to fit in with the beautiful town it served.

The Railway was originally jointly owned by both the Midland and London and South Western Railway’s.  When the railway companies were amalgamated in the 1923 Grouping the S&DJR passed into joint LMS and Southern Railway ownership.  When British Railways to control, it fell into the Southern region first (until 1958), before moving into Western Region control.  For these reasons the railway had a real mix of locomotives and rolling stock running along it’s picturesque route to Bournemouth.  It is no surprise that the S&DJR is a favourite subject for railway modellers.  Of the locomotives that worked the route, Henry Fowler’s 11 7F 2-8-0 class (below) were unique to the Railway and the two that have been preserved are very popular.  Tomorrow, Bachmann’s model of this characterful class will be published, so stay tuned!