150 Years from WT to MD: Holidays to West Somerset
Holidays to West Somerset
The whole purpose of the extension to Minehead was to bring in visitors for holidays and days out.
The 1930s saw an increase in demand for outdoor holidays. The GWR positioned converted coaches at various locations around its network for holidays. Blue Anchor was chosen as a location from the first season in 1934. It was an obvious location, being next to the beach and close to Minehead, Exmoor and the Quantock Hills. The coach was parked in the goods siding, but there were no facilities – campers used the station toilets and water tap, and were provided with a gas stove and paraffin lamps.
In 1936, Stogumber was used as the location for a second coach on the branch. The isolated spot made for a perfect, quiet country retreat while still being convenient for Minehead and Taunton. There was no mains water at the station. Water had to be pumped from a well to an underground tank, from which it was pumped to a water tank on the coach roof.
After the Second World War, it took some time for life to return to normal. Petrol rationing meant that car journeys were limited. Many holidaymakers arrived by train and it was during this time the line was at its busiest. Dunster Beach and its chalets became ever more popular, some families making a holiday at Dunster a regular annual event.
The line was widely advertised, and posters such as the one here started to use the title “Gateway to
Exmoor.” A large caravan park was developed at Blue Anchor and this has grown into a large
modern resort today.
It was not only holiday makers, but day trippers who crowded the West Somerset coast. Taunton was an only an hour away on the train and half-day excursions were popular with locals. In the 1950s, Minehead was 4/- return (equivalent to £3 or £4 today) and with fish and chips for lunch and an ice cream in the afternoon, it made for an affordable day out.
