Branch lines: part 2

Four track plans set in the picturesque Southern Region.

Built for: Axminster & Lyme Regis Light Railway Terminus: Lyme Regis Main line connection: Axminster (Salisbury-exeter main line) Opened: August 24 1903 Length of line: 6½ miles Intermediate stations: 1 Closed: February 3 1964 (freight); November 26 1965 (passengers) Key locomotives you’ll need? Adams ‘Radial’ 4‑4‑2T Why’s Lyme Regis special? Great scenery can turn a good branch line into a great one, but throw in some interesting locomotives and that great railway becomes a classic. The tightly curved line ensured the survival of three Adams ‘0415s’ into the 1960s, and enthusiasts flocked to see these Victorian 4‑4‑2Ts slog their way up the steep gradients. What’s left at Lyme Regis? Nothing, but the building is preserved at Alresford, on the Mid-hants Railway. Where can I find out more? The Axminster & Lyme Regis Light Railway by Peter Paye (Oakwood Press).