Somerset and Dorset Railway

This railway is closed. It was formed by a merger between the Somerset Central Railway and the Dorset Central Railway. The company went into receivership for four years. Afterwards, the combined company built an extension to Bath. Once again the company was in trouble but was rescued by the Midland Railway and the London and South Western Railway who leased the company as the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. The Bridgwater Railway was leased by the London and South Western Railway and operated as part of the Somerset and Dorset Railway.

The line had many steep banks along its route and was expensive to operate. An alternative name was the "Slow and Dirty".