West Somerset Railway
The West Somerset Railway, stretching from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, passes through the historic town of Watchet. This heritage railway line, originally opened in 1862, has witnessed its fair share of tragic events and ghostly encounters over the years. At Watchet Station, staff and visitors have reported seeing the apparition of a Victorian-era railway worker, believed to be a former station master who died in a tragic accident on the platform. His ghostly figure has been observed walking along the tracks and disappearing into thin air.
Another well-documented ghostly presence is that of a young woman in a white dress, seen wandering near the railway bridge just outside Watchet. Local legend suggests she was a jilted bride who took her own life by jumping from the bridge onto the tracks below. Passengers on passing trains have reported glimpsing her forlorn figure, particularly on foggy evenings.
The nearby Blue Anchor Station is said to be haunted by the spirit of a former signalman who died in a railway accident in the early 1900s. Staff working late at night have reported hearing phantom footsteps and the sound of levers being operated in the empty signal box.
At Watchet’s harbor, connected to the railway’s history, the ghost of a sailor is said to roam the quayside. Witnesses describe seeing a man in old-fashioned naval attire pacing back and forth, believed to be waiting for a train that never arrives. These enduring tales of supernatural occurrences continue to fascinate both railway enthusiasts and ghost hunters alike, adding an eerie dimension to the West Somerset Railway’s rich history.
Address
Watchet Railway Station, Watchet, Somerset, ENG, United KingdomWatchet, England,