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Bridgwater railway station serves Bridgwater in Somerset, England. It is on the Bristol to Taunton Line and is operated by Great Western Railway. Originally built to the designs of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the station is now a Grade II * listed building. ==History== The railway arrived at Bridgwater on 14 June 1841 when the Bristol and Exeter Railway opened its line. This was the terminus of the line for a year while the Somerset Bridge was constructed over the River Parrett; the line was extended to Taunton on 1 June 1842. During the period that the station was a terminus it became a focus for horse-drawn coaches that met the trains and carried their passengers onwards. An accident happened when one of these was overturned on the level crossing that was situated at the south end of the platforms, although the only serious injury was a bystander who broke an ankle – the coach driver and passengers were largely unscathed. An hotel was built just outside the station entrance which has since been demolished, but the houses provided for the company's staff can still be seen. The Bristol and Exeter Railway was initially operated by the Great Western Railway but from 1 May 1849 the company operated its own trains. Coke ovens, to provide fuel for the locomotives, and workshops to build and maintain the carriages and wagons, were built to the west of the line between Bridgwater station and the river – this is the nearest station to the halfway point on the line. They closed following a fire on 25 August 1947, although by this time they were only repairing wagon sheets (i.e. canvas covers). Other local industries linked with the railway were John Browne's Brick and Tile Works, which were owned by a director of the railway and supplied materials to the Great Western and associated companies; and George Hennet's iron works (later Bridgwater Engineering Company) which made track, signals and wagons for several different companies including atmospheric railway pipes for the South Devon Railway Company. The station was improved on several occasions, such as 1882 when new roofs and a footbridge were provided. An engine shed was provided outside the carriage works in 1893. A new connection was provided to the west of the line half a mile north of the station on 16 June 1935 to allow access to the private siding of the British Cellophane Company siding. Initially shunted by little 0-4-0ST steam locomotives, from 1969 it was home to ex-British Rail Class 03 diesel locomotive D2133. The siding was in use for nearly 70 years but has now been disconnected. Following the nationalisation of the railways in 1948 stations in many towns were renamed to avoid confusion, and this station became Bridgwater Central on 26 September 1949 for a few years to distinguish it from "Bridgwater North", the former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway terminus. The engine shed closed in July 1960, following which shunting locomotives were brought up from Taunton as required. Goods traffic at the station was withdrawn from November 1965 and, following the closure of the docks branch and Dunball Wharf in 1967, the goods yard was rationalised. Most of the sidings that served the former carriage works at the south end of the station were taken out of use by 1969. The station buildings have survived and are kept in reasonable repair. The booking office, although modernised, retains a rare early ticket counter. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bridgwater railway station」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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