Emborough Quarry, Somerset, June 2021
Introduction:
It's been a while since I've put a report up, mainly due to moving jobs and locations, it's been a little stressful but I've made the time to do regular exploring just not without the time to report on what I've been up to. Hopefully I'll be able to do something with a rather large backlog especially with the first ten years on the forum coming up next month, we'll see, but it's best to start off with something fresh coming from @little_ boy_explores and I's recent West Country road trip.
I've had this place ticking away on a backburner inside my head for a few months now, I mean it's no Threkeld or Dinorwic and certainly not a priority pin but a few trains in a quarry is always a good place to chill with the camera. The thing that stood out to me though was the big bunker looking engine shed, I was keen to find out what might be in there, it could of course be empty but seeing trains outside I had hope for something to still be in there. Emborough Quarries are made up of three different sections No.1, No.2 and No.3 quarries, the quarry that we explored is No.2 Quarry. No.1 Quarry is completely empty with a small lake sat within it and No.3 quarry is still live, if we had a little more time in Emborough we might have had a look at No.3 but other priorities came first.
I can't find out exactly when No.2 Quarry opened but a little bit of history:
The site was owned by the Emborough Stone Company, who laid down the 2ft 6inch narrow gauge railway system that is still situated in the quarry. The railway runs from No.2 Quarry Engine shed passing underneath the seven arches of Nettlebridge viaduct, around the lake in No.1 Quarry returning to No.2 Quarry engine shed. After the closure of No.1 & No.2 Quarries the railway was handed over to a private railway enthusiast who apparently used to run trains around the circuit. Looking at the state of dereliction on the railway I can't see this to have happened for quite some time but as you'll see the engine shed is well looked after and in some good condition. In 2011 12 ex deep mine pony batteries where recorded to be stored on site, I believe nowadays it will probably be more like six, there's two outside and in a section of the main shed we couldn't get into I could make out at least another four.
Photos:
Looking onto the remaining quarry buildings and the bunker looking engine shed behind.
The quarry buildings are worth a look if you're here but it would be a complete waste of time without the little railway and trains.
Looking onto Nettlebridge Viaduct from the little control room, plenty of narrow gauge stock in the small yard below.
Moving closer to the engine shed there's a few nice bits of industrial kit
Inside the Main shed though is what makes this place worthy of reporting... The climb in is relatively easy if you have some upper body strength.
Lister Engines, wondering if some of the narrow gauge locomotives use these? I'm only aware of them from working on Canal boats...
Epic little railway stock, cute
Next door was the workshops, and it's such a shame I couldn't find a way to get into that part, looked great, still this front section of the shed made the trip and the climb in worthwhile...
I'll leave it there, nice little bit of industry if you're passing by, I was actually a little surprised at how much industry the West Country had to offer!
Thanks for Reading,
TAW
Introduction:
It's been a while since I've put a report up, mainly due to moving jobs and locations, it's been a little stressful but I've made the time to do regular exploring just not without the time to report on what I've been up to. Hopefully I'll be able to do something with a rather large backlog especially with the first ten years on the forum coming up next month, we'll see, but it's best to start off with something fresh coming from @little_ boy_explores and I's recent West Country road trip.
I've had this place ticking away on a backburner inside my head for a few months now, I mean it's no Threkeld or Dinorwic and certainly not a priority pin but a few trains in a quarry is always a good place to chill with the camera. The thing that stood out to me though was the big bunker looking engine shed, I was keen to find out what might be in there, it could of course be empty but seeing trains outside I had hope for something to still be in there. Emborough Quarries are made up of three different sections No.1, No.2 and No.3 quarries, the quarry that we explored is No.2 Quarry. No.1 Quarry is completely empty with a small lake sat within it and No.3 quarry is still live, if we had a little more time in Emborough we might have had a look at No.3 but other priorities came first.
I can't find out exactly when No.2 Quarry opened but a little bit of history:
The site was owned by the Emborough Stone Company, who laid down the 2ft 6inch narrow gauge railway system that is still situated in the quarry. The railway runs from No.2 Quarry Engine shed passing underneath the seven arches of Nettlebridge viaduct, around the lake in No.1 Quarry returning to No.2 Quarry engine shed. After the closure of No.1 & No.2 Quarries the railway was handed over to a private railway enthusiast who apparently used to run trains around the circuit. Looking at the state of dereliction on the railway I can't see this to have happened for quite some time but as you'll see the engine shed is well looked after and in some good condition. In 2011 12 ex deep mine pony batteries where recorded to be stored on site, I believe nowadays it will probably be more like six, there's two outside and in a section of the main shed we couldn't get into I could make out at least another four.
Photos:
Looking onto the remaining quarry buildings and the bunker looking engine shed behind.
The quarry buildings are worth a look if you're here but it would be a complete waste of time without the little railway and trains.
Looking onto Nettlebridge Viaduct from the little control room, plenty of narrow gauge stock in the small yard below.
Moving closer to the engine shed there's a few nice bits of industrial kit
Inside the Main shed though is what makes this place worthy of reporting... The climb in is relatively easy if you have some upper body strength.
Lister Engines, wondering if some of the narrow gauge locomotives use these? I'm only aware of them from working on Canal boats...
Epic little railway stock, cute
Next door was the workshops, and it's such a shame I couldn't find a way to get into that part, looked great, still this front section of the shed made the trip and the climb in worthwhile...
I'll leave it there, nice little bit of industry if you're passing by, I was actually a little surprised at how much industry the West Country had to offer!
Thanks for Reading,
TAW
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