Few railway routes attracted such a huge following as the much-lamented Somerset & Dorset which seemed to be everybody’s favourite line. Fierce gradients, strange operating manoeuvres, beautifully maintained stations and some of the most unspoilt countryside one could wish for, all combined to make an absolutely outstanding route. In addition on summer Saturdays, when holiday traffic was at its peak, a bewildering variety of locomotives could be seen, making the line a magnet for railway photographers.