SOME of the most controversial railway decisions in Devon and Somerset's combined histories are set for a new airing in Axminster this autumn, with an expert analysis of what really underlay the devastating closures of a clutch of local railway lines. 

The speaker event is being hosted by the ‘For the Love of a Railway’ group, which will open the doors of its much-anticipated visitor centre in Chard Street, Axminster on Saturday 26 October.

Just a few days later, on Tuesday 5 November (at 6.45pm) the group is bringing eminent rail historian Colin Divall to the neighbouring George Hotel for a talk titled ‘Lyme Billy: Did Beeching Get it Wrong?’

During these talks, Axminster will be revisiting controversial past railway decisions, including the closure of the famous old Axminster to Lyme Regis line in 1965 was only one of the much-loved local lines to fall under the Beeching axe. Seaton, Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton all lost their services in the mid-1960s. Just across the border in Somerset, Chard Junction was also axed amongst some 5,000 miles of railway nationally.

The impact locally was devastating as jobs were lost and rural communities deprived of a service that many regarded as a lifeline.

Colin Divall is an emeritus Professor of Railway Studies at the University of York and former Head of the Institute of Railway Studies. He will not just tell the story but pose a fundamental question: “Were the wholesale closures an economic inevitability or was it in reality based on figures that were ‘fiddled’, poor marketing and short-sightedness?”

Event organiser Barrie Hedges is hoping the talk will be a popular fund-raiser for the volunteer driven ‘For the Love of a Railway’ initiative, which will have a lovingly constructed model of the Axminster to Lyme Regis line as its centrepiece. 

“There are many people locally who have fond memories of the line and of the amazing old Lyme Billy locos that ran on it for over 50 years,” says Barrie. “There is no-one better able to explore the decision to close it than Colin and we are delighted that he kindly agreed to come and talk in order to assist our cause.” 

Tickets for the event cost £15, which includes a buffet mid-way through the talk. For further information and to book please visit www.fortheloveofarailway.co.uk/events.