03/11/2026
What’s in a Name? Quite a Lot, Actually!
The West Somerset Railway is looking for a new tagline – and we have a rather unfair advantage over most other heritage railways. We have the seaside!
Heritage railways have long been rather good at giving themselves memorable names. There’s the Bluebell Railway, the Watercress Line and plenty of others that have developed identities which are instantly recognisable and help tell the story of where they are and what they offer.
So, we thought, why shouldn't the West Somerset Railway join in the fun?
Now, before anyone starts worrying that we are about to rename the railway, repaint every sign and consign 50 years of history to the scrapheap, fear not! The West Somerset Railway name is staying exactly where it belongs. We are simply looking for a catchy tagline or sub-brand that helps us tell the world what makes our railway special.
And when you think about it, we have a rather wonderful selling point. We don't just travel through beautiful countryside, past rolling hills, charming villages and historic stations. We actually arrive at the seaside!
Surely that gives us one of the best destinations of any heritage railway in Britain? After all, who doesn't like a trip to the seaside, particularly when you can get there behind a heritage locomotive?
We've been playing with a few ideas.
The Seaside Line – Simple, memorable and says exactly what it does on the tin. Steam trains, sea air, fish and chips and perhaps an ice cream at the end. What's not to like?
The Beach Line – Short, cheerful and a little more playful. It conjures up buckets and spades, sandcastles and family days out. Although we might need to explain that the sand is at the end of the journey rather than on the railway itself!
The Apple and C***r Line – A nod to Somerset's wonderful heritage, orchards and, of course, its most famous liquid export. It certainly has character, although we should probably make it clear that c***r isn't included in the ticket price!
All three have something going for them, and each could help us appeal to different audiences. The railway enthusiast will always know us as the West Somerset Railway, but a family planning a holiday in Somerset might be rather more tempted by the promise of a journey on The Seaside Line.
That's really what this is about. We want to introduce our wonderful railway to people who may never have considered travelling on a heritage train before. We know how special the WSR is, but we need to make sure everyone else knows too.
And unlike some heritage railways, we don't have to invent a destination or a reason to travel. We have 20 miles of glorious Somerset countryside, historic steam trains, delightful stations and the sea waiting at the end.
We have something that many other heritage railways would dearly love – a proper seaside destination.
So, what do you think? Are we The Seaside Line, The Beach Line or The Apple and C***r Line? Or is there an even better name waiting to be discovered?
We would love to hear your suggestions. Keep them short, memorable and preferably printable on the side of a train!
Whatever we decide, one thing is certain: we will always be the West Somerset Railway.
