Cogload Junction

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Cogload Junction is a flyover junction between the Bristol to Taunton Line and London to Penzance Line near Durston, Somerset, England. It is where the line from Taunton splits into two directions, one heading towards Bristol Temple Meads and the other towards Castle Cary and ultimately London Paddington station.^[1] The flyover carries the down line from Bristol over the up and down lines to Westbury and so allows two trains on the different lines to pass simultaneously in opposite directions. It is situated alongside the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

Cogload Junction was a flat junction which meant that trains from Taunton to Castle Cary had to cross the line used by trains from Bristol to Taunton. On 15 November 1931 a flyover was brought into use to allow the down trains from Bristol to pass above the two Castle Cary lines, and from there to Taunton and Norton Fitzwarren there were now four running lines. From East to West these were: Down Bristol, Down Castle Cary, Up Castle Cary, Up Bristol, but crossovers at Cogload were added later that allowed trains to run on the adjacent line when necessary.^[2]

Panoramic shot of the flyover.

Another view of the flyover.

A Voyager Class 221 running from Taunton to Bristol past the flyover.

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