The line was always viewed as an interesting one - a railway enthusiast's heaven - as it passed through some beautiful scenery, which thus meant steep gradients, which in turn often meant "double-heading" (i.e. 2 steam trains at the front rather than one). (2P 4-4-0 no 40569 double heading a 9F at Chilcompton ) This line passed through a part of the UK that was largely the preserve of the GWR (The Great Western Raiway) who viewed the S&D as an unwarranted interloper. The modern equivalent of the GWR (BR Western Region) is now often viewed as engineering the downfall of this lovely line for this railway closed in March 1966 under the infamous "Beeching Axe" after control of the line had passed to the BR (WR) a few years previously.

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