Fifty years ago in September 1973 the last remaining collieries in the North Somerset Coalfield - Kilmersdon & Lower Writhlington - were closed bringing to an end an industry that stretched back to Roman times. Coal mining and the associated railways were integral to the development of Radstock, Midsomer Norton and the surrounding villages from about 1750 onwards and many reminders of this industrial heritage remain in the local landscape and buildings.

Many of the collieries were linked by standard or narrow gauge railways to each other and to the Somerset & Dorset and Great Western lines that passed through the area.

The last two collieries to close were no exception with Lower Writhington linked to the S&D and Kilmersdon to the GWR via a self- acting incline. Ivo Peters the well known S&D photographer visited Kilmersdon Colliery in July 1969 and took these pictures during that visit.

The locomotive is Peckett &Sons No 1788 "Kilmersdon" which was located all its working life at the colliery.

Kilmersdon will be visiting the S&D Midsomer Norton, and will be steaming on their Halloween and Christmas events before returning home to the Mid Hants Railway.