First opened in 1874 as the terminus and headquarters of the Minehead Railway, it was closed by British Rail early in 1971.

An iron hut was added to provide more accommodation but was removed in the 1920s when the main building was extended towards the town.

[2] The engine shed was closed in 1956, goods traffic ceased in 1964, and the signal box became redundant on 27 March 1966.

A new level crossing has been laid across the line a little beyond the platform end to carry a new relief road to the sea front, and the former Dunster signal box was moved to control trains at Minehead.

In 2007, the company agreed plans for a £6M development with Somerset Council, to provide a new site for the turntable, together with a viewing area, extended car parking and some ancillary buildings.

[3] The turntable was extended using genuine-GWR engineering pattern drawings to 65 feet (20 m),[4] and then installed at its new location, brought into use in May 2008.

[9] Occasional charter services, either steam or diesel hauled, run through from the National Rail network.