A passenger service began in September 1865, connecting Watchet with the village of Washford and the hamlets of Roadwater and Comberow.
[12] Passengers were carried from Comberow up a rope-hauled incline to Brendon Hill and on to Gupworthy on a wagon, free of charge, but at their own risk.
Iron and steel making was given to boom and bust and suffered a significant downturn in the 1870s, exacerbated by imports of cheaper and better ore from abroad.
[15] In 1907 the Somerset Mineral Syndicate made an attempt to revive the line, reopening Colton mine and starting a new bore at Timwood.
Angus, an Australian inventor, leased the Watchet-Washford section of the line to test and demonstrate an automatic signal warning device.
In September 1918 the Timber Supply Department of the Board of Trade applied for and were granted permission to lay a light railway on the lower trackbed and to use either Washford or Roadwater station buildings.