The line was eventually closed on 4 January 1971, but was reopened by the West Somerset Railway on 28 August 1976.

Washford is the second highest station on the line and is situated in a gap between the coastal cliffs and the Brendon Hills.

The station has a single platform on the south side of the line, although there is an extensive yard on the opposite side of the line from the platform, where the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust was based (see below) and is now a carriage works operated by the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust.

The Trust's collection at Washford contained relics of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR), including station nameboards, lamps, tools, signalling equipment, tickets, photographs, handbills, rolling stock and steam locomotives.

1788 "Kilmersdon" was based there for many years when not on hire, before removed to the Mid-Hants Railway (Watercress Line).