The Ebbw Vale proprietors formed the West Somerset Mineral Railway for the purpose, and obtained Parliamentary authority on 16 July 1855 for a standard gauge line from Watchet Quay to Heath Poult (or "Exton").
The line was ready for traffic from Watchet to by April 1857, and for the time being that acted as the railhead for the minerals; the line was extended to Comberow ( from the harbour) by December 1857 [REF].