Bristol & Exeter Railway was authorised by act of Parliament in 1836. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was appointed engineer and the line to Exeter was completed in 1844. The company had great fiscal success between the years 1844 and 1874. Absorbed the Chard and Taunton (1863), Chedder Valley and Yatton (1865) and Exe Valley Railways (1875). 1876, the company was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway.