The Coaley to Dursley branch line opened in September 1856 and Cam was the only intermediate station on the branch. The Railway Inn, just to the west of the station, offered liquid refreshment for passengers for just over a hundred years. The line closed to passenger traffic in September 1962. On Saturday 23rd September 2006 the 150th anniversary of the branch line was commemorated with a traction engine run from the present day Cam & Dursley station to the Railway Inn. Today a grass bank covers the site of Cam railway station but the Railway Inn has survived.
The façade of the pub has altered significantly over the years. Today the front of the pub is clad in Cotswold stone but it used to be a whitewashed building.
Citizen: Thursday, June 1st 1989 – Inn Time: Regulars at the Railway Inn will be seeing double when the pub is reopened tomorrow after a major refit. The bar has almost doubled in size. Licensees Peter and Jenny Davies will also be offering food for the first time at the pub in Cam, near Dursley. Local councillor Ken Hall, himself a regular, will perform the re-opening.
Stroud News & Journal, 19th February 1999 – Pool cup glory for The Railway: The railway team from Cam became winners of the Stonehouse Pool Knockout Cup with a last frame win against Old Neighbourhood – winning the cup 4-3. In an exciting final, the Railway took a 3-1 lead but were then pegged back to 3-3 before winning the final doubles to take the trophy. It is the Railway’s first trophy since entering the Stonehouse league and the team has made a big impression with their sponsorship and hospitality.
Dursley Gazette, Friday 17th November 2000 – Local pub feel is a winner: The Railway Inn in Cam prides itself on being a ‘real local pub’, landlady Rita Sweet told the Gazette. London-born Mrs Sweet has run the leasehold pub jointly for the last five years with husband John Sweet, a local man. She said: “The Railway is a real local pub. There is no loud music and everyone is friendly.”
The active pub offers a number of different events each week for its customers. Monday is darts night, Tuesday is dominoes night, Thursday is quiz night and on Sunday evening it plays hosts to the pool team. Mrs Sweet explained: “Our regulars range from 18-80.”
A broad range of beers are offered from the pub’s pumps including a number of real ales – Uley Ale, Greene King Abbot Ale are available. The pub also offers a wide variety of food, all freshly prepared by Mrs Sweet, which include daily specials along with the more traditional bar snack with chips.
Dursley Gazette, Thursday 4th April 2019 – Tributes paid to popular ex-pub landlord: A popular pub landlord has been described as a ‘hardworking, generous, stubborn and funny man’ following his death. Richard John Sweet, known locally as John Sweet, ran the Railway Inn in Station Road, Cam for 20 years, handing over the reins to his daughter and son-in-law when his health began to deteriorate four years ago.
John, who was born in Worcester in 1943 and grew up in Dursley, died at home with his loving family at his bedside on Monday 25th March. John attended Dursley Grammar School where he excelled at all sports. After leaving school he joined the Gloucester Fire and Rescue Service and was stationed in Stroud and Gloucester, whilst also serving as a retained fire-fighter in Dursley. He was presented with a long service plaque on retiring at the age of 50 from Gloucester Fire Station.
He continued with his love for sport, playing rugby league, cricket for Dursley and also football for Cam Bulldogs. John also managed to find time to form a band with friends Known as the Key Sounds, the group played in and around Dursley and in the Gloucester area at many venues.
Map Reference: SO 754003
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Box & Moreland (leased to Richard Chapman, Dursley Brewery)
Rateable value in 1891: £16.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Thomas William Elvy, Dursley Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £16.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Owner in 2005: Punch Taverns
Landlords at the Railway include:
1885 William Walter Shipton
1891,1903 Joseph Ball (Joseph Cox Ball in 1902)
1906,1939 Joseph Ireland
1980 Wally & Hazel Frost
2000, 2014 – Richard John Sweet (known as John Sweet)
2020 Sharon Brimble (daughter of John)
