The Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, which was authorised in 1845, was built in stages (during which the company was absorbed in 1850 by the Great Western Railway).includeonly>includeonly> Two of the last sections, from Yeovil Pen Mill to Weymouth and a connecting curve from that line to the Dorchester station of the London and South Western Railway (LSWR), were opened on 20 January 1857.includeonly> The LSWR was granted running powers from Dorchester to Weymouth,includeonly> where some of the platforms were dedicated for LSWR use; these powers were exercised from the opening day.includeonly>includeonly> The station was named Weymouth, although some timetables showed it as Weymouth Town.includeonly> Branches to Portland and Weymouth Quay (both opened in 1865) ran from Weymouth Junctio