The original Somerset and Dorset Railway closed very controversially in 1966. It is time that decision, made in a very different world, was reversed. We now have many councillors, MPs, businesses and individuals living along the line supporting us. Even the Ministry of Transport supports our general aim. The New S&D was formed in 2009 with the aim of rebuilding as much of the route as possible, at the very least the main line from Bath (Britain's only World Heritage City) to Bournemouth (our premier seaside resort); as well as the branches to Wells, Glastonbury and Wimborne. We will achieve this through a mix of lobbying, trackbed purchase and restoration of sections of the route as they become economically viable. With Climate Change, road congestion, capacity constraints on the railways and now Peak Oil firmly on the agenda we are pushing against an open door. We already own Midford just south of Bath, and are restoring Spetisbury under license from DCC, but this is just the start. There are other established groups restoring stations and line at Midsomer Norton and Shillingstone, and the fabulous narrow gauge line near Templevcombe, the Gartell Railway.
There are now FIVE sites being actively restored on the S&D and this blog will follow what goes on at all of them!
Our aim is to use a mix of lobbying, strategic track-bed purchase, fundraising and encouragement and support of groups already preserving sections of the route, as well as working with local and national government, local people, countryside groups and railway enthusiasts (of all types!) To restore sections of the route as they become viable.
Whilst the New S&D will primarily be a modern passenger and freight railway offering state of the art trains and services, we will also restore the infrastructure to the highest standards and encourage steam working and steam specials over all sections of the route, as well as work very closely with existing heritage lines established on the route.
This blog contains my personal views. Anything said here does not necessarily represent the aims or views of any of the groups currently restoring, preserving or operating trains over the Somerset and Dorset Railway!
Saturday, November 03, 2007
track
This is some of the track recently lifted from Radstock which will be used on the Chilcompton extension. Unfortunately it's left the car park even more cramped than usual!
This was redundant track from just east of the old GW station. It would have gone for scrap had the 'Regeneration' people not let us know - with about 24 hours notice - that it was about to vanish.
There's some redundant track at Oxford South Yard alongside the Royal Mail car park. It's under vegetation but includes some either Bv or Cv turnouts. Beware the hypodermic needles though. That said, I don't know who owns it, but if you're collecting, it might be worth an approach to Royal Mail. Also, Network Rail are apparently giving ballast to the WSR from their High Output ballast cleaner operations in the West Country. I'm told the WSR have been filtering the ballast and selling some of it! The benefit of a main line connection I suppose... Dan
3 comments:
So what is the latest with Radstock then? Which part of Radstock is the track coming from?
This was redundant track from just east of the old GW station. It would have gone for scrap had the 'Regeneration' people not let us know - with about 24 hours notice - that it was about to vanish.
There's some redundant track at Oxford South Yard alongside the Royal Mail car park. It's under vegetation but includes some either Bv or Cv turnouts. Beware the hypodermic needles though.
That said, I don't know who owns it, but if you're collecting, it might be worth an approach to Royal Mail.
Also, Network Rail are apparently giving ballast to the WSR from their High Output ballast cleaner operations in the West Country. I'm told the WSR have been filtering the ballast and selling some of it! The benefit of a main line connection I suppose...
Dan
Post a Comment