Welcome to the 'New Somerset and Dorset Railway'

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!
Midford - Midsomer Norton - Gartell - Shillingstone - Spetisbury


Our Aim:

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, December 29, 2007

xmas at midsomer norton


A look along the platform on Xmas day.


The up platform with the trench dug to allow electricity to the signalbox.


We had eleven for Yuletide lunch in the catering coach - our final fling!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This blog site has been fantastic
for updates, especially for me as I live abroad. Problem is though, I don't know what the short terms plans are or how they are progressing. It would be good if there is an active latest news page on the website then the membership can see for themselves whether the scrapyard is part of growing pains or if its indeed lack of focus. Part of the problem here is also lack of communication.

About raising funds for opening - The opening appeal is too loose - $16,000 divided by 600 members is only 26 pounds each. That should have been raised within months. If the appeal had been set at 35 pounds each member and a direct mail piece sent out and a bigger appeal space on the website outlining what the funds are for I bet the money would have been raised easily...

Just my thoughts.

Happy new year and best of luck for 2008, keep up the good work.