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!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

evercreech junction 67/68





Three more superb Jeffery Grayer shots from 1967 and 1968. This time it's Evercreech Junction, one of the most emotive and iconic points on the old S&D. Even after closure the scale of the track layout and infrastructure at this rural spot is easy to see. Track was left in place partly for operational reasons, but also to allow the accountants to attribute unreasonable costs to the S&D to strengthen the very weak case for closure. Other scams included measuring traffic levels in school holidays and diverting freight traffic off the route, even when it was the most direct link. All of this stupidity will be investigated in the New S&D's work 'The Case for the S&D'. I've a finance background so I'm really looking forward to working on this part! I suspect that the morons engaged in this despicable activity think that time has covered up their crimes, but they're in for quite a shock ...

Jeffery's photos are from his superb if rather anachronistically titled book 'Sabotaged and Defeated' which should soon be available from the New S&D's online shop.
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whatever happened to the turntable pit? Does it lay buried waiting for resurrection?

I could do with a few more pictures on a then & now basis for this area.

Keep the pictures coming, they’re superb.....

Knoxy

Anonymous said...

I think its buried with upper walls spalled off yes.

Anonymous said...

Any news about A defector's mysterious disappearance?