the new somerset and dorset railway - bringing back our trains: return to midsomer norton

Friday, November 06, 2009

return to midsomer norton

I made a surprise trip to Midsomer Norton today (Pics above) and was very impressed. The above shots are tasters - will do more thorough posts over the next few days!

Apologies for no posts over the last few days but I've been extremely busy with (paying!) work!

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NEXT NEW S&D MEETING

The Midford Station Appeal

The first aim of the New S&D will be to secure the station site at Midford and rebuild the station as a visitor information centre. This will only be the very first small step to restoring the route, but possibly the most important. As Paypal charges can be high it is better to make larger donations (£20+) by cheque wherever possible, but please feel free to use this facility for any amounts if easier! Cheques should be made payable to 'New Somerset and Dorset Railway' and sent to New S&D, Midford Station Appeal, 10 Bellamy Avenue, Hartcliffe, BRISTOL, BS13 0HW. We may be introducing a share scheme for the station so a record will be made of all donations and if a share scheme is agreed then all moneys will be allocated to doners and shares issued to the full value of donations made. MIDFORD STATION APPEAL

Why we exist

The original Somerset and Dorset Railway line was axed after the Beeching Plan which predicted a national decline in rail traffic. It focused entirely on long distance intercity passenger and freight services without due regard to the needs of local areas. Since then there have been major improvements to rail technology. Railways are now increasingly important to solve local travel needs and reduce the environmental impacts of road traffic and road congestion. There has consequently been a major resurgence in the demand for rail travel. As a result there is much more government emphasis today on improving public transport in order to provide an integrated public transport network.

Join and support the New S&D

Basic membership is just £5 per year. This entitles you to participate in all New S&D activities, receive regular news and info (by email and/or post), vote at meetings, receive 10% reduction on sales items and, if you wish, contribute directly to the blog. JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP is now available at just £2.50 per year. Junior members have all the benefits of full members except voting rights. To join click below (or send cheque/PO to address below) YOU CAN OF COURSE ALSO PAY BY CHEQUE! Please make cheques payable to 'New Somerset and Dorset Railway' and send to New S&D, 10 Bellamy Avenue, Hartcliffe, BRISTOL, BS13 0HW

Donations to the New S&D

You can now donate specifically for those aspects of the New S&D that you personally have the most interest in. New S&D Steam Centre Plan is to create a base on the route (Templecombe or Evercreech are suggested) where steam locomotives can be shedded and serviced and run services over the route. These will be additional to the 'real' passenger and freight scheduled services. You can donate any amount by clicking the Paypal button below. STEAM CENTRE. If your main interest is in purchasing and securing land and buildings then you can donate any amount specifically for this purpose by clicking on the Paypal button below. LAND PURCHASE.

If you would like to donate towards lobbying local, regional and national government in addition to helping maintain a high media profile then you can donate any amount by clicking the Paypal button below. LOBBYING AND MEDIA.

You can of course make specific donations by cheque through the post. Please state what the donation is for, or whether it is a general donation, and send to - New Somerset and Dorset Railway, 10 Bellamy Avenue, Hartcliffe, BRISTOL, BS13 0HW.

What group does what on the S&D?

The S&D was a large network, over 100 miles in all, and was the most popular line in the UK, if not the world.

For this reason there are a variety of groups restoring and preserving the S&D.

They are -

The New Somerset and Dorset Railway - a land purchasing and lobbying group determined to reopen the whole S&D as a response to Peak Oil and Climate Change, blending sustainable modern and heritage transport. Direct email contact. They also manage the growing Somerset and Dorset Railway ecommerce site here.

Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust - restoring Midsomer Norton station with plans to extend to Radstock and towards Shepton Mallet.

Sturminster Rail Group - aim is to purchase strategic sections of the route particularly between Sturminster Newton and Henstridge to allow the running of trains in the future.

North Dorset Railway Trust - restoring Shillingstone station with plans to extend in both directions.

Gartell Light Railway - a two foot gauge private railway operating on part of the S&D near Templecombe, currently extending northwards.

Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust - based at Washford on the West Somerset Railway, preserving relics and rolling stock of the S&D.

There is also a private restoration project at Masbury station and possibilities of some S&D presence at Midford.

Remember you can help raise money for the New Somerset and Dorset Railway by sending used stamps to us. These are quickly turned into cash which will help us set the organisation up.

ALL stamps are required, even the regular 1st and 2nd class small ones. Ideally they should be trimmed to within about 1/4" of the perforations, on just the front part of the envelope.

Please package up and send to -
New Somerset and Dorset Railway Stamp Appeal
10 Bellamy Avenue
Hartcliffe
BRISTOL
BS13 0HW

We can handle just a few stamps or huge boxes of them. They raise £5 per kilogram.World stamps also wanted (without GB). For these we receive £19 per kilogram.

Please try to use nice higher value commemorative stamps to send your stamps to us, rather than the horrible white labels!

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We do occasionally use images and text from other people. Wherever possible we do contact the creators to clear use, but it is sometimes hard to trace the original copyright, for example if we use an uncredited image from a third party website. Please be assured that all text and images are for strictly non-commercial use. If you are a copyright holder and we have used your text or images please contact us and we will endeavour to either remove the text/images or come to an agreement for their use. We all have the interest of the S&D at heart.

the new somerset and dorset railway - bringing back our trains

Friday, November 06, 2009

return to midsomer norton

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NEXT NEW S&D MEETING

The best S&D website on the net?

The Midford Station Appeal

The Midford Station Appeal

Why we exist

Climate Change

Join and support the New S&D

Donations to the New S&D

Now listen up ...

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What group does what on the S&D?

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The S&D Stamp Appeal

S&D websites - groups restoring the S&D

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