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!

Friday, June 04, 2010

getting odder ...


The latest S&D Facebook group has an interesting remit - to dig out Corfe Mullen Halt!
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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think someone is bordering on the realms of fantasy here.
Unless the people whom own this garden which the halt is buried under has given their permission to dig it out, then this is not going to happen for a very long time !

Steve Sainsbury said...

I think we all realise that the Facebook group is just a bit of fun!

Anonymous said...

I know that this is strictly not applicable to this post, but as you are into music big style, have you seen www.MySpace.com/Browfort? This band are so out of touch they have a song called 'Last Train From Devizes' which is all about the railway NEVER coming back. I ask you...

Anonymous said...

Not to pedantic - marks Tey is NOT in Suffolk - It's in Essex.

Knoxy said...

Well at least it’s preserved, ready for time team? Well I presume it is still there intact? Or at least hope so.

I don't do facebook, but if I did I would start a page for Cannards Grave Cutting & Bridge 92.

Now you have me thinking, what about Masbury Summit, and the infill by Bridge 69!

Knoxy

Steve Sainsbury said...

Mick

I think you need to start Facebooking!

There's quite an S&D community building on there with a lot of S&D related groups. We're even getting members now joining after finding us on Facebook.

Knoxy said...

I just haven't the time and I’ve said to myself I'm taking nothing more on until I get my website completed!

There is just so much happening, too much work, too much to read etc

It’s just mental....

Interesting times..

Knoxy

Richard said...

I am up for digging it out