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!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

step upwards


I've just finished packing and posting all the copies of Right Lines 2 - some of you will also be receiving your membership cards and renewals.

This will be the last self produced Right Lines. Right Lines 3 will be an A4 glossy magazine, in three sections - past, present and future. To fill the 24 or more pages we welcome articles and pictures that can fall into any of the above three sections. Articles on the S&D and the wider rail revival are welcome, similarly pictures can be of the S&D, of S&D locomotives and stock on the S&D or elsewhere, or of similar rail/tram revival projects elsewhere, anywhere in the world.

Prospective issue date will be January 2011.

If any of you would like to take on the role of editor of what will become a very prestigious magazine please contact me at leysiner@aol.com telling me why you think you should have the job!
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2 comments:

Knoxy said...

Oil, Oil & Oil...

At last, thanks in part to BP, everyone is talking about oil. As I write this, it's the discussion on the radio; "are we addicted to oil?" to right we are! Me too!

'Right Lines' dropped through the letter box today. Fantastic, somebody is actually doing something. I look forward to seeing Midford return. We will need it soon?

Anonymous said...

Talking of "right lines", we were in North Yorkshire a few days ago. Visited Goathland Station. Quite a number of people on each platform, must be two trains due. First 53809 Pickering-Grosmont. Secondly 92214! climbing the bank from Grosmont, so easily. Lets get some more track on the S&D and then we shall 53809 and 92214(92212) back where they belong.
Richard