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, December 29, 2010

midford today





(all © Stuart Seale)

Midford is looking amazing - and much of it is down to Stuart and Tom Seale. Compare these shots with those I took right at the start of restoration in September. I really don't see that restoration of the station buildings will be a long drawn out affair and that things will continue to happen a lot faster than I expected. The best thing about Midford is that it's become a local intiative, but with the support of a bigger organisation. Spetisbury will hopefully be the next project we take on board - and remember that all suggestions for projects are welcomed.

Stuart's report for today - Tom and I were at Midford again today. We cleared more of the bank behind the station and then burned most of last week's and this week's cuttings. We managed to keep warm in the afternoon somehow, even after it got dark. Cooked sausages when the fire died down a bit.

Had a chat with the owner of Station Cottage and other unknown Midford residents who were out walking their dogs and they all appeared to be happy with what is going on.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent progress indeed

Anonymous said...

Well done lads.