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!

Monday, December 27, 2010

what inspires us!



(Medstead and Four Marks - trackless. Now a station on the Watercress line and busier than ever!)

This gem apeared over Xmas and has inspired me to start the 'Jurassic Park' feature on the sidebar - a place for all those quotes from 70s-style dinosaurs who simply refuse to move with the times ...

... first submission .

the S&D is scrapped and dismantled, get over it.
Thanks to Daniel Hull for this gem!!
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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ironically the opening scenes of yesterday teatime film From time to time was shot here at Medstead and Four Marks. I have steamed through here several times when on days out on the Mid Hants-a credit to all of those who brought this derelict vandalised station back to life. This should be shown as what can be achieved likewise the Swanage railway and many other preservation railways

Anonymous said...

Dear dinosaurs and doubters 'The S&D is being rebuilt, get over it' :)

Steve Sainsbury said...

This is the point. I felt the original comment was very unfair to both Midsomer Norton and Shillingstone, who have both worked incredibly hard to restore their parts of the S&D. I don't know if the original poster was simply unaware of this. I'm pretty certain he's unaware of the Welsh Highland Railway rebuilding, the Waverley route rebuilding and also of the trials and tribulations faced by Swanage, the Kent and East Sussex and many more, all overcome. And this is all BEFORE Peak Oil!

Knoxy said...

It's the sort of comment that makes me laugh. he doesn't get it. how's he going to get about? in his electric car? LOL

keep posting them Steve