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!

Saturday, July 09, 2011

midford 3 july






(All pics copyright Stuart Seale)

Latest report from the Midford Team.

There were a few of us at Midford on Sunday when we went down for the express purpose of getting rid of the huge pile of cuttings that had built up. Unfortunately no sooner had we got the fire going well when one of the neighbours asked us if we would put it out as the smoke was causing him a nuisance. It is a bit ironic that this same person also wishes us to clear the trees behind his property. In the interests of harmony we let the fire die out and then re-commenced work digging out the platform and clearing up the area where the Scouts had cut down some trees.

It was satisfying to see the gutter appear from under the composted matter on the platform and it appeared very deep and in good condition. The newly exposed tarmac surface was in similarly good condition.

1 comment:

Knoxy said...

No smoke without fire eh?

you'll have plenty to burn by autumn and then you could have a monster fire midweek?

That platform looks great. i can tell that a lot of graft and effort has gone into this station so far and you all should be very proud of the results. I am pleased to be a member of this group, although watching on from a distance, hoping at sometime to be down there putting a shift in. I enjoy seeing the reports and pictures, so keep up with the good work. that is an iconic site which will really come into its own when the trees etc have been cleared..