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, September 05, 2011

next new S&D meeting





The next New S&D meeting will be on Sunday 18 September 2011 at 7pm.

Location is 10 Bellamy Avenue, Hartcliffe, BRISTOL, BS130HW.

This will be a civilized affair with food and drink laid on free of charge.

The main idea is to plan the next few years at Midford, but general New S&D business will also be discussed. All members and non-members are invited as usual.

Facebook page for this meeting here.
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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

walked from wellow station to midford goods yard and back yesterday with the other half. good to see you've uncovered the base of the down side pway hut at the point where the pole route changed sides.

nick

Brian said...

Seeing that concrete hut base uncovered again after so many years has brought memories rushing back into focus again for me. I uncovered it discreetly in the 1980's to sit and take in the wonderful view along the valley during lunch breaks from working on the site and tramway which ended about there at its greatest extent. Of course that view is lost now with all those trees grown up, gulping down avidly some of the CO2 we are busy spewing forth. Its not entirely clear whether removing trees only on land associated with the S&D trackbed would suffice to regain that view but I suspect not. It was wonderful though.

Has anyone else noticed the rather nice wagon starting bar driven in near there ? Its beaky working end profile is slightly beat out of shape during insertion but otherwise reckon could be drawn forth like Excalibur to operate once more if Midford goods yard ever got up and walked again with local wagonload traffic.

Brian said...

End of a railway bridge maintenance Legend:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-14789036

Philippines property said...

I enjoyed reading your post, it was great and I think this railway will be a big help to everyone. Good luck and thank you.



Charles A