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, June 22, 2016

And the rebuild continues!

MIDSOMER NORTON SOUTH



LATEST NEWS FROM MIDSOMER NORTON: The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust has launched an extension appeal to double the length of their current running line to a mile. The recently cleared trackbed will take the railway further into the open countryside, drawing ever closer to the village of Chilcompton.



In order to complete this mission they need you! The appeal target is £30k - this is the anticipated figure for groundwork, track and peripherals. 

You can donate via the Trust's website by clicking on the following link: http://www.sdjr.co.uk/pages/fundraising.html

Thank you!

And the rebuild continues!

MIDSOMER NORTON SOUTH



LATEST NEWS FROM MIDSOMER NORTON: The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust has launched an extension appeal to double the length of their current running line to a mile. The recently cleared trackbed will take the railway further into the open countryside, drawing ever closer to the village of Chilcompton.



In order to complete this mission they need you! The appeal target is £30k - this is the anticipated figure for groundwork, track and peripherals. 

You can donate via the Trust's website by clicking on the following link: http://www.sdjr.co.uk/pages/fundraising.html

Thank you!

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Sunset on the S&D

SHILLINGSTONE


30075 watches the sun set on 19 June 2016 Source


Where once there was just empty trackbeds and decay each year now we see more and more of the S&D come back into use, each year there's more to photograph and after the original frenzy of record shots (I have thousands from the early days at Midsomer Norton!) we are now getting more and more arty captures, the photographers secure in the knowledge that all is not going to vanish again!

In the past 'Sunset on the S&D' had a sinister ring, usually being applied to pics of the original line in its final years as bit by bit the heart was torn out of the line.

Now we get the above ...

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Gartell 16 June 2016




Both pics 16.6.2016 copyright John Penny Facebook GLR


A strong team today avoided the showers to undertake track work at Pinesway, paint platform trolleys, nearly complete the repainting of Common Lane box and Chandler continued with his fight against the ever growing grass!

Never forget this gem of a narrow gauge line that threads its way through classic S&D (lowland!) scenery, with everything having that S&D touch, depsite the narrow gauge!

The line will be open on Sunday 26th June 2016 for the usual three-train service. Come early and have a breakfast with them. They're open from 10.00, first train 10.30, then every 20 minutes throughout the day.


Friday, June 10, 2016

'Don't tell them your name Pike'.

MIDSOMER NORTON SOUTH



A treat next weekend (18 and 19 June 2016) is the Home Guard Weekend at Midsomer Norton. There are some nice tie-in extra events and features as well as regular train trips.

Hopefully the weather will be warm and sunny for the event - but even if it isn't please try to get along. Any excuse for a trip on the real S&D!