help for midsomer norton

This has just come via John Baxter at Midsomer Norton - please sign up!

Not long ago the Trust applied to Community Force, a NatWest iniative for funding towards the lineside footpath we need to construct alongside the railway to prevent unauthorised access to the trackbed. This initiative could give up to £6000 to three local projects BUT it needs people to vote for their favourite project and this is where we would like to gain your support for the sake of a few minutes on your laptop or PC. With your help we could be a potential winner but there are only 18 days left for votes to be cast. Winning this award would essentially mean we could devote more funds to the purchase of more track so please don't think your vote will be wasted - we reckon we will need 300 or more votes to be in with a chance.

If you can support us this is what you need to do:

1. Click on this website: http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/2903

(Corrected address - please try again if it didn't work first time. Thanks to David Bailey for sorting this out).

2. Click on Register

3. Enter your first name, surname, email address and a password of your choosing - tick the box that says you accept the terms and conditions.

4. You will be sent an email and you need to click on the confirmation reference.

2. Click against "by postcode or town" and type in Midsomer Norton underneath then press the magnifying glass.

3. A map of the Midsomer Norton area will appear - click on the orange tear and the details of the project will show in the window.

4. Click on "read more" and up will come the project page.

5. Tick where it states "I accept the NatWest CommunityForce Voting Terms.

6. Click on "Vote For Us".

7. In order for your vote to be accepted, you will be then asked to register your details.

more from Shepton

Four shots of Charlton Road viaduct in the wonderful setting of Kilver Court Gardens. Everywhere should be like this! As John Baxter said on Monday, all it needs is a 7F crossing it! As I replied 'that's what we're all about!'

But the fact that steam WAS working across the viaduct again shouldn't be forgotten. It was all set up by Andy Lunness of Recreation Railways, the inspiration and genius behind the whole idea. More on Andy's excellent set up at Recreation Railways.

I haven't contacted Andy yet, but with a New S&D committee member owning the trackbed at Midford, perhaps we could do something similar there? Or indeed at other points on the line? It would raise our profile, particularly if we offered sales stands to the public, run
by us and the other S&D groups.

train at shepton mallet - 2009!

A used ticket for the train across the viaduct.



Tinkerbell and the train.


New S&D chair and Midsomer Norton shop regular Paul Mitchell cross the viaduct under steam power.

Well it WAS an experience! Steam over the big viaduct at Shepton Mallet in 2009. Okay, it was a miniature railway and the track was less than 200 metres long, and the whole thing was rather overwhelmed on a viaduct built for double track standard gauge, but this is early days yet. The fact that S&D infrastructure is beginning to see new uses is fantastic, and everyone who sees and uses this has the potential of joining the clamour for S&D revival.

Kilver Court is a fantastic destination both pre and post-New S&D. The gardens were built for the workers at Showerings' Brewery back in the 1860s and the viaduct sets them off fantastically. The new Kilver Court Gardens have made an excellent job of restoring the gardens and providing superb visitor attractions, such as the shop and cafe. John Baxter, Chair at Midsomer Norton, was manning a sales stand right in the entrance, so there was a good S&D presence there. Even as we drew into the car park we spotted Paul Mitchell from the Midsomer Norton station shop. Debs gave up her ticket so he could ride across the viaduct.

I'm hoping that this becomes a regular annual event and also that Kilver and MN realise they have a lot to gain by working closely together, Kilver providing an excellent interim destination for the railway currently bulding south from Midsomer Norton.

barbecue

Phil Jones (No 10 driver) and Julian Jefferson (Telegraph Editor) are press ganged into making the new barbecue - just an hour before opening Saturday evening!


A view from behind the DJ decks and into the new gazebo - Wulfric on iPod.


Not so quiet evening as the first bars of Enter Shikari's 'Sorry You're Not a Winner' reverberate around the patio.


The gathering around the barbecue.

All in all the Midsummer at Midsomer weekend was a resounding success, with many new members joining and a few more volunteers. Brake van rides were extremely popular, as were the cream teas up in the catering coach. Special thanks to Ann Cook and Debs Hitchins (catering), Dave and Hermione (barbecue), Phil Jones (brake van rides), John Rideout (signalbox), Paul Mitchell (shop) and John Bridges (tombola), plus many others who gave up part of all of the weekend to introduce our lovely line to the wider public.

broadband heaven

The S&D has always been in the forefront of innovation (witness this blogsite!) but we were remiss on just one thing - no broadband (or indeed even Internet connection) at the station. This has now been corrected! Thanks to the efforts of Debs putting in an application and chair John Baxter in getting the middle office (the future marketing suite) tidied up we're now signed up to BT Broadband. This is at no cost to the Trust for the next seven months - BT very kindly donated a new computer plus Broadband connection as part of their programme to help charities get on line.

Hopefully the whole kit will be set up over the next week or so - expect photos very soon!