Radstock recovery

The trackgang has been recovering more materials from the Radstock Regeneration land today, not a bad morning for it. Almost ready for another lorry load to come out now and move it to Midsomer Norton.

(Pics both via Somerset and Dorset Railway)

FACEBOOK - NEW SOMERSET AND DORSET RAILWAY

It seems strange to be lifting track from one line that has an active restoration group to move to another, two miles away - but such is the complexity of the various groups in the area that this has happened before! In the future no doubt lovely fresh new track will reappear here or very close by, as the North Somerset line extends from Frome up to Radstock with an eventual connection to the S&D.

This part of Radstock is, at last, having houses built. Remember that every house will contain future passengers for the lines in Radstock! The development company does support the two future Radstock railways, fully understanding that they will be essential transport links that, soon enough, people will factor into their decisions as to where they move to. A small piece of land has been secured for a future rail link through this site, thanks to the work of Pete Russell at the SDRHT.

Anyone who gets involved in the restoration of the greater S&D could end up just about anywhere if they are part of the hands-on team! 

yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great news literally just in - the extension to the running line at Midsomer Norton has been granted planning permission! This means the MN Trust can now get seriously down to work on this stretch with trackbed preparation and tracklaying.

Congratulations to everyone at Midsomer Norton who have helped make this happen, particularly to Pete Russell who has worked so hard on the arcane paperwork which would have made the rest of us lose the will to live.

This is a major event in the history of a new Somerset and Dorset Railway.

accentuate the positive

(Photos top Pete Russell, 2-4 Mick Knox)

From a regular correspondent -

Here's one for you to think about; When ever a railway should be re-opened everyone always thinks about the negatives - ie bridges out, cuttings filled in etc, whereas we should be thinking such-and-such per cent is there. Is it possible for some bright sparks to work out just how much of the S&D (or any other line crying out for re-opening) to say 'Well, 94.58% of the line is in extant' (or whatever % that it is - as it looks much more positive!! ) Irrespective of what is not available, work on distance available for virtually re-laying! Catch my drift?

My reply -

This is exactly how I look at it. There have been a few encroachments, but bearing in mind the line has been closed for 43 years and, until recently, few people seriously thought it would be needed again, I reckon we've got a lot to work on. Certainly from my trip in February it's amazing how much is still in place. Even in Sturminster Newton, with the station gone and car parks and buildings all around, there is nothing actually blocking the route. The line is protected from Bath to Midsomer Norton for transport use, the section from MN to Shepton is almost totally clear (being on high Mendip farmland). South of Shepton Prestleigh viaduct has gone, and I think there's some housing development in Evercreech but, again, the vast majority is clear, much of the southern section is not only clear but in increasing numbers of places is becoming a trailway, which is just one letter away from being a railway!

Even without Peak Oil and Climate Change there is now a good case for bringing back the S&D, but with them it is essential.

midsomer norton extension

Thanks to Nick Howes for this.


Planning permission to extend the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, south up the 1 in 53 grade, from Midsomer Norton towards Chilcompton is expected to be granted next month by Bath and North East Somerset Council, following an 18 month long planning submission by dedicated trustee Peter Russell.

It is hoped that doubling the current route mileage from 1000 to 2000 feet will enable the commencement of passenger steam trains and attract owners of BR engines to have a thrash at the formidable and legendary Southbound Mendip Mainline incline.
The double trackbed will once again by available to receive rail, although initially only the down main will be laid. The current "jungle" walkway, currently used by a few locals will be accommodated outside the up BR fence boundary with permission from 2 farmers to fence in a new path hugging their field boundary which parallels the line.

Careful selected tree removal will take place where the vegetation hinders trackbed grading, drainage, track reinstatement, the loading gauge envelope and safety lines of sight, but nearly all of the 43 year down side boundary growth will remain. The up valley side, offering the views across the Somer valley, to Midsomer Norton, Ston Easton country park and Chilcompton will be carefully thinned out. New trees will be planted elsewhere along the down side boundary to compensate, including a thick section of hedge to protect a house owner.

The current 990 foot double track works its way through the platforms at 1 in 300 on a slight reverse curve, then climbs hard left at 1 in 53. At the end of this left curve, phase 1 of the new extension will begin.

Phase 1 of the planning permission is expected next month, taking in the next 1047 feet dead straight at 1 in 53. This incorporates rebuilding the permanent way hut made of bolted sleepers and beyond this, a non original 430 foot down engineers siding will be laid on the 1 in 53 verge with trailing connection into the down main.

Before any track laying can be done, the concrete and wire fencing must be repaired, the down cess drainage pipe checked out, roots removed and levelling of the trackbed. 440 feet beyond the railhead, 500 tons of the up main trackbed has been dug out. This eats across the "6 foot" to nearly the outer down ballast shoulder in one place and is 300 feet long by 3 feet deep maximum. Along with outer up shoulder gabians, this can be filled back in at no cost by "top skimming" 6 inches off of the old weed choked BR ballast right the way up the extension.

Following the civil works, track laying on concrete sleepers and flat bottom rail can begin. A runaway trap point will be laid at the current down railhead, to protect the station limits, followed by a left hand c switch, linking the up main as the second, southernmost crossover. 10 panels of plain line take us to the right hand trailing c switch into the 7 panel down engineers siding. A further 5 panels takes us from Farmer Shearn’s trackbed to the Stage 2 boundary and Mrs Well’s trackbed and another planning application!
Phase 2 takes in a slight right hand curve, followed by another straight to the BANES/Somerset administrative county boundary, another 1037 feet.

Phase 3 takes the line slightly left over the old Mendip hunt occupation crossing then another very long straight, including bridge 48a, up to the in-filled Chilcompton Tunnel cutting, another 1918 feet.

Total line length will a little over 5000 feet. When Chilcompton tunnel infill is reached the down main will burrow left off the original formation into the hillside on the level, for 300 feet only, enough to build a medium term 3 coach halt (Somervale halt) on the level, due to health and safety regulations governing brand new stations. The 4000 feet of up main will then be laid to "catch up" with the down, enabling the spectacle of any combination of visiting engines to pass on the S&D mainline, a truly mouth watering prospect!

Total extension, 4022 feet of double track =
268 lengths of 60 foot flat bottom rail,
3216 concrete sleepers,
3216 tons of ballast.

Following consolidation, a huge fundraising drive will then strive to re-bridge silver street or dig out the quarter mile, 44 feet deep cutting of its clay capping and 170,000 tons of household and builders rubbish.

Since 1995, Midsomer Norton South has been restored to its former glory from an overgrown ruin, with a 6 figure sum being spent on the project, including 300o feet of quality permanent way, station, platforms, rolling stock and up and coming stable museum, not to mention the fabulous working replica signal box by Graeme Mayes and John Rideout. Over 800 members support a core of 30 volunteers. Please join us today and help us extend the Somerset and Dorset Mendip Mainline Project!

more fiddleford!

Another shot from Pete Russell of the new S&D bridge in Dorset.

fiddleford bridge - just in!

No sooner do I do a post on Fiddleford Bridge than Pete Russell comes up with some photos! There were none on a web search. A nice elegant design but one which will have to be replaced when the trains return!