Rail Thing - Friends of the S&D: Spetisbury working parties

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!

Showing posts with label Spetisbury working parties. Show all posts

Sunday, November 01, 2015

Spetisbury 1 November 2015

SPETISBURY

(Text and pic by Kevin Mitchell 1.11.2015)

FACEBOOK - RAIL THING - REVERSING BEECHING

After a misty start it turned into T shirt weather again for today's work party. We are now looking ahead to next year and the events to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the S&D. Our aim is to make the 'up' platform building remains as tidy as possible, as this is the main focus point of the site. Of the three rooms, we want to clear the booking office and gents' waiting room of the bricks we have stored there, moving them into the ladies' waiting room. So to start off, we cleared the ladies' waiting room foundations and cleaned and photographed the ventilation for the natural chalk floor. Then we started to move the many re-useable bricks into the foundations.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Spetisbury - not just weekends!

A wooden bench has been created on the up platform to match the one that used to be here in railway days.

Work continuing on our new shed.

Fence post made of old rail near the site of the Louse Lane bridge.

The Stour Valley looking at its best.

(All pics copyright Kevin Mitchell 28.8.2015)

FACEBOOK - SPETISBURY STATION RESTORATION PROJECT

Taking the opportunity presented by wonderful weather yesterday some of the Spetisbury team popped up to the station to do a bit of work. And who can blame them looking at the last picture above?

I wished I lived closer! Anyone who would like to get involved please contact the Project Manager at Spetisbury, Dean Cockwell - deancockwell@ntl.world

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Spetisbury 17 May 2015

(All pics Spetisbury 17.5.2015 copyright Kevin Mitchell)

FACEBOOK - SPETISBURY STATION RESTORATION PROJECT

Spetisbury is looking fantastic as we proceed from spring into summer. The whole site has been tidied up and is now festooned with flowers. The Sunday team offer refreshments and a few New S&D sales items and also are more than happy to welcome new members to the work parties - so if you are interested in getting involved at this magical location please contact Dean Cockwell on deancockwell@ntlworld.com

The team now feel confident enough to invite visitors to the site as part of the Spetisbury Open Gardens day on Sunday June 7, 2015 (details below). So if you can please come on that day to join in with the well-deserved event!

New Somerset and Dorset Railway website

Sunday, October 05, 2014

Spetisbury Report 5.10.2014

Plants kindly donated by locals await planting out. Another plant was delivered to the station today.

View from the bank behind the up platform building. The vegetation behind the wall was cut back today.

The view of the up platform building is now better after we removed lots of overgrowth.

All traces of the rubble mound here on the up platform have gone and the area seeded with grass.

(All pics and text by Kevin Mitchell).

FACEBOOK - NEW S&D

The revival of Spetisbury on the Dorset section of the S&D proceeds apace, the weather today looking particularly amenable!

Remember if you want to help the rebuilding of the S&D there are work parties most Sundays at the station. To get involved simply contact Dean Cockwell, Spetisbury Project Manager, on deancockwell@ntlworld.com

Monday, July 14, 2014

Spetisbury 13.7.2014

(All pics copyright Kevin Mitchell 13.7.2014)

FACEBOOK - SPETISBURY STATION RESTORATION

Some pics from yesterday's work party at Spetisbury. All New S&D members are welcome to join in, work parties are on most Sundays.

Saturday, April 06, 2013

spetisbury sunday

SUNDAY 7th APRIL - WORK PARTY
Dear Member/ Volunteer, There is a work party up at the station on Sunday. I hope to be there from 10:00am onwards. Hopefully, I would have had a meeting with the rangers up at the station on Friday, and from that I will have a better idea on what we are going to be doing during the summer months.
Car parking. This was discussed last time, and has not changed. Would appreciate it if you could let me know if you can make it.
Best regards,
Dean

Saturday, March 09, 2013

spetisbury tomorrow

SUNDAY 10th MARCH 2013 - WORK PARTY
Dear Member/ Volunteer,

Fancy joining our work party and going up to the station on Sunday. I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am.

On Sundays agenda, I believe we still have a bit of clearing to do after our last visit. I also believe we may have to do some filling in, where holes have appeared in the foliage on the 'Down' platform.
There are other tasks, such as sorting through the brick rubble to find any 'specials', and put to one side.

... Would appreciate it if you could let me know if you can make it.

Best regards,

Dean

Saturday, February 23, 2013

spetisbury tomorrow

SUNDAY 24th FEBRUARY - WORK PARTY

Dear Member/ Volunteer,

Fancy joining our work party and going up to the station on Sunday. I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am.

On Sundays agenda are at least a couple of large trees, which we will have the expertise of Terry with his chainsaw to fell them, but we will need numbers to make sure the felled trees are dealt with quickly to keep the trailway clear.

So the main tools required will be saws and loppers to take the branches etc. down to manageable sizes.

... Would appreciate it if you could let me know if you can make it.

Photo shows heavy plant helping out on Wednesday at Spetisbury. Photo copyright Mike Hall.

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

spetisbury this sunday

SUNDAY 10th FEBRUARY - WORK PARTY

Dear Member/ Volunteer, Fancy joining our work party and going up to the station on Sunday? I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am. Would appreciate it if you could let me (Dean Cockwell) know if you can make it.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

spetisbury this sunday

(Photo copyright Kevin Mitchell)

SUNDAY 27th JANUARY 2013 - WORK PARTY
Dear Member/ Volunteer,
Fancy joining our work party and going up to the station on Sunday. I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am. Would appreciate it if you could let me know if you can make it.
Best regards,
Dean

Sunday, January 13, 2013

spetisbury speeds ahead

The first work party since Christmas were down at Spetisbury today and made fantastic progress. It shouldn't be long before the first rebuilding - as opposed to clearing - starts happening. It's amazing just how much has happened down there since clearance started under a year ago.

Blogger have changed the way you can post pictures so I can't use any of the fantastic pictures that are available of the work being done there, but you can access them all by looking at the Spetisbury Facebook group. I'd recommend joining this group (as well as the Midford and New S&D groups) because you get right up to the minute information on what's happening, loads of great pictures and a chance to get involved even if you live a long way off.

Work was also taking place at other locations along the line, there is a real head of steam building up!

Friday, January 11, 2013

spetisbury reminder

SUNDAY 13th JANUARY - SPETISBURY WORK PARTY
Dear Member/ Volunteer,
I am going up to the station on Sunday, and hope that you can join me. I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am.
This will be a good time to work off that extra mince you had, or 4 as in my case.
Could you let me know if you can make it and come up to help.
Best regards,
Dean

Friday, January 04, 2013

next spetisbury work party

SUNDAY 13th JANUARY - WORK PARTY
Dear Member/ Volunteer,
I am going up to the station on Sunday, and hope that you can join me. I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am.
This will be a good time to work off that extra mince you had, or 4 as in my case.
Could you let me know if you can make it and come up to help.
Best regards,
Dean

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

spetisbury 16 December 2012

An excellent set of photos (all copyright Kevin Mitchell) recording the last formal work party at Spetisbury for 2012. NINE volunteers turned up for this party, and it did actually become a bit of a Christmas party as evidenced in one of the pictures.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if serious moves towards rebuilding the station started in 2013. The team, drawn together by Project Manager Dean Cockwell, has done an amazing job of clearing the station, which closed in 1956, 10 years before the line closed to passengers and 13 years before it closed completely (but temporarily!)

Saturday, December 15, 2012

spetisbury tomorrow

(Radstock North)

SUNDAY 16th DECEMBER - SPETISBURY WORK PARTY

Dear Member/ Volunteer, I am going up to the station on Sunday, and hope that you can join me. I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am. This will be the last organised work party of 2012, and would like to see some new faces up there.
Would you let me know if you can make it and come up to help.

Best regards,
Dean

Monday, December 10, 2012

next stop spetisbury

SUNDAY 16th DECEMBER - WORK PARTY

Dear Member/ Volunteer, I am going up to the station on Sunday, and hope that you can join me. I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am. This will be the last organised work party of 2012, and would like to see some new faces up there.
Could you let me know if you can make it and come up to help.
Best regards,
Dean

(Dean's email is on the sidebar)

Saturday, December 01, 2012

spetisbury tomorrow

SUNDAY 2nd DECEMBER - WORK PARTY

Dear Member/ Volunteer, I am going up to the station on Sunday, and hope that you can join me. I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am. More clearing of the platform surfaces to do. Could you let me know if you can make it and come up to help.
Best regards,
Dean

Friday, November 16, 2012

SUNDAY 18th NOVEMBER - WORK PARTY
Dear Member/ Volunteer,
I am going up to the station on Sunday, and hope that you can join me. I hope to be there between 10:00 and 11:00am. More clearing of the platform surfaces to do. Could you let me know if you can make it and come up to help. Best regards,
Dean

WANTED FOR THE NEW S&D!

As we move from the early stages to a more mature state we need a number of key people to help us spread the word about the New S&D and rail resurgence in general. Ideally we'd love to have the following people -

SALES OFFICER - to develop mail order and internet sales, also attend events up and down the route to promote the line. At a later stage will be fully responsible for building shop stock at Midford and Spetisbury.

PROMOTIONS OFFICER - to promote the line via meetings etc. Would also liaise with local and regional government, working as a lobbyist for the New S&D. Would work closely with the PRESS OFFICER.

TREASURER - to take care of the accounts, make payments etc, and advise on financial matters.

HERITAGE OFFICER - to promote and care for all the heritage aspects of the line.

If you are interested in any of the above posts please email me at leysiner@aol.com

Ideally the sales officer position needs to be held by somebody local to the line - would happily split this role Dorset/Somerset if it makes it more manageable! Ideally the Promotions Officer would also live locally to the line. The other posts can be distant from the line.

WORKING AT MIDFORD - IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Volunteers are welcome to go up to Midford at any time to do restoration work - but please bear the following in mind!

Please under no circumstances park in the Hope and Anchor car park at any time, even when the pub is not open. There is plenty of car parking on Twinhoe Lane, by the gate that gives access to the cycleway. From there it is a very pleasant walk to the station over the viaduct! Please carry tools etc by hand.

Please email or phone me first just so I know there is somebody there and to give you an idea of what work needs to be done.

Within a few weeks we will have New S&D reflective jackets available. Please wear these whenever possible.

You are an ambassador for the line. Please talk to anyone who is interested in the line and if you have them please hand out leaflets. Be friendly and professional at all times!

Please keep the cycleway clear of tools etc at all times.

Please take ALL litter etc home, including cigarette ends.

Please respect all the wildlife in the area, always check if clearing that you are not destroying a nest etc. If in doubt please leave well alone.

Please use the Hope and Anchor pub for drinks and food.

We do not currently have insurance for volunteers. You are working at your own risk, personal injury insurance is recommended.

Please take care at all times and think of others, volunteers and members of the public.

Midford Station Appeal

The first aim of the New S&D will be to secure the station site at Midford and rebuild the station as a visitor information centre. This will only be the very first small step to restoring the route, but possibly the most important. As Paypal charges can be high it is better to make larger donations (£20+) by cheque wherever possible, but please feel free to use this facility for any amounts if easier! Cheques should be made payable to 'New Somerset and Dorset Railway' and sent to New S&D, Midford Station Appeal, 10 Bellamy Avenue, Hartcliffe, BRISTOL, BS13 0HW. We may be introducing a share scheme for the station so a record will be made of all donations and if a share scheme is agreed then all moneys will be allocated to doners and shares issued to the full value of donations made.

MIDFORD STATION APPEAL

Join and support the New S&D

Basic membership is just £15 per year. This entitles you to participate in all New S&D activities, receive regular news and info (by email and/or post), vote at meetings, receive 10% reduction on sales items and, if you wish, contribute directly to the blog.

YOU CAN OF COURSE ALSO PAY BY CHEQUE! Please make cheques payable to 'New Somerset and Dorset Railway' and send to New S&D, 10 Bellamy Avenue, Hartcliffe, BRISTOL, BS13 0HW

Donations to the New S&D

You can now donate specifically for those aspects of the New S&D that you personally have the most interest in. New S&D Steam Centre Plan is to create a base on the route (Templecombe or Evercreech are suggested) where steam locomotives can be shedded and serviced and run services over the route. These will be additional to the 'real' passenger and freight scheduled services.
You can donate any amount by clicking the Paypal button below.
STEAM CENTRE.

If your main interest is in purchasing and securing land and buildings then you can donate any amount specifically for this purpose by clicking on the Paypal button below.
LAND PURCHASE.

If you would like to donate towards lobbying local, regional and national government in addition to helping maintain a high media profile then you can donate any amount by clicking the Paypal button below. LOBBYING AND MEDIA.

You can of course make specific donations by cheque through the post. Please state what the donation is for, or whether it is a general donation, and send to -
New Somerset and Dorset Railway, 10 Bellamy Avenue, Hartcliffe, BRISTOL, BS13 0HW.

What group does what on the S&D?

The S&D was a large network, over 100 miles in all, and was the most popular line in the UK, if not the world.

For this reason there are a variety of groups restoring and preserving the S&D.

They are -

The New Somerset and Dorset Railway - a land purchasing and lobbying group determined to reopen the whole S&D as a response to Peak Oil and Climate Change, blending sustainable modern and heritage transport. Direct email contact. They also manage the growing Somerset and Dorset Railway ecommerce site here. They own and are currently restoring Midford station and will shortly do the same at Spetisbury, for rebuilding as information offices for the whole route. Facebook.

Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust - restoring Midsomer Norton station with plans to extend to Radstock and towards Shepton Mallet. In summer regular passnger trains are operated at this iconic S&D location. The station and area have been restored to their full pre-closure glory. There is also a museum on site.

Sturminster Rail Group - aim is to purchase strategic sections of the route particularly between Sturminster Newton and Henstridge to allow the running of trains in the future.

North Dorset Railway Trust - based at Shillingstone in Dorset has restored the iconic station at Shillingstone and is also in the process of laying track for up to a mile. They have a diesel loco on site and will shortly be taking delivery of steam loco 'Cunarder'. Facebook.

Gartell Light Railway - a two foot gauge private railway operating on part of the S&D near Templecombe, currently extending northwards. Operates about once a month.

Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust - based at Washford on the West Somerset Railway, preserving relics and rolling stock of the S&D.

Spetisbury Facebook Group - news about the restoration of Spetisbury as part of the New S&D initiative.

Midford Facebook Group - news about the restoration of Midford as part of the New S&D initiative .

There is also a private restoration project at Masbury station but PLEASE do not trespass on the site!

Remember you can help raise money for the New Somerset and Dorset Railway or the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust (Midsomer Norton) by sending used stamps to us. These are quickly turned into cash which will help us set the organisation up or continue the work at Midsomer Norton.
ALL stamps are required, even the regular 1st and 2nd class small ones. Ideally they should be trimmed to within about 1/4" of the perforations, on just the front part of the envelope.
Please package up and send to - if donating to NEW S&D
New Somerset and Dorset Railway Stamp Appeal
10 Bellamy Avenue
Hartcliffe
BRISTOL
BS13 0HW or if donating to MIDSOMER NORTON Stamps for Charity (027 MSN)10 Bellamy AveHartcliffeBRISTOLBS13 0HW

We can handle just a few stamps or huge boxes of them. They raise £5 per kilogram.World stamps also wanted (without GB). For these we receive £19 per kilogram.

Please try to use nice higher value commemorative stamps to send your stamps to us!

Copyright

We do occasionally use images and text from other people. Wherever possible we do contact the creators to clear use, but it is sometimes hard to trace the original copyright, for example if we use an uncredited image from a third party website. Please be assured that all text and images are for strictly non-commercial use. If you are a copyright holder and we have used your text or images please contact us and we will endeavour to either remove the text/images or come to an agreement for their use. We all have the interest of the S&D at heart.