Rail Thing - Friends of the S&D: events

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 events. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

get pedalling!

Now this is a GREAT idea!!

As we see cycle groups and railway groups begin to work more and more closely together this has got to be one of the best and biggest bike/rail events of 2012!

Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 12:00pm until Sunday, August 18, 2013 at 12:00pm

Where

Bath to Bournemouth

Description

A two week Trip of a similar means to the Southwest Coast Path. Except the whole 114 miles will be done
A: On bike
B: In one go

The idea is to traverse the whole former 'Somerset And Dorset Joint Railway' and raise money for your chosen Heritage Railway or Loco. It is an... open thing so you do not have to be invited; Nor be with the main group for the whole journey.
It will take around two weeks to complete including rest days and branch lines. As before; you will not have to do the whole trip. Good Luck!

Facebook group here!

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

volunteer weekend

This year's Midsummer Event (23 and 24 June) is going to be focussing on volunteering as well as offering all our usual attractions. We've just completed a new leaflet dedicated to volunteering opportunities on the line which will be launched over the weekend. There will also be displays on a voluteering theme. Saturday evening we'll be having our first barbecue on the patio from 6pm. There will of course be music!

Sunday, April 15, 2007

party time

A first for the S&D at Midsomer Norton was our kids' party today in the coach and on the patio. If you want to give your children a unique birthday experience why not book the coach? Prices start from just £30 for 2 hours. Contact Debs for details.

Everyone today was out on the patio as it was so hot!

Birthday boy Wulfric rips into a present.

A real treat for the children was the disco equipment which they all had a go on, including Sam, 5.

Monday, April 09, 2007

easter monday

Some of the ingredients in today's special - S&D ploughmans lunch ...

A surprise visit from the King and Queen of Thailand - we needed to find our best crockery to keep them docile.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

midsomer miscellany

The brake coach is now fully converted for push-pull working.

A 'special' for our easter weekend event - an S&D ploughmans lunch for just £4!

The tombola was a huge success with an empty table by 2pm - except for a forlorn copy of 'Jinty'.

Our first disco - though due to the time and occasion it was more like background music. Catering manager Debs slips into her more usual role as a top DJ.

All photos taken today, 8 April 2007.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

patio progress

With the warmer weather it's now time to get the patio tables up outside the catering coach so we can cope with the huge numbers of visitors we expect this summer. This really will be an excellent spot for a snack, meal or event, with a blend of railway ambience, landscaped gardens and a chill-out atmosphere. We're having a grand opening of the patio on Easter Sunday, 8 April 2007, from 1 till 4 with food and drink, and music provided by DJs Brassey Digger and DJ Trin.

And with meals starting at just £2.50 who could resist it? The coach is also open every Sunday and Monday offering a full menu.

Monday, August 14, 2006

family history weekend

A new venture for us was the Family History Weekend at Midsomer Norton. Unfortunately Lady Angela was out of action on the Saturday due to the driver attending a funeral, but everything else was up and running. There was a nice steady stream of visitors and we were kept busy as usual!

The down platform was the ideal spot for the stalls.

Wulfric holds up the bottle of champagne that his dad just won on the tombola.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

open day - part two

The signalbox is almost there!

Lady Angela makes her last trip of the day back down to the goods/engine shed.

Drivers etc mill around the engine.

Young Jeff, cosmetically blackened for the camera, makes his way to the engine after a call from Jeff Akers.

Despite the oppresive heat today was even more successful than yesterday, with loads of new members joining, plenty of cash through the tills and a wonderful atmosphere throughout.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

open day - part 1

Lady Angela slumbers in the station ....

Crowds surround Lady Angela.

From the southern observation area there is an excellent view over the station. Lady Angela and Queen Mary brake van form a members' only train.

View from the cab of the Queen Mary as we pull out of Midsomer Norton South.

All in all a very successful day at the station, with almost perfect weather as always. Sunday should be even busier, with Driver for a Fiver trains from 11 in the morning.

See you there ...

Friday, July 14, 2006

open weekend ...

All ready for the Midsummer at Midsomer event!

The station is open between 11 and 5 both Saturday and Sunday. All visitor facilities are fully open - shop, secondhand shop, catering coach.

Driver for a Fiver both days (ages 21 - 70 only for insurance reasons). Lady Angela will be in steam throughout.

Butterfly walk in the woods.

Super raffle with 1st prize 2 Eurostar tickets first class to Brussles, Paris or Lille. 2nd prize a GALLON bottle of Bell's whisky!

Excellent tombola with many good prizes including champagne, wine, CD player etc.

Entrance fee is £1 per person, children FREE.

The weather is set fair - hot and sunny! Don't struggle with traffic, overheating radiators and tetchy kids on a car trip to a crowded beach - cool off at Midsomer Norton, nestling high in the foothills of the Mendips, cooling breezes (almost) guaranteed!

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.