authenticity

D1120 at Midsomer Norton 6.11.2009

This is a sight for sore eyes! This was the first time I'd seen the resident diesel at Midsomer norton in its new livery. What an incredible improvement on the odd Prussian blue livery it used to sport!

I never got the way certain rail enthusiasts spent years getting the infrastructure looking right only to have the whole illusion destroyed by inappropriate liveries. Midsomer Norton is supposed to represent the station as it was in 1955 or thereabouts. Yet up till last year this diesel appeared in what to all intents and purposes looked like an industrial locomotive livery.

Another feather in Midsomer Norton's cap. And a historic picture. How much longer before diesel locomotives vanish entirely as their fuel sources dry up?

what lies beneath

Somebody asked via the comments area - what's wrong with prussian blue and LMS?

I thought my reply perhaps should reach a wider audience!

The problems are many! To remember the LMS you would need to be about 64, to remember S&D livery about 80. Most of us that are members of the Trust were inspired by our own memories of the line (invariably 1950s/60s BR) or by the photographic work of Ivo and others (again almost exclusively 1950s/60s). This was the heyday of the line and the era we're pledged to recreate - so the station, signal box and rolling stock need to be strictly in those liveries with no exceptions. Anything else will feel wrong and will sharply remind the visitor that they are at a 'heritage' or preserved site.

With a homogenous feel to the line hopefully whole new generations of fans will grow up seeing the new S&D as a real railway rather than a big train set! How many 'heritage' lines are nothing more than a heterogenous collection of visible egos, locos and wagons and coaches painted in whatever colour the owner or owning groups fancies? It's not good business and it's not right for what we're doing. All the owners we've advised the livery policy to have agreed 100% - they just want to see the S&D running again. It's gained us a lot of kudos in the heritage movement.

The S&D isn't like other 'heritage' or private lines, but a unique attempt to bring a WORKING steam railway back to Somerset and Dorset, a line that is steam because that's the most economic way to run a line and that does proper justice to the incredible 'heritage' of what the S&D is for most people - a classic English cross-country line of the 50s and 60s.

For Prussian blue and other colours that really do not do anything for most people, or are justified by their historic connontations only, then other sites such as Washford, who are not trying to recreate the S&D, exist to keep them happy.

And remember, 'Somerset and Dorset' was used right up to BR days to advertise/brand the route. It will always be the 1950s and 60s (for Shillingstone) look where stretches of the line are being restored. We've always been honest in our aims to rebuild the route
1950s style, as well as to provide a genuine transport link in this beautiful part of Wessex.

The Sentinel is going to look fantastic in black with a BR number, and the real test is to ask those who remember the Sentinels working what they'd prefer. And they've to a man said 'BR black'!

The S&D was an extraordinary line with a huge degree of support and love from the public. We owe it to them to recreate it as closely as we can to how they remember it, and to all those thousands of enthusiasts and countryside lovers who only knew it through the work of Ivo Peters, David Cross and others.

round up

Telegraph 30 included a donation form for the Reopening Fund - the response has been excellent after just two days, and thanks to everyone who's already contributed. You can of course donate via the sidebar on this site!

We've had a few comments about the 'LMS' brake van - rest assured that this will be repainted with BR(M) lettering very shortly! There are also plans to repaint No10 in two-tone green and the Sentinel will now be turned out in BR black rather than Prussian blue. This is all part of our intention to recreate the S&D as closely as possible to 1950s condition throughout - stations, locos and rolling stock.

We have THREE volunteers joining the catering team this Saturday - why not come along and make them feel at home? With luck this fresh blood should enable us to open every Sunday from the end of September.

Remember we are taking part in the Heritage Open Weekend this coming weekend so the station should be pretty lively and the weather forecast is good!

paint frenzy

Two of the wagons getting the paint spray treatment this afternoon.



Dave and Glyn getting ready to spray.



Another recent paint job. The 'LMS' is a temporary addition! This is the new mess van for the volunteers and will be used further up the line as it extends.



Even the catering coach has received a first coat of cream on the roof. The coach will be finished in Southern Region green.

Sprucing up the Sentinel!

Midsomer Norton South 15/05/06

The Sentinel is now resplendent in (very expensive!) undercoat. The former Croydon Gasworks loco 101 'Joyce' is very similar to the Sentinels which worked at Radstock. She is owned by a syndicate and should be fully restored to working order by 2008. For the first year she'll be turned out in Prussian Blue, but will then be repainted in BR black to match the 1950s styling and liveries of the station area.