To me Midford was always the most iconic point on the S&D, with the viaduct and the line on a ledge on the hillside. The opening scene in 'The Titfield Thunderbolt' captures this perfectly, as do many of the photos of the line.
There were earlier attempts to restore the line near Midford, first as a narrow gauge private line (The Tuckingmill Tramway) and later in the 90s as a standard gauge line running from Midford station to Tuckingmill viaduct. The latter failed due to access problems, also because the preservation group were seen as outsiders. The platform was resurfaced and ballast laid. Trains will return to Midford eventually, but only as part of a much longer route, coming up from Radstock and Shepton to the south, and providing a proper commuter link into Bath, as well as a huge tourist and community resource.
In the meantime the line has been nicely restored as a cycleway, the viaduct has been reopened giving excellent views across the valley and work has begun on the stretch north of Midford towards Tuckingmill.
The S&D continues to burst into life all along the route, its integrity and right-of-way is being restored, and these new uses will bring ever more people to the S&D, adding to the clamour for its return, sooner rather than later. Once the line is relaid through the Midford valley the cycleway will hopefully continue to share the route, providing an easy and level journey through some of the finest countryside in southern England and allowing interchange between cycles and trains at the stations along the line.
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