spreading our web

(Pic Radstock North Station)

As we establish ourselves at Midsomer Norton it's important that we remember that our remit covers the whole route and that eventually the rails will reach parts that are currently in deep sleep - north of Radstock, south of Shepton, the branches. To this end it would be nice if several branch groups spring up along the route, formed locally but all part of the Trust. These groups could hold local meetings, send working parties to Midsomer Norton, build their own archives and, most importantly, establish physical presences at other locations - with retored buildings, rolling stock, retail outlets and even locomotives. As the groups build and more and more trackbed comes into the hands of the Trust we can look at establishing longer sections of restored route. But most importantly an expanding Trust will let people currently isolated from the activity at Midsomer Norton feel they can also play a very important role in the rebuilding of England's finest line, for both tourist and 'real' trains. We must remember that the S&D spread from Bath to Bournemouth, and over to Wimborne, Wells, Bridgwater and Burnham and that our job isn't over until the rails reach all those points!