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!

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

help (of the best kind!) wanted!


A plea for help from Lloyd Daniels.


I am working as a volunteer steward for the Railway Touring Company on their summer Sunday steam trains from Bristol. I have been asked to recruit others to help and whilst I realise that everyone needs their volunteer help at weekends there may just be someone that you know of who is suitable for the task (male or female) and free.

I am circulating the following to people in the area that I know who may have contacts willing to help out.

We are short of stewards on the RTC steam trains to Weymouth this coming Sunday 8th July (ideally need two more) and particularly on Sunday 15th July (when 3-4 more could be taken) when I am away on holiday.

There must surely be someone out there who would like a free steam train trip from Bristol to Weymouth and back in return for modest duties as a volunteer steward bolting/unbolting doors, giving out booklets, seeing passengers find their seats and generally keeping the allocated carriage tidy! Almost five hours to soak up the sun in Weymouth too - it was dry all day on Sunday and sunny for most of it in spite of rain all along the route going there.

I have exhausted my contacts without success and would be grateful if you know of anyone who might like to help to let me know or ask them to get in touch with me either by e-mail or telephone 01594 563960. I shall be out some days distributing publicity for the Par trains.

Thank you in anticipation of your help.
 
Lloyd Daniels
 
meld13brock@btinternet.com

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