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!

Sunday, September 09, 2012

shillingstone/templecombe memories

 
(Copyright Dave Clarke)


It's not all electrification and super modern trains on the New S&D! We also are putting together an archive of the original line. Latest addition (see the website) is the following short piece from Vince Everleigh.

As small children living in Child Oakford we used to board at Shillingstone Station and travel to Templecombe to visit my grand parents . My grand mother worked on the station for many years in the buffet ( Doris Sanger ) and my Uncle Ron was Porter there . Time wise this was maybe 1965? I remember running along the platform and talking to the driver and fireman and then crossing the overhead connecting bridge . Those wonderful smells of smoke and hot oil ...
Happy days indeed.
 

1 comment:

Unknown said...

In response to Steve Sainsbury although I did not live in Child Oakford my aunt and uncle did Bella and Alf Thompkins in Ridge Way Lane. I spent childhood holiday with them travelling by train from Waterloo via Templecombe before alighting at Shillingstone. The journey would involve a long wait for the connection and would be allowed a drink in the station buffet – a bit like 'Brief Encounter' In order to get onto the branch the train seemed to reverse out of the station., that seemed to add to the excitement. Once at Shillingstone to exit that station you would walk over the track, to a child from London that was fascinating, whilst mother was intrigued by the oil lamps still in situ. Once outside the station the next event that exited was exciting to me was the awaiting pre-arranged taxi from the Stone's garage. Names I remember from the village was the  Amerstones, Foote's and Tuffins as well as Moons shop, the bakery, on a Sunday going to buy a newspaper from a house in the village with the honesty box. Doreen Stockton