The Greatest Show on Earth!

MIDSOMER NORTON SOUTH

The Jinty arrives (all via Somerset and Dorset Railway Facebook)

Also in steam - the SDRHT's very own Sentinel (via Somerset and Dorset Railway Facebook)

The last Jinty at Midsomer Norton - July 2005 (pic copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

FACEBOOK - FRIENDS OF THE S&D

The S&D just keeps getting better and better. The next two weekends will be celebrations up and down the line of the original (and now quickly being forgotten!) closure. Midsomer Norton will be leading the way with two engines in steam, the Gartell will be operating 2 foot gauge versions of the last trains and the last Pines, Shillingstone will be showing off its two steam locos and Spetisbury has a small display. Let's see how many of you can visit all four sites (with a stop off at Midford as well of course, with big news from there being announced after all this is over!)

I shall be going down to Midsomer Norton on a sunny day (if available) or a gloomy one if not! There's no way I'm missing this. I was there for thr 2005 visit of a Jinty and it was an amazing experience. I seem to only have the one photo of that event though, it was the year before I switched to digital!

Yet another giant step for the S&D

MIDSOMER NORTON SOUTH

Thursday 18th February 2016: 

After many years of hard work, Sentinel 7109 finally leaves the shed under its own steam.
http://sentinel7109.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/rebirth-of-7109.html

Pic copyright Alan Price

The triumphant restoration duo of Andy Chapman and Nigel Dickinson are joined by ex Bath Green Park fireman Geoff Akers after a successful

test run of the Sentinel up the 1:50 bank from Midsomer Norton . 

This restoration is a marvellous achievement. ThisSentinel Steam Loco 7109 is planned to be in steam over the two commemorative weekends. Come along and see it. You will be made very welcome.

Text and pics above both via https://www.facebook.com/somersetanddorsetrailway

Video of the event

FACEBOOK - FRIENDS OF THE S&D

I remember the Sentinel loco arriving at Midsomer Norton many years ago. It's steam, but not as we know it! The boiler sits astride the footplate which makes it the most inconvenient working area I've been in since DJing in Germany with the lighting console - and lighting operator - being between the two decks!

I think I own a share or two in the loco! Whilst I was there working 2 or 3 days a week occasional work would be done on it, amongst a thousand other jobs. But now she's finally in steam and actually running! A huge step forward for the S&D and great to see that such an unusual loco is back in the land of the living.

So Midsomer Norton will be running TWO steam locos over the coming two weekends, I shall wait for a nice sunny day and get down there myself to see a little bit of history in action. Whatever next?

Half hourly Steam on the S&D!

MIDSOMER NORTON SOUTH

FACEBOOK - RAIL THING - ABANDONED BRITISH MAIN LINES

This is great news! Steam is returning to Midsomer Norton South on the weekend of the 50th anniversary of closure and the week before. And they will be running a HALF HOURLY service! 

The locomotive will be Jinty no 47406, and the Sentinel loco no 7109 will also be in steam on the anniversary weekend itself! There will be a vintage bus link from the car parks at Somervale School and the town centre as there is no parking at the station itself.

Deja vu! Jinty at Midsomer Norton in 2005.