... to our first meeting in over a year! Please check out the facebook page for more information. Let's make this a really good one!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
not long now ...
... to our first meeting in over a year! Please check out the facebook page for more information. Let's make this a really good one!
Sunday, August 07, 2011
remember 1972?
This is an interesting shot just acquired by the Rail Thing. It shows loco 210479 at Radstock back in 1972.
This is the first copyright picture I've acquired of any of the previous preservation attempts on our line. The Somerset and Dorset Circle had an excellent plan to restore the Radstock to Writhlington section of the S&D main line in the seveties, but it was killed off by a very shortsighted council. Imagine if the Mining Museum at Radstock could offer a steam trip up to Writhington with more mining exhibits there! Imagine the extra jobs and money it would bring to the community. Perhaps a revival of this scheme could be a next step for the New S&D? It would give us a working length of railway with a purpose and fill in one more gap on the strategic Radstock to Bath route. And bring all those jobs and money into Radstock ....
Friday, August 05, 2011
superb site!
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
unsingling
(All pics Honeybourne 27.7.2011 copyright Tim, courtesy Brian Clarke)
Three shots taken a few days ago (27 July) showing the engineering work taking place on the Oxford-Worcester line, returning the stretch through Honeybourne to double track.
Insanely part of this route was singled in the 70s, like a few other stretches (the Salisbury-Exeter route being the most notorious). This immediately reduced capacity and caused built in delays - one might almost think that this was closure by stealth. The 70s were a VERY strange decade. Rail was of course finished, in its death throes, and cheap petrol coupled with a huge expansion of the road netwoirk, using a fuel source that would NEVER run out was the future. How things have changed!
Roads are no longer built, a million people have given up their cars in the last year in the UK, apparently because of 'expensive' fuel (do they have any idea what lies ahead LOL??) and new railways are bring built everywhere.
I just wish the 90% of the population that don't yet use the trains would actually realise this!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
midford - looking great!!
(Midford 31.7.2011 all pics copyright Stuart Seale)
Midford is looking fantastic! The Midford Team are real heroes of the S&D and have done so much in less than a year. The whole site is now ready for the next step - rebuilding the buildings etc.
This is Stuart Seale's report for today.
We have now finished clearing the platform (see attached pics), hopefully some regular sweeping will be all that is required to maintain it. It is remarkable how much wider it feels to walk along, and it will make it much easier to access overhanging vegetation.
We still have some digging out work to do behind the station foundations, hopefully we will be able to salvage some of the rubble and brickwork for construction of the oil store. Much of the retaining wall is in pretty bad shape in places and could really do with re-pointing, we will try and remove any trees etc. growing out of the brickwork in due course, but if we have any budding masons it'd be an easier job than re-errecting a fallen wall.
Friday, July 29, 2011
bournemouth meeting facebook page ... and two more meetings
I've just set up a Facebook page for the Bournemouth meeting which is now only three weeks away! There hasn't been a New S&D meeting for a while as there were more immediate things to get done, but there are now three pencilled in for 2011. After the Bournemouth meeting we'll be holding one at my house in south Bristol, always legendary as our extensive wine stock is available free of charge, plus food etc! This will give a chance for members at the northern end of the line, plus the Midford workers, to get to know each other and hopefully knock out a progress plan for Midford - and perhaps a nothern Somerset end location in the not too distant future. Then there will be our AGM in November, in Templecombe, nice and central on the route and available to access by rail. All meetings will get Facebook groups as we get closer but for now only the Bournemouth meeting has one, which can be accessed by clicking here.
take a look ...
(Photo copyright Tulki Jenkins)
This is a fantastic shot of Midford from the air, taken back in March. It shows very clearly just how much clearance has taken place at the site. It also gives a good idea of the lushness of the countryside we will be running through. It also gives a very good idea of just how easy it will be to physically put the line back in. That day is getting closer and closer!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
a glimpse into the future ...
This is Chris Warren's report -
Great shout again on the blog. Well, the meeting was an outstanding success! 138 people attended, a straw poll was conducted, 'who would support and use Saltford Station?' Only THREE against! We had a lively discussion and amazingly we had cross party support for the Station from Francine Haeberling, Tim Warren and Matthew Blankeley(CONS) and Roger Symonds who is the Lib Dem cabinet member with the transport brief. All these are BaNES councillors. We have a PRO RAIL local authority!!
Was very funny watching the former Chair of BaNES and Saltford councillor Francine squirm in her seat after I had handed her a flyer last week and she almost snatched it out of my hand and was very dismissive about the station, to suddenly have a 180 degree turn around in front of 130 or so of her constituents and say she was in full support!! She must be very upset that her pet project BRT along the Midland trackbed has been scrapped and here is a viable, low carbon transport proposal coming from her own back yard! Politicians eh?
Anyway, looking good for any S&D expansion.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
saltford TONIGHT!
Saltford Station Campaign.
JUST A REMINDER OF THE MEETING IN SALTFORD TONIGHT - IF YOU ARE FREE PLEASE TRY TO GET ALONG!
Saltford Environment Group was formed about four months ago by a group of like minded residents to raise awareness of a nationwide initiative called 'Transition Towns' which aims to prepare communities for a 'post oil' world. With fossil fuels becoming more scarce and prices rocketing, many experts feel we have reached 'Peak Oil' and need to adapt quickly in order to reduce the shock of a post oil economy.
In the last six months the government announced it is going to electrify Brunel's Great Western Mainline from London Paddington through to Cardiff. This will be a massive infrastructure project, and will eventually see electric trains running through Bath, Keynsham and Saltford.
This is an opportunity that is too good to miss for Saltford. Electric trains mean faster acceleration and deceleration which means quicker timings and gaps in the timetable for re opened stations. We as a group felt the time was right to start a campaign to get our station back. Indeed, Paul Crossley, the new leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, has already mentioned Saltford as one of the stations he'd like to see re opened! I have spoken to Roger Symonds who is a cabinet member with the transport brief and he is very keen also.
With the ever increasing cost of private motoring, a re opened station gives the residents of Saltford a vital and environmentally friendly transport asset that will 'future proof' the village. Many residents commute to Bath, Bristol, London and beyond. Saltford has quite a large student population who attend universities all over the country, Portsmouth, Birmingham etc.. Many people visit the village, a railway station will give people the option to visit without using the car.
We see the station as a small community facility. Not a vast 'Park and ride' set up. Many people will be able to access the station on foot as there is a comprehensive network of footpaths that the victorians put in place when the station was opened in 1841. It could open up the station site and turn it into a small business park or other village amenity.
It is with all this in mind we would like to give notice of a public meeting at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 26th July at Saltford Hall to discuss the possibility of a re opened station and to invite residents of Saltford along to express their support. Roger Symonds will be there as will members of Saltford Parish Council.
There will be a question and answer session too. [T]here will be available soon a 'Saltford' mug, bearing the original British Railways Western Region chocolate and cream Totem, which will be sold to raise funds for the campaign
Thursday, July 21, 2011
midsomer norton station demolished!!!
Who'd have thought it? Midsomer Norton station in the act of being demolished ...
Don't worry, this isn't the iconic S&D station but Midsomer Norton's other station which was on the Bristol to Frome line. This vandalism took place in 1970.
But this COULD have happened at the S&D station if Nick Howes and Shirley Steel hadn't saved the site for heritage use at the start of the 1990s. We owe them a huge amount of respect for having the foresight and energy to fight for the site, against seemingly impossible odds. It was this turning point for the S&D which partly inspired the New S&D.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
S&D booklist
Nick Howes has produced the following booklist of all books published with the S&D as the main or incidental subject. This is a work in progress and any other titles can be added to this list. Please email details to leysiner@aol.com
| 53808 a somerset and |
| a souvenir of evening star |
| all about midsomer norton |
| bath to |
| bath to evercreech |
| bournemouth to evercreech |
| branch lines of somerset |
| |
| |
| british railway centres no 3 - bath green park |
| burnham to evercreech |
| colour of steam - somerset and |
| district controllers view 4 bath to bournemouth in the 1950s |
| district controllers view 5 - somerset and |
| donald beales somerset and |
| double headed more tales from the footplate |
| down memory lane |
| golden age of steam - locomotives of the great western and somerset and |
| gw pryer somerset and |
| heart of the somerset and |
| heyday of the somerset and |
| highbridge in its heyday |
| historical survey of the somerset and |
| history of the somerset and |
| images of |
| ivo peters classic steam |
| jinty |
| last days of steam in |
| last years of the somerset and |
| legend of the somerset and |
| life of a steam railway photographer alan newman maggs |
| life on the railway |
| life on the somerset and |
| lines on an s&d branch |
| |
| lost railways of somerset |
| mangotsfield to bath branch |
| mangotsfield to bath branch |
| maritime activities of the somerset and |
| mendips engineman |
| midland railway system maps 4 |
| on somerset and |
| organised chaos |
| picture history of the somerset and |
| ra cooke somerset and |
| radstock coal and steam 1 |
| radstock coal and steam 2 |
| railways into wells |
| railways of |
| railways of |
| reminisces of the somerset and |
| right away with the pines |
| s&d booklist |
| s&d memories |
| sabotaged and defeated |
| sabotaged and defeated revisted |
| somerset - british railways past and present |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset and |
| somerset railway stations |
| somerset railways |
| somerset railways |
| somerset railways - |
| somerset steam |
| somewhere along the line - 50 years love of trains |
| southbound with the pines |
| southern way special issue 4 - southern colour to the west, dorset somerset devon and |
| spirit of the somerset and |
| splendour of the somerset and |
| steam - tales from the footplate |
| steam around bath |
| steam in somerset |
| steam on the somerset and |
| stories of the somerset and |
| tales of somerset steam |
| wiltshire and somerset - a railway landscape |
| working somerset and |
| working timetables of the somerset and |
| working timetables of the somerset and |
happy 137th!
Midsomer Norton South
Midford
Happy 137th birthday to the Bath Extension, which opened on this day in 1874. This section of line now has one restored station running trains (Midsomer Norton South), one restored privately (Masbury) and one cleared and ready to start rebuilding (Midford). That'll be the Ms done!
This stretch of the line was probably the finest section of railway in England and certainly the most missed. With its fantastic scenery and huge variety of trains it was really the jewel in the crown of the heritage movement - but seemed to be missed first time round!
The glory days of the Bath Extension are really ahead of us. As more and more of this stretch of line reopens the reality of its return will become clear to everybody. Towns and villages along the route will once again have a modern transport system on their doorstep, linking them to the outside world once again and protecting them from the worst effects of Peak Oil. And the heritage movement, particularly locomotive owners, will have available the finest line on which to fully show off their magnificent machines.
The S&D community should stop 'celebrating' closures, and start celebrating openings and reopenings - there are going to be very many ahead of us. The tables really have turned and the S&D is very clearly on its way back after 45 years of that ridiculous and now obviously temporary closure.
Monday, July 18, 2011
cole
Just added to the Rail Thing archive is this evocative late 60s shot of Cole station. This station now has new houses in the area which will need to be purchased by the New S&D and demolished. The short sighted scandal of putting houses etc on essential trackbeds will become a major talking point in future years. Ironically the very act of publicising the opening of new railways on old trackbeds will suppress the prices of houses and buildings in this strange situation, making them cheaper to buy, a virtuous circle if ever there was one! I suspect that many buildings now on trackbeds are already seeing the first signs of this blight, whilst houses built NEAR trackbeds (especially where new stations are to be built) will be seeing rising prices.
memories - let's 'ave 'em!
(Photo copyright Rail Thing)
Don't forget that the New S&D does have an excellent website and content is ALWAYS required. One of the sections covers all the S&D stations and as well as historical, current and future information we also have a section on 'memories' which is gradually filling up. Latest is for Henstridge, this from Tony Wiles.
I love the picture. My brother and sister used to spend our summer holidays with our grandparents in Henstridge, they lived in Vale View and we could see part of the line from there. My brother and I were keen train spotters and the then Station Master Mr Wareham, who was a friend of my grandfathers who himself was once a train driver, would often allow us to stand on the platform. I remember how every day we would arrive in time to watch the Pines Express roar through. The station use to vibrate as it did so. We would also travel to Templecombe and spend all day on the platform noting steam train numbers.
Recently on a visit I walked around the area where the station used to be and really wished it could have still been there. Also went to Templecombe which although still open looked so small.
So if you do have memories and/or pictures of any S&D station please allow us to share them. Even after closure memories are more than welcome as it will all form part of the historic record of this amazing line. Simply email any info and pictures to leysiner@aol.com All info and pictures will of course be fully acknowledged.
The photo is from the Rail Thing archive collection which is gradually building up a full record of Britain's railways.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
scaremongering - let's consign it to the dustbin
(What's really happening - 70 005 at Bristol Parson Street 21.6.2011 copyright Steve Sainsbury)
This month's Railfuture Rail User Express carries a feature on the Ayr-Stranraer line. It mentions that Stena is switching its ferry service from Stranraer to Cairnryan soon and, to quote -
When one considers that the Stranraer line provides the only rail link with the other part of the UK Scotland has a direct connection with – Northern Ireland – it seems strange in this era of climate change that the Scottish Government is overseeing the continual run down of the Stranraer line. It may now only be a matter of time before the railway to Stranraer is closed. The Stockton Haulage Yard has been taken out of use and the Stranraer Town Yard offered for sale.
(see highlighted)
What utter rubbish! No railway is ever going to close again in the UK, or anywhere else for that matter, and this is plain, ignorant scaremongering. If anything not only will this existing route flourish but the line to Cairnryan will eventually reopen (it was a military route) and also the far more important Stranraer to Dumfries line, amazingly closed in 1965 even though it was the direct route to Stranraer.
Note that the quote only mentions Climate Change and totally ignores Peak Oil! Are the Scots really that far behind? I don't think so.
Rail closures were a 50s, 60s and 70s thing. That was FORTY years ago. Since then lines have reopened (particularly in Scotland!) as have hundreds of stations. It is idiotic to talk of closure - whilst the shipping route across to Larne will almost certainly survive Peak Oil the roads definitely won't, so the ONLY way to get to Stranraer will be by rail.
Rail supporters' groups should NEVER employ this tactic. It is forty years out of date and only serves to set up a feeling of hopelessness which will hardly bring activists in. And not to mention Peak Oil is unbelievable in 2011.
I look forward to travelling to Stranraer and Cairnryan by train in 2031 and afterwards I'll travel up to Ayr and Glasgow to travel on Glasgow's high speed trams!
Rail
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
hard figures
(Bristol Parson Street 21.6.2011 - copyright Steve Sainsbury)
I was googling 'reduced traffic levels fuel prices' but soon reached this which is a useful chart of energy efficiencies. Some of the text also underlines what we've been saying for years!
Transport - source
At the end of 2002, the UK government admitted that its target reduction of 6% in road congestion by 2010 would not be met. The increase in road use was explained by the growth in the economy. The number of new car registrations peaked in 2003 falling by 7% by the end of 2007. The number of commercial vehicle registrations, remained virtually at the same level from 2004 to the end of 2007. Bus and coach registrations peaked in 2006, falling 6% by the end of 2007, bringing the total vehicles on UK roads to around 31 million cars and 4¼ million commercial vehicles.
To control congestion local authorities have been granted powers to apply various charging schemes to limit traffic in cities and in London a successful scheme was introduced. Perhaps if the fuel escalator tax had not been abandoned in 2000, but had been increasingly applied, sales in cars might have fallen and congestion restricted by higher costs. Indeed, the escalator could have been ramped up until it had a demonstrable effect on congestion. However, it has been suggested that it would take an increase of 5 times in fuel prices to make a noticeable effect on road use. The fall in new car registrations over the 5 years to 2008 was probably due to lack of road space more than high fuel prices.
But air traffic has increased and the skies are also congested, while the railways struggle to cope with more passengers than their carrying capacity. Two of the three principle forms of transport currently rely on oil-based fuels, the amount of which is finite. By consuming fuel at an ever increasing rate, the time when the roads and skies will empty is brought forward. Congestion will be exacerbated by increases in road and runway capacity, but will eventually be relieved when the fuel sustaining it runs out. Paradoxically the very increase in demand encouraged by road and runway building will bring forward the final turn-down, leaving empty motorways and abandoned airfields. The exception to this is the railways which could eventually be powered by sustainable wind and tidal power.
Comparison of surface transport motive energy efficiencies
Before considering various forms of transport, it is useful to estimate the relative efficiencies of those operating on the surface, i.e., roads and railways (including trams).
| Method | <><>Overall % |
| Renewable electricity -> Transmission 90% -> Electric traction 85% (Rail and tram) | <><>76 |
| Diesel -> 46% ->Electricity 90% ->Electric traction 82% + 21% (Diesel-electric-battery train) * | <><>55 |
| Diesel engines; Average 46% (Road and train) | 46 |
| Diesel -> 46% -> Electricity 90% -> Electric traction 82% (Diesel-electric train) | 34 |
| Petrol engines 30-38%; Average 34% (Road) | <><>34 |
| Fossil fuels -> Electricity 40% -> Transmission 90% -> Electric traction 85% (Rail and tram) | <><>30 |
| Renewable electricity -> H2 44% -> Fuel cell 40% -> Electric traction 85% (Road) | <><>15 |
| Fossil fuels -> Electricity 40% -> Transmission 90% -> H2 44% -> Fuel cell 40% -> Electric traction 85% (Train) | 5 |
* Hitachi diesel-electric multiple unit with battery storage enabling regeneration
From the above rough estimated stage efficiencies, it is evident that rail and tram make the best use of renewable sources of electricity, whereas the use of hydrogen as a "mobile" fuel able to be carried on a vehicle is the least efficient. It is also evident that renewable electricity offers 2½ times more useful work energy that the primary energy used for fossil fuel electricity generation.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
gartell event
The Gartell Railway has their big Steam and Vintage show at the end of the month. This is the Facebook page.
Monday, July 11, 2011
the rail revival message spreads
This is a press release issued today from the group that plans to reopen SALTFORD station - please try to attend!
Saltford Station Campaign.
Saltford Environment Group was formed about four months ago by a group of like minded residents to raise awareness of a nationwide initiative called 'Transition Towns' which aims to prepare communities for a 'post oil' world. With fossil fuels becoming more scarce and prices rocketing, many experts feel we have reached 'Peak Oil' and need to adapt quickly in order to reduce the shock of a post oil economy.
In the last six months the government announced it is going to electrify Brunel's Great Western Mainline from London Paddington through to Cardiff. This will be a massive infrastructure project, and will eventually see electric trains running through Bath, Keynsham and Saltford.
This is an opportunity that is too good to miss for Saltford. Electric trains mean faster acceleration and deceleration which means quicker timings and gaps in the timetable for re opened stations. We as a group felt the time was right to start a campaign to get our station back. Indeed, Paul Crossley, the new leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, has already mentioned Saltford as one of the stations he'd like to see re opened! I have spoken to Roger Symonds who is a cabinet member with the transport brief and he is very keen also.
With the ever increasing cost of private motoring, a re opened station gives the residents of Saltford a vital and environmentally friendly transport asset that will 'future proof' the village. Many residents commute to Bath, Bristol, London and beyond. Saltford has quite a large student population who attend universities all over the country, Portsmouth, Birmingham etc.. Many people visit the village, a railway station will give people the option to visit without using the car.
We see the station as a small community facility. Not a vast 'Park and ride' set up. Many people will be able to access the station on foot as there is a comprehensive network of footpaths that the victorians put in place when the station was opened in 1841. It could open up the station site and turn it into a small business park or other village amenity.
It is with all this in mind we would like to give notice of a public meeting at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 26th July at Saltford Hall to discuss the possibility of a re opened station and to invite residents of Saltford along to express their support. Roger Symonds will be there as will members of Saltford Parish Council.
There will be a question and answer session too. [T]here will be available soon a 'Saltford' mug, bearing the original British Railways Western Region chocolate and cream Totem, which will be sold to raise funds for the campaign.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
midford today
All photos copyright Tom Seale.
Midford is looking FANTASTIC. We should soon be on stage two which is putting the buildings etc back.
Tom Seale's report for today.
As the weather significantly improved we decided to head down to Midford again today, this time to clear more of the platform.
We made far more progress than I'd anticipated, only a small portion of the platform now remains to be cleared. The tarmac and guttering were again in remarkably good condition despite having been buried. We've also uncovered the base and foundations of the oil store. The concrete base has unfortunately succumed to time and is in need of replacement; however with the foundations unearthed I can start taking some measurements for planning drawings. Should need only one more visit to finish clearing the platform, then its on to moving that pile of rubble off the parcels office.
REMEMBER - all members are welcome to help out in the restoration of Midford!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)