Somerset and Dorset Delight

 

It's always a pleasure getting the excellent S&D Telegraph, the house magazine of the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust down in Midsomer Norton. It's a high quality magazine but the best thing about it is the content, which is superb. This current issue (number 62) contains articles on a walk along the whole route in 1976, the 9F that the group is purchasing for eventual use at Midsomer Norton, general articles on all aspects of the rebuilding and maintaining of the line and reports on volunteers.

The S&D revival, in my opinion, is the most important thing in UK rail preservation. There are stirrings of rebuilding at several points, from Midford in the north down to Spetisbury in the south. Midsomer Norton and Shillingstone are both proceeding with establishing working heritage railways.

I worked many years at Midsomer Norton and saw huge progress from a trackless station to an almost mile long route (including double track!) and a fully rebuilt signalbox and greenhouse. I had to give up due to health issues but I still follow developments closely, mainly through the Telegraph magazine.

So the station is restored, the line plans to extend both north and south and a big locomotive is coming. The group need to break out from the Misdomer Norton South site and start to build a premier league line where big locos like the 9F can really see some proper work.

I'd urge anyone with an interest in the S&D to join the group at Midsomer Norton and help make this happen, whether by volunteering, supporting financially or just spreading the word!

The group can be contacted via their website at www.sdjr.co.uk and emailed at general@sdjr.co.uk

A door opening very slowly ...

(Pic copyright Rail Thing/Steve Sainsbury)

FACEBOOK - RAIL THING - REVERSING BEECHING

Way back in 2009, when the New Somerset and Dorset Railway was formed, we were living in a very different world! Roads still seemed to be in the ascendant, and rail enthusiasm was still considered a tad eccentric.

Things have changed a lot in 8 years! Rail reopenings are gathering pace and some interesting closed lines are coming into the spotlight. One of course is the S&D!

I got an early morning phone call today from Radio Solent who had got the press release from the government re rail reopenings. I was invited to do a piece for the 11.30 am slot, live! I managed to wing it without stuttering or swearing, the net result being that the New S&D got yet more publicity and I managed to name check all five restoration groups along the route. I also managed to name check all the bigger places en route (Blandford, Sturminster Newton, Wincanton, Midsomer Norton and Radstock), all of which will benefit enormously in so many ways when the line returns.

That door is opening very slowly. Real energy crunches are still a way off, but already the rail restoration movement in all its variety is beginning to move into the mainstream. The important thing is to organise LOCALLY, so your line gets a profile. Most Beeching closures should be reversed over the next few decades, but there will be inevitable shortages of cash, materials and manpower as restoration picks up. 

Please do your bit!

(Pic is Ropley on the Mid Hants Railway back in 1976, now totally restored and transformed ...)

Today at Midsomer Norton

The station.

Coal wagon (static exhibit)

The museum

Signalbox and greenhouse

Signalbox

'David Cook'

The line heads south

The station

The line to the right is the start of great things for the future!

FACEBOOK - NEW SOMERSET AND DORSET RAILWAY

Trip down to Midsomer Norton South station today, always a treat!

I was attending one of the twice yearly joint trusts' meeting, to which all S&D revival groups are invited. It's always good to meet up with others who, between them, have done so much to make a revived S&D possible. A great deal of positive stuff was discussed!

After the meeting I had a quick walk around the site - we'd just experienced a Mendip hail and sleet shower so it was freezing - and got some fresh pics of the site. The museum is VERY impressive, it used to be an old workshop/store for the line and is now a real credit. I'd like to have walked the whole length of the relaid line but have an issue with my leg so could only make the end of the platform. Hopefully next time ...

Big Step for the S&D

MIDSOMER NORTON SOUTH

(All 11.9.2016 source)

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FRIENDS OF THE S&D BLOG

Wonderful stuff continues to happen up and down the S&D - but I suspect the arrival of a big engine at Midsomer Norton has to be the best thing yet (since 1966 anyway!) We are now just one step away from a tender engine ... and only a few more to a 9F!

Quite rightly the sun shone on Midsomer Norton today and brought out an even bigger crowd to be part of it all. Remember this all happens again next weekend. I shall be going on the Sunday! I can hardly wait.

S&D 50+

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!

S&D Telegraph 46

CHILCOMPTON

FACEBOOK - FRIENDS OF THE S&D

BLOG - FRIENDS OF THE S&D

Arrived this week - the latest edition of the SDRHT's superb magazine, the S&D Telegraph. As always this is the best magazine from a small heritage outfit in the UK. They outline their plans for the March 2016 commemoration of the closure of the original S&D, which include running trains over the weekend using a hired-in 4MT tank engine and three coaches, representing a typical S&D local service of the 60s. The Sentinel loco may well also be in steam at Midsomer Norton South.

It's worth joining the SDRHT for the magazine alone!

The 08 pays its way at Midsomer Norton

MIDSOMER NORTON

SOUTH

(Both 8.11.2015 from Somerset and Dorset Railway Facebook)

FACEBOOK - FRIENDS OF THE S&D

A couple of fantastic shots from Sunday's ballast spreading operation at Midsomer Norton South. This is as far as I know only the second stretch of double track restored railway in the country - I remember it when it was an overgrown footpath, buried in the woods

phoenix rising

To Midsomer Norton today. The S&D really is coming back, in small bits to start with, but now has an umbrella organisation dedicated to restoring the whole route as part of the 21st century network.

Midsomer Norton is beginning to look like it did in its heyday, despite the obvious compromises that need to be made whilst it remains a 'stand-alone' site on a resurgent S&D.

The site was derelict in the early 1990s, and was expected to become a characterless housing estate, but locals mobilised and saved the site as a tourist initiative. The station building was restored, the trackbed cleared and levelled, track relaid, the signalbox completely restored and now even the famous greenhouse is reappearing brick by brick. And now Midsomer Norton itself has become the inspiration for the much more ambitious New Somerset and Dorset Railway, which is now mobilising resources along the whole route in a stunning initiative to bring modern transport back to this neglected part of Britain.

this is the rail thing

I've been thinking about starting a general rail blog for a long time, mainly to showcase the photos I've built up over the last 39 years!

Many of you will know me from the New Somerset and Dorset Railway, where I'm currently Chair.

Expect an irreverent, iconoclastic and surprising blog that will take you to places you never knew existed, that will challenge both the public's and rail enthusiast's views of themselves and, hopefully, provide a really fun and interesting read!

The journey starts tomorrow!