Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust

The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust
Midsomer Norton Station,
Silver Street,
Midsomer Norton BA3 2EY
How to find us
(map & directions).

Telephone
01761 411221 (Sundays and Mondays).
Please note, due to limited opening days, phone messages cannot be checked daily, email is the best form of contacting us.

Open Sundays and Mondays for sales & viewing. For special events see Opening & Events page.

New visitors to the website:
Please see the General Information page for an overview of the Trust's work at Midsomer Norton.

Read the webmaster's regularly updated diary notes of what has been happening on and off the scene.

Last updated: 25.04.12

Help raise money with your internet searches
You can help us raise more money for the Trust just by using the link on the Fundraising page or clicking the logo above. Bookmark and use this link every time for all your internet searches and help our fundraising campaign. Start your internet search here.

We need your stamps!
We can recycle and sell your used postage stamps to raise money for the project at Midsomer Norton. Please see the fundraising page for further information.

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Latest news

PLEASE HELP US & DONATE
There are many projects at Midsomer Norton which rely on income and generous gifts. We appreciate your donations and ask if you haven't signed a Gift Aid declaration with us, that you do, so we can claim tax back on your donations. Please us if you require a Gift Aid declaration form.

Quick links
About the S&DRHT
Welcome
How to find us & travel
Station site plan
S&D line map
Opening & events
Merchandise sales
Become a member
Including online purchase & renewals
Make a donation
Links page

Volunteers needed
The railway needs more volunteers, particularly with the continued push forward with new line. Volunteers are needed in all departments, not just for manual work. If you have skills we could use or time you can offer, please see the volunteering section on the membership page and get in touch to find out more.

Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust at Washford on the West Somerset Railway. Event diary dates here.

Website design: Ovals
Webmaster:

Current issue of the S&D Telegraph magazine:
Telegraph 39 front cover

Issue 39, March edition of The S&D Telegraph is available now and features:

• News and background detail on the DMU and Class 08 shunter arrivals
• The next track extension
• Bath Green Park modelled in 00
• Midsomer Norton then and now - ififteen years apart in photos
• All the latest news, views, comment and restoration latest

*Become a member and get two copies of the S&D Telegraph and two newsletters per year FREE.

YouTube videos
Take a look at videos on our YouTube channel, click on the image below to link to our selection.

Latest addition: DMU ride, driver's eye view.
Please submit any videos to the Webmaster for consideration.

	Further track extension approved Proposals for the second extension of the running lines - as far as the Mendip District boundary - were awarded planning permission by Bath & North East Somerset Council on May 15th. As well as reconstruction of the railway, the works include a new lineside path and a habitat management scheme for the lineside tree cover. Work will commence with preparation of a construction plan and repairs to fencing, with a start on regrading the trackbed hopefully by early autumn. The first stage of development should see the Down running line being relaid during the winter, with the Up line being added in the future. This will extend the length of operational line to over 1,000 metres. Plans are to take the line a further 550 metres to a halt and run-round north (MSN side) of Chilcompton Tunnel.Click on the image to see a larger version.
	Take Teddy on the Train - May 26/27th Our next event - firmly aimed at families with kids - is our annual Teddy Bear event. Children accompanied by their bear - and a fare-paying adult - can take a FREE train ride along our line. We're open from 11.00 until 3.30pm both days, and you'll also be able to take a look in our pillbox WWII exhibition, museum, signalbox and browse our gifts and second-hand books and DVDs in the shop. Click on the poster image, left, to view a larger version.
	Train running & events 2012 The railway has now issued its train operating dates, times and fares for 2012 in the form of this black and white printed flyer, available from the station. Also listed are details of station tours and event dates for this year. To get your downloadable version, please go to the Opening & Events page, where you can download or view a jpeg or pdf file of the leaflet.
	S&D Bath link a step closer The Somerset & Dorset's route out of Bath, which has been a linear park and path for many years as far as the infilled Devonshire Tunnel, is now getting two replacement overbridges in its progress as a shared path. Monksdale Road, which was bridged by the S&D now has a new steel bridge for walkers and cyclists, while Dartmouth Avenue, also for many years without a bridge, will soon be similarly treated. The Two Tunnels Project which will take this path eventually from Lower Bristol Road, through Devonshire and Combe Down Tunnels to Tucking Mill, is moving steadily towards reality. In February, lighting tests were conducted within Combe Down Tunnel to decide the eventual lighting scheme for the tunnel sections. Click on the image to see a larger version. For more information go to the Two Tunnels website.
	'Utility' coach arrives On Good Friday, April 6th, another new arrival to swell the coaching stock ranks appeared on site. Mk 1 BG (brake guards) arrived at around midday by low loader and was eased into the station forecourt and then the goods yard, where it was unloaded by diesel No. D1120 using two 'barrier' box vans in between. The latest addition, No. 92939, previously owned by Rampart Engineering in Derby, was collected from its previous location at Barrow Hill roundhouse near Chesterfield. This 'non-runner' 57-foot long coach is lacking brakes and in need of cosmetic improvements, was shunted into the cattle dock line and buffered up to the buffet coach, where it will reside as overspill seating for the buffet coach, also in part acting as a meeting room when required. The coach has been purchased outright by the railway. Click on the thumbnail images, left, to see larger versions.
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