Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust

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	New arrival at Midsomer Norton - it's a DMU! (Nov 2011) The much-talked about arrival at Midsomer Norton is now here. The long-term loan, two-car Class 108 Diesel Multiple Unit arrived on two low-loader road hauage lorries (Heanor Haulage) last night, Thursday November 17th at around 9pm. Ex-Network SouthEast set L231, consisting of vehicles 51909 and 54271, come from their previous restoration and storage home at Long Marston in Warwickshire. The DMU, on loan to the railway at Midsomer Norton, belongs to an owner group, who will restore and maintain the it during its stay, with some minor remedial attention being required before it is ready to run, hoped to be soon. The arrival will give the railway something rather more tangible with which to run public services, as the railway expands, extends and looks to attract more travelling public. While not strictly S&D period regulars, some DMUs did travel on the line, mainly around the time of closure on enthusiast specials. Here is a link showing the unit at Long Marston last year. Click on the photo, left to see a larger version.
	New semaphore signals added (Oct 2011) On Sunday October 30th, the first of two new signals were added to the station approaches layout at Midsomer Norton, when the Down Advance Starter (seen left) was installed next to the wall on the Down side of the line (left hand side, looking towards Chilcompton) on the bend where the main line leaves the station. This signal, fabricated by the S&T team, being on a bend, has a short overhanging gantry so the signal can be seen around the bend. The base was the only part of the main structure not built new, and this was unearthed at Binegar and donated recently to the railway. The second signal to be 'planted' on November 13th, was the Up Inner Home signal, opposite the new Down signal, and this protects the approaches to the station from the Chilcompton direction, with the addition of a sighting board. The Up signal now has to be bedded in and other equipment and moving parts added and connections made to the signalbox. Click on the images to see larger versions.
	Change of Trust Chairman (Oct 2011) At the Board meeting on October 8th, John Buck was appointed Chairman of the Trust. John succeeds John Baxter, who is taking a well-earned rest after 13 years in the post, but has accepted the Vice-Chairman position and will focus on the heritage side of the project. John (Buck) is a retired teacher from south-west London and has been a Trustee since 2009 and Vice-Chairman since 2010. He brings valuable experience of heritage railways from the Lynton & Barnstaple and has helped us greatly with fund-raising. We’ll provide a longer profile of John in the next issue of The S&D Telegraph.
	New arrivals (Oct 2011) On Tuesday October 4th, two four-wheel box vans arrived at Midsomer Norton from the MOD site at Long Marston. More accommodation at Midsomer Norton for equipment, among other things, is the aim of this move, and the two ex-RNAD (Royal Navy Armaments Depot) wooden-bodied vans in light grey livery have been re-roofed (in non-standard but sturdy corrugated material) and are in good condition. This movement, undertaken by Heanor Haulage of Derbyshire, is likely to be just one of a few changes in stock at Midsomer Norton over the coming months, which should include removal of the now-redundant sleeper coach in favour of something more useful. Watch this space for more news. Click the image to see a larger version.
	HRA magazine award (Sept 2011) The Heritage Railway Association award for the Most Improved Magazine, recently won by the Trust for its S&D Telegraph magzine, was presented on Saturday night, September 23rd. In attendance at the HRA's annual dinner and accepting the award (for 2010), was Trust Chairman John Baxter and Editor Julian Jefferson - pictured left. One hundred or so attendees at the dinner saw Trust representatives collect the magzine award, in a competition not run for around six years, which has been previously won by near neighbours the Avon Valley Railway at Bitton. The Avon Valley railway were once again rewarded - this time in the over 500 (circulation) category, best magazine. Paying tribute to the editorial team, including Peter Russell who couldn't be present, Chairman John Baxter acknowledged the leap in quality of our magazine since its reincarnation in 2005. The editorial team has stated its intention to relieve the Avon Valley Railway of its 'over 500' award next time the competition is run!
	Company share certificates (Aug 2011) For individuals purchasing shares in the S&DJR Company and awaiting arrival of certificates, please be advised that these will be available soon. The certificate, which has been designed by Julian Jefferson, Webmaster and Telegraph Editor, draws on inspiration from old railway share certificates and styles and has been made to look something like those of the period of great railway expansion in the 1800s and 1900s. Printed on a stiff parchment buff paper, the printing uses a dark blue hinting at the original S&DJR's Prussian blue, with small period and modern day Somerset & Dorset cameo images in an engraved style in each corner of the ornamented border. For more details about shares, please email the Webmaster (see email link, left) and your message will be forwarded to the Company secretary. Click the certificate image to view a larger sample.
	Calling all S&D firemen (June 2011) After an informal gathering of ex-S&D firemen over the Heritage Open Days weekend on September 10th, those present wished to make this happen again next year, but hopefully with more ex-firemen present. They wish to get in touch with any whom they have lost touch with. If you are one of those, or know one who would like to get in touch and join the next reunion, please contact the Webmaster (see email link on the home page).
	New rail delivery to speed progress (June 2011) More rail has been delivered to the railway site at Midsomer Norton following purchase from Network Rail at Westbury in Wiltshire. Surplus rail from Westbury, which was previously continuously welded and cut into 60ft lengths for tansportation, was delivered by low-loader on Friday 5th August and comprises 20 x c60ft lengths. The rail is now sitting on the Sturgeon bogie bolster wagon in the new engineer's sidings at Midsomer Norton awaiting use. Click on the thumbnail images (by Peter Russell) on the left to see larger photos. Thanks to all who helped in the obtaining and delivery of the latest rail stock.
	New items on the sales page (May 2011) We have some new stock on the website's sales page and available from the station shop. Recently commissioned is the latest mug, shown left, which carries a photo of the Jinty at Midsomer Norton in 2005, priced at £5.99. The 2012 Ivo Peters calendar of black and white period photos is available priced at £4.95. We have The East Somerset and Cheddar Valley Railways, 'The Strawberry Line' book, reviewed in issue 37 of The S&D Telegraph. There is the Marsden Rail DVD: Over The Somerset & Dorset - Bristol to Bournemouth. Also available are reductions of older back issues of The S&D Telegraph, Royal Mail Great British Railways stamp sets and previous year's Ivo peters calendars. Sales page.
	Engineer's siding almost complete (May 2011) The new engineer's siding at Midsomer Norton is almost complete. The first piece of track on site to deviate from the original S&D trackbed is the 100-or-so metres of siding next to the Down line, extending from its bufferstop, on the south side of the original platelayer's hut, southwards to its pointwork with the main Down line. On May 29th the first loco movement in the sidings took place and is seen left, with D1120 shunting the Dogfish hopper wagon of spoil into the siding for dumping on this new trackbed to aid stability and track levelling. The new siding will enable the railway to store rolling stock away from the station area and free the platforms up for running and also will be used for engineer's trains. The current extent of public train running for brakevan rides on the main line, is just short of the point slightly behind the loco and wagon in the picture. Click the photo to see a larger version.
	BANES Chair opens station greenhouse (May 2011) The iconic greenhouse standing next to the signalbox on the Up platform of Midsomer Norton Station was offically opened on May 8th. Bath and Northeast Somerset Council Chair, Sarah Bevan cut the ribbon on the door of the rebuilt greenhouse, one of the structures that made Midsomer Norton so recognisable in countless period railway photographs. Lovingly and accurately rebuilt, the brick shell and chimney breast had the timber frames added last year and has recently been glazed with polycarbonate sheet to deter accidental and vandal damage. The interior has been fitted with timber shelving and is now home to flowers, fruit and vegetables, some of which will eventually find its way into the station's flowerbed displays and hanging baskets. The opening was held on the day of the railway's volunteer recruitment day, organised to attract new members and working volunteers to the project. Click on the photos to see larger versions.
	Train rides and events schedule 2011 (Mar 2011) The times and dates schedule for train rides and events for 2011 are now available and can be viewed and/or downloaded by clicking on the image, left. Train rides are available on most weekends until the second weekend of October. This information can also be found on the Opening and Events page.
	Track appeal (Mar 2011) The track appeal launched last year continues to grow. So far £8950 has been given. Please ensure you have completed a Gift Aid form with the Trust if you are donating, so we may claim back the tax. If you haven't yet donated, but have been thinking of doing so, we urge you to please join the generous numbers that have and help swell the fund - the more we get, the better progress we can make. Donations can be made by direct transfer into the Trust, account details as follows: Sort Code 40-09-19, account No.: 22320347. Please ask your bank to quote your name and the reference: TRACK to ensure the donation is goes into the Trust's track account. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all those who have so far sent money.
	Five Arches S&D path construction starts (Feb 2011) Work has commenced on converting the S&D trackbed to a shared path between Five Arches viaduct, where the Norton-Radstock Greenway passes on the ex-GWR line, and Silver Street, Midsomer Norton. The recreational path will be created on one side of the S&D trackbed, to allow space if the Trust manages to extend the railway towards Radstock in the future. This construction will mean creating a descent from the raised trackbed down the bank to Silver Street opposite the station, and also the crossing of one minor and one main road and then traversing the Five Arches viaduct to link to the present Greenway. Five Arches website
	Two Tunnels Path work starts (Dec 2010) The Linear Park in Bath is about to be dug up and relaid to a ‘proper’ surface. Construction company Hydrock, which has in the past worked locally on stabilising the Bath Stone Mines (directly above Combe Down Tunnel in places), is using medium sized rubber tracked diggers to excavate the current path’s surface on the old S&D trackbed, to lay a membrane and then a proper surface on top. Currently the Linear Park path’s surface is quite rough and muddy in places needs to be brought up to standard. Where original S&D rail bridges were removed after the line's closure, these gaps where the current path drops to road level, will be re-bridged to pedestrian and cycleway standard. For more information, visit the Two Tunnels website and see also the blog page for latest news.
	New items available from the shop (Dec 2010) Now available from the S&D shop and through the sales page of the website are the new S&D at Midsomer Norton mug - pictured here - and the Great British Railways stamps gift set. The stamps set, as reported previously, feature one from the S&D at Midsomer Norton station where a 9F locomotive was photographed by the late Ivo Peters.
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