If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Somerset and Dorset Rebuild

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by lynbarn, May 18, 2016.

  1. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    My eyebrows were raised by the recurring used of capital letter "shouting". This is a sure way of getting ignored by official bodies and the like.

    PH
     
  2. Doh! Seems I missed all the fun. But thanks, Tom :)

    Reading posts #136 and #141 where the toys came flying out of the pram with remarkable speed made up for it, mind. And this is someone who wants to be taken seriously regarding what would be a multi-million £ scheme to rebuild an entire railway? Okaaaaaay.... (backs quickly and quietly away before running like hell in the opposite direction)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 26, 2018
  3. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,121
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Given what it took to return Imberhorne Cutting to railway use, I was amused at the suggestion that all Chilcompton Cutting needs is a JCB. :)
     
  4. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2006
    Messages:
    1,868
    Likes Received:
    1,588
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    White Rose County
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    For anyone with an interest or a yearning for the old S&D, I would recommend the Midsomer Norton scheme (and yes, I am a member and, no, I still haven't visited it yet!). I think this is about as far as we will get and, to be fair, it's not bad. It is, after all, on the real S&D route. https://www.sdjr.co.uk/
    I receive the society's "Telegraph" magazine which is very well produced and covers both past and present aspects of the S&D. Coverage includes the current situation with the S&D's surviving trackbed & structures and basically reinforces that the poster who flounced off after a couple of Mr Angry postings really was a fully paid up member of the torque shy tall knight club.
     
    Martin Perry and CH 19 like this.
  5. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2013
    Messages:
    770
    Likes Received:
    638
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    34091
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    You need a JCB to dig a big hole, so that you can put the infill from Chilcompton in it.
    Surely any idiot knows that's how you do it, Tut! People!
     
  6. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Obviously, that's where the Bluebell went wrong. They over-engineered things.;)
     
    2392, Rosedale, Bluenosejohn and 4 others like this.
  7. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,121
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I had to read that twice before the penny dropped. :)
     
    Kinghambranch likes this.
  8. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,121
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Things have moved on in the 21st Century. You can buy holes on eBay* so no need to dig one.
    *other internet auction sites are available.
     
    Kinghambranch and Daddsie71b like this.
  9. Kingscross

    Kingscross Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2009
    Messages:
    711
    Likes Received:
    484
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South West
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Some investment in the nearby Heart of Wessex line is more of a priority and much less cost than opening long-lost routes. The current level of service (one each way every 2 hours) is better than nothing, but doesn't provide the flexibility to entice folk out of their cars despite Dorset's dreadful roads.

    A new chord at Yeovil to allow direct Dorchester to Exeter services would be easy. Less easy would be a new chord at Dorchester to facilitate direct Bournemouth - Exeter trains, but perhaps a turnback siding South of the junction at Dorchester could be a viable proposition. Or even a new Dorchester station serving both lines at the junction?
     
  10. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,493
    Likes Received:
    23,733
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    But is there a demand for Bournemouth to Exeter travel - or more plausibly, a continuation of services onto the A303/A30 corridor west of Dorchester? After all, it isn't a market that the pre-Grouping companies managed to make work.
     
  11. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2014
    Messages:
    14,318
    Likes Received:
    16,396
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired, best job I've ever had
    Location:
    Buckinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    If you go on eBay asking for a hole in the ground this is what you get

     
    Bluenosejohn, CH 19 and Spamcan81 like this.
  12. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,165
    At one time there were curves in all directions at Yeovil Junction, and the formations seem to be mostly still intact.
     
  13. There is a saying about not knowing your arse from one, which seems strangely appropriate in the context of this thread.
     
  14. Kingscross

    Kingscross Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2009
    Messages:
    711
    Likes Received:
    484
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South West
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    No idea - although the A35/A30 is always busy. I'd use it!

     
  15. MAPLE CHRIS

    MAPLE CHRIS Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2007
    Messages:
    615
    Likes Received:
    146
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    new Somerset and dorset have completely rebuilt Midford station signal box as well trains running soon only joking
     
  16. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2009
    Messages:
    1,732
    Likes Received:
    593
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Project Manager
    Location:
    Wales
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    In all seriousness, if money were no object a light rail system that connected Frome and Radstock (on the old North Somerset line) that then deviated onto the S&D through Wellow, Midford and down into Bath would be most welcome and well* used - it's just never going to happen. Too expensive, both financially and politically

    *feel free to apply your own definitions of well, but as someone who worked at Bath College between the Radstock and Bath campuses that commute is abysmal!
     
  17. The shorthand for which is WIBN. Which is ironically quite close to 'wibble'!
     
    SpudUk likes this.
  18. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I suspect if dedicated services were that much of an issue between separate sites, there'd be an adequate bus link already.

    We had something along those lines here, where a dedicated route linked Brighton Town Hall, Hove Town Hall and the office exclave of King's House. Even with all those bureaucrats (who contro bus subsidies!), the route died of disuse after about five years!

    Our higher education facilities do somewhat better here, all being well served by decent public transport..... mind you, no political party can rely on a majority in the City Council. We had a Green administration for 4 years after Labour pe'ed the electorate off by refusing to listen. We always keep 'em all on their toes. Little Englandshire could learn a trick or two from London-on-Sea!

    [\End of digression]
     
  19. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,430
    Likes Received:
    3,563
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I know its slightly passe now, but when any council has a leader named Kitcat, its got to be time for a break:)
     
    Greenway likes this.
  20. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,906
    Likes Received:
    3,704
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Not as uncommon surname as you may think.
     

Share This Page