S&D Railway Trust

That would have made no difference really. You would have to occupy the single-line to access the goods-yard and running-round would block both Up and Down lines anyway.

 

More than one or two vintage lines, from what I've read... :-(

Noel

 

I’d like to think it’s more a Wyvern than a cuckoo Martin...

 

3? MHR and AVR have been announced- what's the third please?

 

The Cuckoo isn't at Washford, It resides in the Boardroom at Minehead and its busy throwing all the other chicks out, and gulping down every bit of power for it's self, ,Both the major support groups are silenced, dissenters are removed, whilst the Cuckoo grows fatter, the line is slowly dying of lack of sustenance.

 

A couple of wagons and a few other bits have gone to Shillingstone, according to the NDR's website.

 

Thank you gentlemen

 

It is finally happening what everyone’s was fearing that the wagons are getting moved away slowly . It is good timing that they are getting moved when lockdown is over and people have other things to think about maybe the WSR are thinking less people will notice the sad occasions by doing this now as there are more other things to report on. I hope they are happy and get more use at shillingstones Avon a valley and mid hants

 

A further tie up has been established with Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum.

From Facebook:

Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum

We are pleased to confirm that we have taken on long term loan of the Eclipse/Fisons Peat Works Narrow Gauge Equipment from the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust at Washford. Today we collected the first lot of rolling stock which included the Lister Railtruck which will be joining our resident Peat Works Lister. We also transported a peat wagon chassis and two complete replica peat wagons. We are still to collect another peat wagon and a Hudson skip wagon before returning to Washford with a team to remove the track, points and wagon turntables before returning them to the Museum where they will be put together to provide a brand new display! Thanks to all those at the S&DRT for offering us the collection and assisting with getting the paperwork in place.

 

That sounds a excellent move.

I think it would be fair to say that for some years the Peat Works kit at WD took on the appearance of being 'unloved', although that situation did improve latterly. Perhaps in some ways it suffered from being one of those 'relics' which, although it had an S&D connection, was not of S&D provenance and therefore perhaps came further down in the list of priorities amongst all the other demands on volunteers' time.

 

Having ridden in one of the wagons on a visit to the peat works (too many years ago to count). I am pleased that the exhibit will be going to Westonzoyland as we have seen that things there are well looked after. They will compliment an already interesting display. Good work by S&DRT and the pumping station people.

 

on a different note we were driving past Stogumber station yesterday and noticed the "open" sign. the toasted tea cake, tea and ice cream were greatly enjoyed. Suffice to say that we have passed by on the train many times but this was our first visit to this delightful station garden. A steam train passing would have been the "icing on the cake" We will have to consult the timetables and plan our next visit.

 

Good News. https://www.sdrt.org/mid-hants-railway-to-overhaul-kilmersdon/

 

In addition to the news above about Kilmersdon's overhaul the other thing worth mentioning is that when Kilmersdon is back in steam we will also be making it available to hire when our partners on the MHR can spare it from use on the Watercress Line, the same goes for 53808 (if anybody is interested please get in touch). This will help the S&DRT to be more visible, our locos be seen by more people than was previously the case and of course help with much needed finances.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the MHR on behalf of the S&DRT for making all of this happen so we can move forward, especially the fast tracking of Kilmersdon back to steam. We are looking forward to working with them going forward with our locos, some of our rolling stock and a large number of our museum exhibits, some of which haven't been seen in public for many years.

In addition there is a new S&DRT blog to keep people more informed. This provides a more detailed look at the work the Trust is doing. The first entry covers various work undertaken at Washford in May, including of course, the dismantling of items for re-location elsewhere.

https://www.sdrt.org/may-at-washford/

Also given the amount of work we have to complete in the coming months if anybody can help please don't hesitate to step forward, we have a lot to do in moving 46 years worth of stuff !!

 

That is an extremely well done first blog post, better than anything I can recall seeing on the WSR. Perfect amount of easily readable text and lots of pictures that well illustrate what's going on. If you can keep that up regularly, you're on to a winner!

 

Thank-you very much for this most interesting blog about developments at Washford. Although it remains very sad that the S&DRT is being forced to undertake all the dismantling and removal activity.

 

You have a great website, it’s easy to read and informative. Well done for investing the time and effort, and for the blog.

I agree with other posts, the Trust seems to have been revitalised. Having items dispersed across different sites is a great way of widening the reach of the Trust and benefitting the host railways too.

 

The Trust Chairman's report in the latest Pines Express, adapted from the AGM report, gives a very interesting summary of the negotiations between the Trust and the WSR PLC, and the Trust Board's deliberations, that led to the present arrangements, with a lot of the Trust's assets moving to the Mid-Hants and elsewhere but some remaining at Washford for an extended period (but not indefinitely). As far as I can see, that information has not been revealed to the world at large. If it has, someone please tell us where. If it is still more or less restricted to members, anyone who wants to know can pay their sub and join the Trust.