Somerset and Dorset Rebuild

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

 

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)

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

Obviously, that's where the Bluebell went wrong. They over-engineered things.

 

I had to read that twice before the penny dropped.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

If you go on eBay asking for a hole in the ground this is what you get

 

At one time there were curves in all directions at Yeovil Junction, and the formations seem to be mostly still intact.

 

There is a saying about not knowing your arse from one, which seems strangely appropriate in the context of this thread.

 

No idea - although the A35/A30 is always busy. I'd use it!

 

new Somerset and dorset have completely rebuilt Midford station signal box as well trains running soon only joking

 

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!

 

The shorthand for which is WIBN. Which is ironically quite close to 'wibble'!

 

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]

 

I know its slightly passe now, but when any council has a leader named Kitcat, its got to be time for a break

 

Not as uncommon surname as you may think.