Midsomer Norton update - ready for passenger services, preview April 28 & 29.

Some recent pictures of Midsomer Norton attached, to show the the Trust members have been busy over winter and are now really looking forward to their first season running passenger trains.

As a result of the expansion, there are opportunities for new volunteers to get involved. The Trust is holding an open weekend on 28 & 29 April where visitors can meet members, see projects in more detail and if you're interested: a free ride, drink and snack are offered, so we can make some time to discuss what might interest you.

It's not all heavy or skilled work: staffing station or museum positions, helping in retail or catering and behind-the-scenes involvements are all possible - training can be provided if you've an interest in acquiring new skills.







Regular updates from the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/somersetanddorsetrailway

 

Popped in to see you a few weeks back and very pleased to see the progress you're making. Still dreaming of a 9F thundering up the 1 in 50.

 

fine pics!thanks!
homw long is the line??
regards
Noel

 

Thank you for the encouraging comments.

There is shy of half a mile of 'down' line that we can run passenger trains on. Track now extends a couple of hundred years further, to a run-around with the recently laid 'up' line at the extension head - but this is yet to be ballasted and packed.

There is on-going work for the signal box to control this whole section. With steady progress, this and the track work might be done within the year and would complete phase 1. Some work has started on phase 2 - clearing the heavily overgrown track bed towards the Chilcompton cutting.

The facebook page has regular photos of progress from all departments. Somerset & Dorset Railway | Facebook

We'd all love to see an 8 or 10 coupled going at the 1-in-50 out of the station - it will happen 'soon'!

 

To the best of our knowledge 34081 never ventured on to the S&D, maybe we'll be able to rectify this during the currency of her next boiler ticket.

 

I have mixed emotions when recalling Bude and Biggin Hill thundering through my local station at Midsomer Norton
in March, 1966. A wonderful sight to see but also the end of a wonderful and fascinating railway. <BJ>

 

i suppose it could never be the same, but I intend to make a visit to MN as soon as I can.

 

Ask for a visit to the signal box. It is exactly as I remember it.

The preservation team at M-S-N are a very helpful bunch. <BJ>

 

I visited about three years ago and was impressed both with the work done and with the genuine firiendliness of the volunteers I met that day. I'll have to find a way of catching a ride during your first full season! I remember my first ride on the mighty Swanage Railway, which, I think, took us all the way to the shed? From little acorns....