Name: Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust
Rating: 5.0

Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust

2 Victoria Grove, Bridport, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

Description

The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust is a heritage railway line in Somerset, England, that runs on a restored section of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. The line is approximately 1 mile long and operates from Midsomer Norton South.

Originally established in 1966, the Trust keeps alive the memory of this most distinctive of cross-country railways with its wide variety of artefacts including locomotives, carriages and museum exhibits backed by restoration work, events and our quarterly magazine.

Prices starts from £22.00 for adults and £17.00 for Child membership. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Our base for many years had been at Washford station on the West Somerset Railway, with a shop and extensive S&D museum. A Notice to Quit was served on us by the West Somerset Railway in February 2020 and the site has now transferred to new lessees.
The artefacts and vehicles are being moved to new locations including the Watercress Line in Hampshire, Shillingstone station on the former S&D route, the S&D at Midsomer Norton station and the Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum.
Matt Bentley: The larger of the Trust’s two locomotives is S&D 7F No. 53808, built in 1925, and seen above near Alton on the Watercress Line. The locomotive will be based on the Watercress Line (Mid-Hants Railway) for the remainder of the boiler certificate.
Andrew Woodroffe: Kilmersdon, built in 1929 by Peckett’s of Bristol, was the last steam locomotive to work the Somerset coalfield. After nearly two years at the Helston Railway in Cornwall, Kilmersdon has just completed overhaul at Ropley on the Watercress Line with the first function of the loco being to appear as Percy in the Thomas the Tank Engine event from 6 August.
Archives & Collections: The spirit of the Somerset and Dorset Railway lived on for many years through our museum at Washford. Our displays helped to tell the story of the rise and fall of the railway and its closure in 1966. These exhibits are now moving to new locations with the advantage of them being more easily accessible and to many more people than previously.The Trust has over 3000 photographs and these are steadily being scanned. Many are now being made available to download in our online shop – see the photo collection page. The Trust’s extensive archive of over 3,000 reference books, documents, drawings and plans are housed at the Somerset Heritage Centre at Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton and can be searched via their on line catalogue. This wealth of information is available to all with an interest in any aspect of the Somerset & Dorset Railway, including family historians.