Membership
To help support the Trust's conservation and restoration activities, why not join us? Membership can be obtained by clicking here or by using the drop down "Sales" menu. It costs from just £14 per year and comes with many benefits, see below. New memberships taken out now will last until the end of 2019 - Andy Young, our new Membership Secretary, looks forward to welcoming you.
- Our magazine, Pines Express, four times a year. A wide variety of articles is complemented by photographs from the Trust's extensive archive.
- Access to pdf copies of every Bulletin/Pines Express ever published. That's 290 issues!
- The Trust's special train; running along the West Somerset Railway each summer with extra low fares and hauled by the Trust's restored S&D 7F, 53808.
- 25% off standard travel (excluding special events) on the West Somerset Railway.
- Free museum access and 10% off most purchases in the Trust's shop at Washford.
- Internet discussion group.
- Mail Order Service
- Participation in Washford events and restoration work
Plus, you will be able - and will be warmly welcomed in doing so - to take part in Trust activites, read on....
The latest edition of our magazine is the Autumn issue with some great reading material and photographic content, including:
- Milldown - more than just an S&D backwater: Jonathan Edwards looks into the history of this location near Blandford, finding that developments associated with the First World War turned Milldown into a significant hub of activity.
- Modelling an S&D 7F in 7¼” gauge: Part 2 of Vic Whittaker's progress on building a working S&D 7F.
- Memories of Watery Bottom: This was an alternative name for Lyncombe Vale on the outskirts of Bath and here Terry Stone looks back at the traffic that passed through including many of his own photos.
- S&D stations part 14 - Shillingstone: 'A perfect example of a rural station', so wrote Robin Atthill, author of a well-known history of the S&D. David Grimwood tells us the story of Shillingstone station, illustrated by pictures from a newly-scanned photo collection.
- Bailey Gate on the last day of the S&D: Geoff Sutton's personal record.
- Centre-spread photo: S&D 7F No. 53808 - now owned by the Trust - is seen crossing Tucking Mill viaduct with a freight service sometime in the 1950s.
- No less than eight pages of news... and much more!
Take part
Volunteers are essential for the Trust to operate! There are all sorts of opportunities for taking part in preserving the memories and rolling stock of the Somerset & Dorset Railway. We cherish our volunteers and have established proper management procedures to encourage and support you.
For example:
We would love to open our shop and museum all week – can you spare some time to staff the shop or help with the museum? If you want to find out more, contact us at nigeldavies48@gmail.com
We have a small team working on wagon and carriage restoration and even engine overhaul, in our well-equipped workshops – all sorts of tasks to be done, for all levels of skills and all with proper supervision. Current projects include restoration of three original S&D Coaches dating from the 1880’s along with a range of historic wagons. Is this something that interests you?
If you are unable to visit Washford regularly, there are plenty of tasks that can be undertaken from your own home – contributing to the Trust’s magazine Pines Express, researching the history of the line, adding information about stations and other features of the line for the website. Is this something you could spare some time for?
If so, the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust needs you. Please contact Nigel Davies at nigeldavies48@gmail.com
Our photos show examples of the types of practical activity at Washford (courtesy of Gerry Leyman)
