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. Andy Young, our new Membership Secretary, looks forward to welcoming you with a copy of the current (Winter 2018) magazine, and you will receive all four quarterly issues during 2019.
- 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 291 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 Winter issue with some great reading material and photographic content, including:
- The viaduct at Prestleigh: photos of this iconic structure shortly before, and during, demolition plus pictures from the Trust's archive taken before closure.
- Modelling an S&D 7F in 7¼” gauge: In part 3, Vic Whittaker has moved on to the smokebox and running boards. A fantastic piece of model engineering!
- 2B92 of not 2B92? That is the question... Roger Newport brings to readers an interesting discussion he'd been having with friends about train reporting numbers.
- S&D stations part 15 - Henstridge. It may have been the smallest station on the line but it wasn't necessarily always the quietest, as David Grimwood relates.
- Not another culvert! Dave Bown finds that whilst his local history society gets a little tired of railway culverts, there is one on the Bridgwater branch that arouses much more interest.
- Masbury - Shepton guided drive & walk: Jonathan Edwards reports on the walk of 8 September which included Masbury station, viaducts and the Winsor Hill tunnels.
- Percy Parsons: Percy tells us of some unusual movements during the ASLEF strike in 1955.
- Centre-spread photo: An excellent view of Evercreech New station in the early '60s... apparently seen from the top of a signal post!
- 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)
