Latest Blog Posts
Results of the modellers' wishlist poll
18 November 2019.
The results have been released for the wishlist poll for new 00-gauge models that was announced in a news item last month:
Winter sales list available now - S&D calendar, Ivo Peters Christmas Cards and much more!
Our Winter sales list is now available with seasonal goods as well as our usual wide range of S&D-related products.
Always popular are Christmas Cards featuring a photo by Ivo Peters and our calendar with a colour image from the Trust's extensive collection for every month.
Click on the image above to see the list in pdf format - then click on any product image to go straight to the ordering point for that item (subject to stock availability).
If you prefer to order the traditional way - by post with a cheque - then we have provided a handy order form on the last page.
Read more...S&DRT's 46th Edington Model Railway Exhibition is on 4-5 January
31 October 2019.
The annual exhibition on Saturday/Sunday 4/5 January has 12 layouts already confirmed - plus the usual demonstrations and trade & Trust stalls. More information will be made available nearer the time on our dedicated website page.
Meanwhile, don't forget the annual wishlist poll at www.rmweb.co.uk (see earlier posting) - this closes on Saturday evening, 2nd November. Be sure of your vote!
[Photo by Dave Temple - from 2019 exhibition]
Read more...Percy Parsons' book available now from the Trust
Percy Parsons' book 50 Years on The Railway is now available from Trust sales.
Percy started on the S&D at Edington in 1937 and finished his long railway career at Bridgwater.
It was always remarkable listening to Percy with his ability to reel off the names of people he'd worked with perhaps decades before. This special memory has served well in the compilation of this book which is full of fascinating detail.
Sadly, Percy died on 16 August and was not to see his book published. However, it was most fortunate that it was completed and is available to purchase at £12.95 plus £2.10 post from the Trust's sales.
Read more...Recalling a time when the S&D was being expanded
23 October 2019.
Although much is heard about the decline of the S&D, here it is at its zenith, being expanded.
This is Bridge 200 at Blandford, being widened in March 1900 to allow the doubling of the track to the south.
Starting in our Winter magazine, due out in late November, Jonathan Edwards has a new series looking at the doubling work and the decision-making surrounding it. Make sure of your copy - new memberships last until the end of 2020.
He'll continue with a close look at two of the Stour river bridges; Fiddleford (No. 175) and Hodmoor (No. 185), investigating how the main spans were double track width but the approach spans were only built for single track.
Make sure of your future copies by joining us now!
[Photo by anon/Thomas Maidment album, S&DRT collection]
Read more...Annual wishlist poll enables modellers & collectors to vote for the models they would like to be able to buy
The 00 Wishlist Poll runs from 14 October to 2 November at: www.rmweb.co.uk
Brian Macdermott writes "The Poll provides railway modellers and collectors with an easy and informed way of indicating to makers and commissioners of 00 ready-to-run models which models they would realistically buy if made at some time in the future from all-new tooling (excluding models since 1 January 2005).
Voting covers steam, diesel and electric locos; DMUs; EMUs; passenger and non-passenger-carrying coaching stock; freight and departmental stock. The Industrial and Underground categories have gone, enabling many new items of ‘core content’. Pollsters can now make suggestions for re-makes of some items made since 2005.
The Poll has an accompanying Guide which is particularly useful for checking such as the build dates of the various BR Mk1 catering vehicles, or whether one particular diesel shunter will suit your needs better than others."
A new locomotive category you can vote for this year is BR Class 5 locomotives with Walschaerts valve gear, such as No. 73051 pictured above near Broadstone with a Bradford to Bournemouth West service in July 1959. [Photo by M K Lewis/S&DRT collection].
An advertising poster is available to help you spread the word about the poll.
The Poll Team email is: thepollteam[@]gmail.com (Please delete the square brackets in the address which are added to deter automated emails).
Read more...Find a bargain in the second-hand S&D books section now in our online shop
11 October 2019.
We've now added a section in our online shop for pre-owned books, DVDs, etc, related to the S&D.
Why not browse through and find yourself some good S&D reading material at a very favourable price?
Initially, we have just books on offer but this will be considerably expanded very soon.
Read more...Donated shunter will enable easier movements on the Washford site
9 October 2019
Recently arrived at Washford is this diesel shunter, Andrew Barclay No. 349, built in 1941. It was generously donated to us by Damien Stabler of Suffolk and had been based on the Colne Valley Railway.
The shunter is in working order which will make it much easier to move stock around the Washford site; in doing so, creating additional visitor interest.
No. 349 was one of a batch of five and was delivered to the Royal Ordnance Factory at Puriton near Bridgwater in 1941. It was used during the war for moving raw materials and finished exposives for use in munitions. After the war, it went to Abelson & Co. (Engineers) of Sheldon, Birmingham (a manufacturer of cranes, dumpers, etc) and then to the Haunchwood Brick & Tile Co. in Warwickshire prior to preservation in the 1980s. There are only two of this type of locomotive known to have survived and this one is the most complete.
Mr Stabler had ownership of the loco for 13 years but was struggling to find the time to spend on it - so we were more than happy to offer it a new home.
[Photo by David Temple]
Read more...