Progressing our Future

Following on from safeguarding, the Trust is now making the arrangements to ensure that it continues to flourish and progress in the future.

The move of No. 53808 to the Watercress Line was the first stage in this process and has been followed by a further announcement on part of the museum collection. Moving the collection from Washford will be very costly and donations are earnestly sought.

Find out how you can help here. Current total £33,538.

Our current magazine

Winter 2020 issue - read more about it on the Membership page

The Trust's S&D 7F No. 53808

53808 near Dunster on 28 May 2019.

Latest photos.

53808's Restoration.

The Return to Steam in 1987.

Image © Tim Edmonds, http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/snap.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=2019/05/248


Latest Press Statements

6 November 2020.

A joint statement from the West Somerset Railway PLC and S&DRT Ltd. regarding the Washford yard is available on this link.

5 November 2020.

A statement from our Chairman, incorporating a joint release from the Mid-Hants. Railway Ltd., the Mid-Hants. Railway Preservation Society Ltd. and S&DRT Ltd. is available on this link.

The S&D Railway and the Trust

The Somerset & Dorset Railway ran from Bath across the Mendips and through Dorset to Bournemouth, with branch lines across the Somerset Levels to Burnham-on-Sea, Bridgwater and Wells, explained here. The line’s early days are fondly remembered for its Prussian Blue engines and coaches, and later for the holiday expresses from the north of England to the south coast. The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust keeps these and many other memories alive through its extensive museum collection and archives, engines and rolling stock, restoration workshop, events and quarterly magazine.

Read more

Latest news

 Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust on Facebook.

  • Online Sales still open: New 7F DVD now in stock plus the second batch of  the Mendip Mountain Quarries wagon in O gauge is now available together will the OO gauge wagon.  Click on "Sales" at the top of this page or this link.

  • Local campaigners to apply for a public Right of Way through the Winsor Hill Tunnels. Click here for more details.

  • Model Railway Exhibition highlights video produced to coincide with the cancelled event this year. Click here for more details.

  • Appeal fund reaches great milestone of £30,000 - but more is needed. Click here for more details.

  • 53808 looking - and sounding - fantastic on the penultimate evening of the Watercress Line's Steam Illuminations. Click here for more details.

  • 53808 and our PMV at the Steam Illuminations. Click here for more details.

  • Donations of S&D-related artefacts are welcomed, subject to our collections policy.

 

MANY NEW MEMBERS JOINING

170 new members in 2020.

 Join us from £14. 

 

 

News

News & Events

Keep up to date with the latest news about our heritage railway steam engines and coaches, our  workshops at Washford, and make a note of events celebrating the Somerset & Dorset Railway, including area group meetings, listed here

Sales

Online Sales

An extensive range of Books, DVDs and other items related to the S&D can be ordered online here . You can buy Membership online​ and also download images from the Trust's photographic collection as well as audio files including Ivo Peters, Donald Beale and others.

Visit Us

Visit Us

The Trust is based at Washford Station on the heritage West Somerset Railway. The station, shop and museum are currently closed due to Covid-19 and the WSR not running trains. Find out more here and see our stock list here.

Take Part

Membership

Our members receive a variety of benefits including our quarterly magazine. Many also volunteer to keep steam railway memories alive by repairing and restoring rolling stock, researching and writing articles, staffing our shop and arranging events. Your contribution is welcomed - you can join online here.

Photos and Gallery

Photos, Videos, Modelling & Edington Exhibiton

Information about the extensive photo collection of our favourite steam railway can be found here , we also now have several videos. Check the latest on Somerset & Dorset modelling news and ideas, and learn from the experience of fellow modellers here. Find out more about our annual model railway exhibition here.

Archives and Collections

Archives & Collections

As well as the museum, the Trust cares for extensive material and items covering all aspects of the Somerset & Dorset Railway, available for viewing and research. Check how to find and access this material here.

 

Welcome to the Trust

The Trust works in partnership with others to keep alive the memory of the Somerset & Dorset Railway and importance as a major cross-country route for the communities through which it passed.

As well as gathering and recording information about the line, through artefacts, archives and oral history, the Trust promotes the spirit of the S&D through its locomotives and rolling stock, still at work today and accessible at our extensive facilities at Washford on the West Somerset Railway.

The Trust arranges events including an annual Model Railway Exhibition at Edington (near Bridgwater), except in Jaunuary 2021 .

Facebook logo As well as the information available on this site, we also have a regularly-updated Facebook page with nearly 3000 followers...

...and a wide selection of short videos on Vimeo and on YouTube.