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 several further announcements about the museum collection. Moving the collection from Washford will be very costly and whilst we are very pleased with the progress of the appeal, further donations will be greatly appreciated.
Find out how you can help here. Current total £44,738.
Our current magazine
Our current magazine is the summer issue – read about it on the membership page, or click on the image.
The Trust’s S&D 7F No. 53808
Image © Tim Edmonds, http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/snap.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=2019/05/248
Latest Press Statements
1 June 2021.
A statement about the overhaul of the Trust’s Peckett Kilmersdon is available on this link.
NEW – The S&DRT blog
A regular in-depth look at the work of the Trust. See the latest posting ‘Pointing in the right direction’ here.
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.
Latest News
Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust on Facebook.
- Online Sales still open: Click on “Sales” at the top of this page or this link.
- Video of 53808’s return to service
- 53808 back in service on the Watercress Line
- 53808 cleared for return to service this weekend
- 53808 being steam-tested at Ropley
- Mid-Hants Railway to overhaul Kilmersdon
- Latest Limited Edition wagons
- Trust’s re-creation of Midford signalbox now in storage
- Donations of S&D-related artefacts are welcomed, subject to our collections policy.
MANY NEW MEMBERS JOINING
170 new members in 2020.
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
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
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.
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, 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 & 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 its 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 distinctive locomotives and rolling stock, still at work today.
The Trust arranges events including an annual Model Railway Exhibition at Edington (near Bridgwater).
As well as the information available on this site, we also have a regularly-updated Facebook page with over 3000 followers and a wide selection of short videos on Vimeo and on YouTube.