Membership
To help support the Trust's conservation and restoration activities, why not join us? It costs from just £14 per year and comes with many benefits, see below. Andy Young, our Membership Secretary, looks forward to welcoming you with a copy of our latest magazine. Click here to purchase membership - or use the drop-down 'Sales' menu.
When ordering membership, any items you require from our online shop can be included at the same time; there is no need to order them separately.
Membership benefits
- 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 296 issues!
- 20% off when buying downloadable S&D images and audio recollections in our online shop.
- 25% off standard travel (excluding special events) on the West Somerset Railway*.
- 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.
- 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.
(* subject to lease at Washford).
Plus, you will be able - and will be warmly welcomed in doing so - to take part in Trust activites, read on....
Click here to purchase membership.
The latest edition of our magazine is the spring issue with some great reading material and photographic content, including:
- Doubling the 'Dorset': Jonathan Edwards continues his 2-part article on the doubling of the track south of Templecombe in the S&D's heyday, drawing extensively from original documents held by the National Archives.
- The relationship between the Somerset Central and the Bristol & Exeter, 1854-1875. Part 1 of a fascinating account of how the SCR started as a broad gauge branch but the broad gauge retreated as the SCR fulfilled its ambitions to link up with the Dorset Central and to form the Somerset & Dorset Railway.
- Feedback and Information Requests: putting a date on the front cover photograph, West Country Class locos with rebodied tenders, University students on the S&D.
- Jane Riley's paintings: The LCGB railtour on 5 March 1966 with 34057 and 34006 passing over Midford viaduct.
- Centre-spread photo: a very atmospheric view of No. 80043 in the S&D shed at Bath Green Park.
- The itinerary from the SLS Special, 6 March 1966: two further pages, full of detailed facts about the line.
- S&D stations part 20 - Pylle: this was described as an exceedingly pretty location, notes David Grimwood, at one time handling surprising amounts of freight.
- 53808 on the West Somerset Railway in winter: a fantastic photo by Stephen Leek of the Trust's S&D 7F at work.
- 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)
