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 297 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.
Take part...
Volunteers are essential for the Trust to operate! In normal circumstances - away from the current national situation - 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 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 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 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.
The Trust’s shop is always popular, and a great place to meet and welcome visitors and passengers.
The latest edition of our magazine is the summer issue and despite the current national situation, its 40 pages are packed with great reading material and photographic content, including:
- 'How do you solve a problem like Templecombe?' asks Jonathan Edwards. The manoeuvres needed for S&D services to call at Templecombe station on the Southern main line were a noted feature of S&D operation. In the first of a two-part article, Jonathan looks at various schemes proposed that would have allowed through running at the station.
- Southbound with the 'Pines' - a remarkable coincidence. During production of a new edition of this popular Trust booklet of Donald Beale's footplate memories, originally issued 35 years ago, Mike Arlett spotted something remarkable in one of the photos.
- S&D stations part 21. Polsham was a station for no reason, says David Grimwood. The origins of this wayside station, well away from centres of population.
- G A Richardson - remembering a talented photographer. Looking at his work with contributions from Peter Smith in whose latest book, Anthony's S&D photos feature prominently.
- The relationship between the Somerset Central and the Bristol & Exeter, 1854-1875. Part 2 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.
- The Speed Tune with Tony Davies. Following on from the Spetisbury station report in the last issue, Tony has more details of fast running south of Blandford.
- Feedback and Information Requests.
- Jane Riley's art: a charcoal on cartridge paper representation of the last issue's atmospheric centre-spread.
- Centre-spread photo: 4F No. 44411 stirs the morning calm at Evercreech New with a short freight service.
- The itinerary from the SLS Special, 6 March 1966: the final two pages, full of detailed facts about the line.
- The Radstock Accident of 1936 - a well-known event but here we have the take of the Railway Gazette on the matter.
- 53808 double-heading: a great photo by Julian Clark of the Trust's S&D 7F at work.
- Trust and general news.
- Four-page Trust sales supplement.
Our photos show examples of the types of practical activity at Washford (courtesy of Gerry Leyman)
