Author Archives for Rod Ormston

Nigel Smart

5 December 2023 8:14 pm Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

Nigel Smart, whose involvement with the Trust’s locomotives and site goes back decades, died on 4 December 2023. The video... View Article

‘Kilmersdon’ revisits the former Somerset coalfield with a stay at Midsomer Norton

13 November 2023 8:06 am Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

The Trust’s 1929-built Peckett No. 1788 – named Kilmersdon after the colliery where the loco spent its working life –... View Article

Agreement between the S&DRT and the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust

10 November 2023 11:06 pm Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

Today, our chairman wrote to members as follows: WashfordI am delighted to confirm that both the Somerset & Dorset Railway... View Article

Leaving card for 53808 on last day of normal service

4 November 2023 10:08 pm Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

The Trust’s S&D 7F No. 53808 had the last day in normal service today… and in a touching gesture, some... View Article

53808 on Watercress Line goods charter

3 November 2023 10:50 pm Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

Taken in the late afternoon mellow light of the sun, the Trust’s S&D 7F No. 53808 is seen here on... View Article

‘Kilmersdon’ returns to home territory, running at Midsomer Norton

31 October 2023 8:58 am Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

Our 1929-built Peckett – named ‘Kilmersdon’ after the colliery where the loco was originally based – is now at the... View Article

Shoscombe & Single Hill Halt name board goes full circle and returns to Shoscombe…with a little help from the S&DRT

13 July 2023 9:19 pm Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

Originally rescued by the Trust after the closure of the S&D and displayed for 40 years at Washford, one of... View Article

L&SWR ‘Road Van’ resplendent in new paintwork

11 July 2023 1:22 pm Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

Thanks to the Medstead Wagon Group at the Watercress Line, we now have a repainted Road Van looking resplendent. This... View Article

Two of our S&D coaches dating from the 1890s move to Shillingstone

27 May 2023 4:52 pm Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

This week, our two unrestored S&D coaches – No. 114, built at Highbridge in 1890 and No. 98, built by... View Article

Success of ‘Kilmersdon’ and availability for hire

19 March 2023 7:53 pm Published by Rod Ormston Leave your thoughts

As members will know, our Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon has been successfully fully overhauled at the Ropley workshops of the Mid-Hants... View Article