We've done it ... thanks to the unstinting efforts of John Baxter (Chairman) and Peter Russell (General Secretary.

We (the S&DRHT) has launched a £250 000 appeal to restore the Midsomer Norton Site back to its 1950 s condition, to create a S&D Museum on site, lay tracks towards Chilcompton, and to buy the site from its present owners (BaNES).

A Radstock Sentinel is commisioned. These locos were originally found at Radstock where they had to pull coal wagons under the "Tyning Arch" which had a clearance of only 10ft 10in. Both of the originals have been scrapped. No 7109 "Joyce" at present undergoing restoration at Tysely, is going to be turned into a Sentinel just by lowering the cab height by a few inches. It is hoped to base this loco at MSN.

A Thomas Hill 0-4-0 shunter (no 28533) has been overhauled and painted in "Prussian Blue" at the Yeovil Steam Centre. It is available for hire from The Somerset & Dorset Locomotive Company.
If you wish to hire this and other locos please contact: Eric Tyler on 01823 666035
The Trust hope to have the services of a 4-wheeled Hunslet diesel for tracklaying

Thanks to our friends at Bitton, a new Signal Gantry has now been replaced

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Price unknown; previously owned by Dorset County Council.
New purchaser :North Dorset Railway Trust, aka Mr Paulley.
This exciting new group aims to restore the station at
The SDJR did try (hard) to have the building listed some years ago, but NDD Council refused on the grounds that "the station wasn't unique"
- an extraordinary excuse and very disappointing.
Best Wishes to this new Restoration Group.

* We still have plans for a move towards Chilcompton. The attitude of the local farmer has been most encouraging in this area. We give him our thanks.

220 pictures; Limited Edition. Cost £20.00 (+ 2.00 p&p) from the Washford Station Shop.
Our Brake-van has arrived!
* Somervale School is, we hope, going to be largely responsible for the management of the woodland associated with our site. a car-parking area here may be provided. The school governors have just approved of the scheme in principle.
* One coal wagon (from Washford) has been scrapped. We are repairing the other.
* Membership now stands at 152+ (2001!)
* As winter sets in, more work will be undertaken on the internal fabric of the station building.
* A new membership card and 'flyer' is to be produced.
* A much-needed digger for the site may be purchased.
* Because the 'tip' on the site is causing drainage problems we have written to BaNES to see if it can be removed.* We have been given a ground signal on permanent loan.
* The Bath University track materials have been transported to the site.

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