Old News Articles ... 
In a decision bound to stir the emotions, the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust has decided to outshop their freight locomotive No 88 in S & D Prussian Blue!
Following their successful negotiations with the West Somerset Railway plc last year, the future of S D J R 2-8-0 locomotive No 88 (BR 53808) has been uniquely assured under a fully-repairing lease, expiring in 2020. The WSR plc is undertaking a complete overhaul of the loco for the S & D Trust which is to be complete by 30th April next year. The loco will continue to be based on the WSR where it will be used principally to haul passenger trains. During the past decade, the loco became one of the mainstays of the line, running 49,462 miles in total, and contributing in no small part to the change to good fortune for this impressive long railway.
But the S & D never painted their 2-8-0 freight locos blue! Commenting on the decision, Trust Chairman, Dr Peter Cattermole, said:
"Way back in the 1980s we held a referendum on the livery - BR Black won by one vote over Prussian Blue! It's time to start the twenty-first century with a Somerset engine in a Somerset colour! And, it's appropriate that we should try to show off what the motive power might have looked like at the start of the twentieth century, when Highbridge painted their locomotives blue. I don't think many people realise that some S & D goods engines were painted blue from 1886 until 1921, and again briefly on goods locos in 1929. The lining was in black, with a fine yellow line on either side while the buffer beams were vermillion, with black edging, again divided by a yellow line, and bore the letters SDJR inscribed in gold leaf. It was only in 1914 when the first batch of 2-8-0s were delivered by Derby appeared in unlined black (described in Milton & Bradley's book on S & D Locomotive History as 'this depressing livery')."
"We shall be able to obtain an authentic match for the Prussian Blue, because we have plenty of samples available to analyse on the pair of S & D coach bodies we rescued a while ago from Sussex. Paint specialists are already at work formulating an exact match."
"Heritage Railway organisations have a duty to preserve, but they must also move with the times. The Trust has owned No. 88 for 30 years. In perspective, that's longer than any of the previous owners (S & D J R 5 years, LMS 19 years, BR 16 years, Woodhams 4 years). Perhaps we are generating our own heritage."
Registered Charity No 265098 Registered Museum No 851
It is with deep sadness that I have to tell you that Mike Palmer, Honorary Secretary of the Trust, passed away peacefully on Thursday 27th May 1999, following a stroke earlier the same week.
Mike joined the S & D Railway Circle in 1967, when he lived and worked at Witham Friary. He became Chairman in 1970, at a time of critical negotiations over the purchase of No. 88. His perseverance and unique ability of persuading people to work together for a purpose steered the organisation through a difficult period at Radstock.
Mike became Honorary Secretary of the Trust in 1975. He wrote in Bulletin 68 : "I will endeavour to continue to attain the high standard set by my predecessor. Thank you for electing me". And so he did continuously thereafter, without ever missing a single committee meeting, steadying the path of successive Chairmen and Committees.
Mike's contribution to the work of the Trust was unequalled. His kindness, friendliness, courtesy, enthusiasm, patience, practical abilities in engineering, in railway preservation and in photography, combined to ensure that the spirit of the S & D should survive long after the death of the line.
All our thoughts must now be with Gill, Tony, Sue and all their family and friends. Mike was buried at a private ceremony at St George's, Edington, on Friday 4th June. On your behalf a floral tribute was sent, with the following words inscribed below the coloured crest of the S & D J R
Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust
with thanks for the enjoyment
Mike gave them
for so long
Donations in Mike's name (payable to the S D R T but to be divided equally between the Trust and The Stroke Association) should be sent to Phil Chopping, S D R T Treasurer, Tearmunn, 43 Upper Park, Loughton, Essex, IG10 4EQ. A future edition of The Pines will contain a full tribute to Mike. Ian Young will be please to receive contributions and photographs.
S&DRT Chairman's Report (Aug 1998).
The Trust is to:
1. Provide better provision for members wishing to use the museum services/arhives/'photos etc.
2. Liaise with the WSR in the repair of loco. No 88 and in its long-term hire arrangement 'back' to the WSR for running on their line.
3. To reduce present stocks of Sales items and to commission new articles on the S&D for publication.
Washford Notes (also by Peter Cattermole).
The LSWR Road Van has been successfully re-united with its well-oiled wheelsets.
The LMS van and RNAD/LBSC van have been very well re-painted by Alan Cottrell.
It's intriguing to see the Bridgwater Railway being reopened after so many years. The last couple of weeks have seen a transformation between Cossington and Bawdrip, easily visible from the overbridge at Cossington and from the A39. Banks have been cut-back, the trackbed scoured and on Tuesday scalpings laid on the dark dank damp old formation. All that's now needed are sleepers and rail, but I think it's bicycles and horses for the foreseeable future! Sustrans again.
(From Dr P Cattermole.) LI> The Open day on the 17/18th of July was an outstanding success. Very many thanks to all those who organised and worked so hard ... and of course, many thanks to all those that turned-up.
Nice to see steam returning on the S&D...! See...
8.5.6 Important news concerning the S&D Trackbed Trust and Society.
The AGM was held of the Society at MSN station on Suday the 23rd of August 1998. A new committee has been set up which will look after the day-to-day running of the work-gangs. The new chairman is John Baxter who brings with him considerable experience and expertise. John is also chairman of the S&D Restoration Trust and it is thus likely that some kind of merger between the two organisations will take place. This is a very positive step forward. A proper business plan is soon to be announced; a link up to Chilcompton/Masbury now looks more of a possibility. We hope that David Edwards and his group can get the Radstock end sorted-out and then we will be looking at connections from MSN both north and south! Early days yet though! Unfortunately there has been some acrimony over many of these moves. Mr Julian Mayne, one of the Trustees, has objected to the above and will probably leave the Trust. This is a great shame for he has put a considerable amount of time, money and effort into the project, especially that of the station interior. His intention to dismantle all of this is sad. It is now expected that Mr Nick Howes, another trustee who had penned a resignation letter owing to the stress of all the internecine warfare, will re-join us.
POST SCRIPT ON THE ABOVE (MAY 1999).
Mr Mayne has indeed left the Trust and Society. All monies owed to Mr Mayne will be re-imbursed despite him having, at the time, given both his labour and materials free -of -charge. It appears that behind the scenes he was attempting to buy the site for his property development firm. This dispute has turned very nasty; even alleged violence, on more than one occasion, against aTrustee. We hope that Mr Mayne, before emigrating to New Zealand will take advantage of free NHS professional analysis and care.
That, hopefully, is all behind us now and we must continue in the very encouraging manner charted for us by John Baxter.
The owner of the Riding School at Wellow has applied for Planning Permission to use a section of the trackbed from his present location towards Twinhoe. Unless I'm told more, I can't see a problem with this.
S&D 2-8-0 No. 88 is 'saved'!
Under a new working agreement (until 2020AD) with the WSR, No.88 is to be repaired/restored and repainted by them. New cylinders are to be cast at a cost of 18 000 (at the S&DRT's expense).
Please contribute! If any reader wishes to do so and they don't subscribe to the "Pines Express", please contact me and I will e'mail the address to which all such contributions should be sent.
Wellow viaduct has been inspected (1st week in November 1998) .
All ivy has been removed .(Picture). It seems in good condition. A liitle repointing will be necessary and a few bricks/stones will need to be replaced on the inner wall (facing the Church). Apparently, one of the abutments has moved slightly, but my untrained eye could not make it out.
Wellow signal box (see below) ... planning permission again refused. Somwone is now living in it again. The saga continues.
Sustrans/SARA
Davd Edwards, chairman of SARA (based at Radstock) is angry over SUSTRANS' plans to turn the Frome-Radstock line into a cycle-way for SUSTRANS plan to charge SARA 190 000 for buying the track. In total David estimates that this would eventually cost 500 000. Two years ago Mendip DC estimated its worth at just 1 because of the liabilities. It all seems particularly unfair when a cycle-way was part of SARA's plans anyway before SUSTRANS muscled in. SARA is asking for help from other Councils. Many people refuse to believe that many commuters would wish to cycle from Frome to/from Radsock anyway! (Based on an article in "Steam Railway", No.221. Aug 1998).
8.1 Wellow Signal Box sold so local people tell me. The new owner is a Mr Stevens (no not me and no relation I'm afraid). He has proposed a meeting with the Parish Council. He probably wishes to overule the lack of Planning Permission given to the illegal extension, hoping for retrospective agreement. Even if he gets this (doubtful?) he will still have to apply for a change of use to a permanent dwelling status. The water supply has apparently been turned off and local feeling is that he won't win on this issue either. Once again it may mean that The Signal Box, just recently painted, may again be under threat in 6 months time. Let's hope not!
8.3 Bath Green Park. Sainsbury's has expanded here and is encroaching on even more S&D land. It now makes it more certain than ever that the "New S&D", if it could ever re-open, would be unable to access the original station.
8.4 Midford station is up for sale.
Washford Report
by Peter Cattermole
There has been considerable work carried out by a variety of volunteers and others at Washford over the summer months. The whole area in front of the shed now looks very neat and tidy and is a credit to those who gave up part of their holidays on the work.
The Trust has been able to continue to develop its good relationship with the various sub-groups of the West Somerset Railway Association over this summer. The WSRAŻ PW Gang paid a return visit to carry out some important track upgrading in mid-July. On Sunday 30th August, the WSRA young volunteers group "Trackers", lead by Geoff Evens followed up their visit from the spring by spending the whole day at Washford lending practical assistance on several projects. All of them earned their footplate ride on Kilmersdon, in steam that day and on the Bank Holiday and kept busy shunting the yard. It would be really good if more Trust members were able to join in with the wide variety of practical activities going on at Washford. A similar programme will operate next summer during July & August. Please contact me for further information (01962 854331 / 863864).
Here is a summary of what has been achieved. By Trust members:
excavating of 120' of top shed road , slewing by 2'6", changing rail, packing and levelling, backfilling with scalpings, top dressing with 10mm chippings to include whole area between shed, visitor centre and Burnham on Sea box;
re-uniting LSWR Road Van body with new chassis using steam crane; extensive tidying of shed and shed extension; cutting back of vegetation on banks. Second weedkilling. undercoating of Coach 4; repainting of Shell-BP tank wagon, and repair of gusset plates on four corners; new bolts and security latches to refurbished shed doors, taking down gutter downpipe of shed and clearing blocked gully; organising the successful two day steam and model exhibition over the August Bank Holiday.
By our contractor:
repairs by scarfing-in and re-cladding in new timber of shed doors.
By WSRA PW gang assisted by Trust members: spot resleepering on hotel road, replacement of cracked rail, single timber & outside curve BA end of loop, removal and oiling of fishplates access road and hotel road.
By WSRA "Trackers" and Trust members.
raising the retaining wall by the upper shed road, refurbishing the Peat Works railway and storage area -- Dr Peter Cattermole Head of Science Winchester College Science School Kingsgate Road Winchester SO23 9PG UK 01962 863864 or 621131 fax 01962 621135 http://schoolbox.sys.uea.ac.uk/schoolnet/winchester/
3 snippets just in:Mark Annard has since replied: "It was covered by BBC local news and the Bath Chronicle launched out into the unknown about it - on its front page ...
Access from the south end, and welded shut again afterwards.
Now a charity walk through for Wateraid on the 11th October?? "
I believe other bridges/viaducts are to be inspected as well.
7.1 Washford: The grand idea of making a Class 2P from scratch has been shelved; insufficient (financial) interest. The class 2P was a much-loved loco that did stirling service on the S&:D. Unfortunately all were scrapped.
(Pic. 2P 4-4-0 no 40569 double heading a 9F at Chilcompton (Repeat) )
Other Washford news in brief:
* Work on loco-shed floor now complete - and a wonderful job they've made of it too!. 'Photos galore in the Pines mag (no.201).
* LSWR roadvan restoration making good progress, thanks to a new lifting gantry.
* S&D point levers from Radstock have been repositioned.
* Trackwork to Burnham signal box is complete.
* 7F (2-8-0) No "88" news in brief:
Some small tubes in the boiler are now leaking blow also at RH cylinder exhaust elbow. Thus engine has been taken out of trafffic. (General repair due in 1997 anyway).
The boiler will need to be removed; the copper firebox will also need to have new stays. Also the cylinders will need to be replaced to examine the wear and the leakage at the exhaust elbows. (Are these cast integrally or bolted on ... does anyone know?). New smokebox plating and insulation needed.
* For more detail see P17 of the Pines; No 199, April 1997.
7.2 Sustrans.
The SUStainable TRANSport society. SUSTRANS the cycle pressure group in Bristol may have done what I always wanted to do ... engineer the re-opening of the Midford to Radstock trackbed as a cycleway. Fantastic news if true! I'll keep you posted! I have written to them to offer them our support. They recently won £42m in Millenium money!
Why will they never reply to letters ??
SUSTRANS might not be all they seem; they may have a hidden agenda. It has recently come to light that any land (i.e. trackbed) that they purchase will have written into the agreement that it must never be used again for railway purposes!
7.3 Number three of the S&D Telegraph mag. is now out.The S and D Telegraph is the new magazine from the Trackbed Trust. It only costs £1.00 and is available from MSN station or from Nick Howes, 44 Moorland St. Bath. BA2. 3PN. Nick works tirelessly for the Trust and his efforts should be applauded.
7.4 Latest from David Edward's Group. Unfortunately for them, they were turned down by the Millenium Committee for the funds they were hoping for - to finance their ambitious project for the re-opening of the Radstock to Shepton part of the line, on the grounds of the timescale of their project. A Public Meeting at Chilcompton also did not go according to plan. However David says that all is not lost, despite some unfair and misleading comments in the local press and from a few labour councillors in Radstock. They have for the time being set their sights on a 3 mile stretch around the Masbury to Moorewood section, where most landowners have, in principle, agreed to sell. The Somerset County Council (SCC) appear positive about the plan; the access road via Coal lane may need to be widened if/when the plan goes ahead. The Mayor and others in Wells are very keen on re-opening a (non ex-S and D) link to Shepton. Other, as yet undisclosed, plans are in the pipeline.
John Baxter (late chairman of the S&D Trust) has taken on a senior management role (Chairman as reported in "Pines no 200) with David Edwards et al.
"The Pines" no 200 also reports that this group still plan to reopen the Radstock to Shepton line with an offshoot to Wells. A working base is to be established somewhere between Chilcomptom & Masbury. For more information 'phone 01225-448448
See also this link to a separate web page devoted to this society'Trust and the NSR. (under construction!)Click here!
7.5 Wellow Signal Box. Wellow signal box has now been repainted. A hopeful sign that the antagonism is now over and that the box will stay! The "extension link" between the 2 buildings has not been taken down however. See below for the latest!
7.6 Wellow station. The building is at present being modified. Velux windows are already in place (although not visible from the road or former goods yard.) The Somersetshire Coal Canal Trust is about to erect a non-illuminated information board on the site of this former Goods Yard. (Before the coming of the railway this site was served by a canal from Radstock to Twinhoe. The railway bought up the Canal and used much of its land for the building of its trackbed). The dumping of horse manure very close to the eastern approach to Wellow viaduct may need to be monitored as the acid leachate may damage the mortar.
The owner of the Riding School at Wellow has applied for Planning Permission to use a section of the trackbed from his present location towards Twinhoe. Unless I'm told more, I can't see a problem with this.
It was good to see the S&D Trust with an exhibition tent at the Wellow Horticultural and Village Show on Sat. 13th of Sept. Thanks to all concerned! Please come again next year!
7.7 Partition inside the MSN station building is now complete ( as per 1950's design). A telephone (for the Tourist Board) is soon to be installed in the station building. Iron railings at MSN now painted. Windows are being reglazed. Rail and sleepers have been offered to us, but we need help with transport. Can anyone help please? We think we may be offered 5 points from a site in Dorset.
In the pipeline are firm offers for: an Esso oil tanker; a flat-plank wagon; a vented wagon, to be based at Silver street station, as well as an 1854 Brake Van.
We have also been offered sufficient track and sundries for the relaying of the track into the Engine shed. This should be completed by August.
We have been the lucky recipients of about £1 000 from the ex-Midford Project. Many thanks to Tim Deacon, Peter Stone et al..
Rockery and garden now replanted near the Up-platform.
Down railings partly replaced.
Up-platform white-lined.
Signal box patio area now cleared.
Information /display signboard erected.
Station building now repainted.
Ticket office entrance now complete.See:Picture
Next on the list:
-
Indoor bay windows
- fireplace
- Goods'shed gables
- Station Canopy
- New Running Boards
- Preparation of shed floor for track. The shed siding and cattle dock trackbed will be taken down by up to a foot. The shed floor needs to be cut for the track.
7.8 On the 19th of August we received 2 NCB coal wagons from Washford (S&D Trust). One is a gift to us; one is on loan.Thanks to them for this generous gesture.
These wagons are 1958 standard Charles Roberts 7 plank wagons with pin-down brakes, with 1 side and 1 end topper door for coal use on the Kilmersdon incline. 13 ton capacity.
The S&D Telegraph (2) has more pictures and details (See point 7.3 above). As you can see things are really gathering pace. Why not join us?
8.0 "£2.75 million to re-open the S&D from Twerton in Bath to Midsomer Norton"
This headline appeared in the Bath Chronicle on Oct. 8th 1997. This bold idea belongs to Mr Laurence Skinnerton the owner of Midford station. It would take 10 years in all and would be partly funded from National Lottery money and European Grants. Obviously B&NES would need to support it too and here comes a problem. Although Mike Finch (their transportation Planning Manager) did not turn the idea down he did, rightly, point to the formidable economic and technical difficulties..B&NES are also in a bit of a muddle over the "regeneration" of the centre of Radstock. The old S&D station has of course gone, to be replaced by a car park. But the GWR site is still there.. .. a large expanse of derelict ground although the old "mineral"railway line from Frome runs almost into the old platforms. Some 250 yards from this site, towards Frome, is the HQ of the Somerset & Avon Railway Co. (SARA) (now to be called The North Somerset Railway (NES), whose avowed aim is to re-open this old line. Their new president is Mr David Edwards who, until very recently, was reponsible for the unfortunately defunct plan to reopen the S&D from Bath to Shepton Mallet, now partly mirrored in Mr Skinnerton's plans (see above). To pipe-dreamers (like me?) a reopening of the Frome to Radstock line and a link with the old S&D trackbed from Bath to Radstock or Midsomer Norton would make perfect sense. Although David Edwards is concentrating on the SARA scheme, he is still chairman of the S&D Restoration Trust, while John Baxter is chiaman of the associated S&D Resoration Society It is believed that the old plan of reopening the line from Radstock to Shepton has not been dropped and is now largely under the control of John Baxter (ex chairman of the S&D Railway Trust). They have recently stopped the building of a pumping station that had been planned over the former trackbed near to the Silver st. station site at Midsomer Norton and appears to have prevented the demolishing of an overbridge that took the "East Somerset Railway" over the S&D near to Shepton Mallet. This would have meant that the East Somerset would have been unable to have run their trains into High St. The Restoration Trust have also been able to force the local Council to allow the description of the Radstock to MSN trackbed to allow for the possible use of trains rather than just for "leisure", which was the previous description. Rail lovers should applaud their efforts.
However B&NES are now considering a planning proposal from Beazer Homes Ltd that the whole Radstock site, mentioned above, will be re developed into a complex with a large supermarket, low-cost housing and a pub! Beazers are apparently not interested in buying part of the land. If Beazers went ahead the pipe-dream (above) would be ended and another excellent idea for curbing the traffic chaos around the Radstock to Bath region would be lost at a very time when nearly everyone can see the benefits of a more integrated and varied transportation policy. (Beazer were planning that SARA's new station would be a long way from the centre of Radstock).
Besides, local people ask, why do we need another supermarket? Just opposite the old GWR station site is RADCO an enormous and popular supermarket. Another just a few hundred yards away do not make sense! Locals have also criticised the low-cost housing. They say the Radstock already has more than enough of this and what is needed is more up-market buildings to encourage a wider social mix. What Radstock badly needs, besides a new railway network, is a Sports and Leisure Centre.
Predictably, David Edwards is angry. Just at the moment he has offered his services to SARA he finds that the Council may well sell "his" land and force SARA to move buildings and rolling-stock. He has offered to chain himself to the railings in protest!
Other, competing plans, may include a "joint" station at Radstock to service both "S&D" and "GWR" rolling stock. This would probably not be at the ex GWR station (wrong position) or the locality of the old S&D station (could not accommodate a 10 coach train). Perhaps a site near to ex-Ludlow's colliery would be more appropriate??
However, see below:
Latest update from David received on 8/1/'98.:
Concerning the NES the 3 councils involved (Mendip. B&NES and SCC) have pledged £5k each to help set up a steering group to consider all proposals. £10k has been earmarked for a Feasibility study of the NES/Radstock project. So far they have agreed that the best location for the proposed Radstock station is where the old GWR one was situated, although it may need to be extended in order to accommodate the various trains (heritabge, freight and commuter). A possible link to the S&D could be made but preliminary plans would be to go to the site of the former Marcroft works only. This would necessitate a slight re-routing from the original trackbed, viz. a tighter curve over a boxed-in stream.
EWS/Railtrack are, apparently, still "interested" in the Frome - Radstock line. I can't say anymore ... but watch this space just in case. It is still owned by "BR".
The council is in a fix. "Council faces both ways over rail plans" ... headline in the Journal (18th Sept. 1997). Why not write to them??
8.1 Wellow Signal Box sold so local people tell me. The new owner is a Mr Stevens (no not me and no relation I'm afraid). He has proposed a meeting with the Parish Council. He probably wishes to overule the lack of Planning Permission given to the illegal extension, hoping for retrospective agreement. Even if he gets this (doubtful?) he will still have to apply for a change of use to a permanent dwelling status. The water supply has apparently been turned off and local feeling is that he won't win on this issue either. Once again it may mean that The Signal Box, just recently painted, may again be under threat in 6 months time. Let's hope not!
August 1998. No more news but gardens and parking area attached to the box are becoming overgrown and weed-infested.
8.2 Wellow station restoration is proceeding nicely. I hope soon to publish some pics. The old stone built store is being completely re-roofed. All the old wood was rotten and has needed to be replaced. All features/mouldings have been faithfully replaced. The author spent a very enjoyable day on Oct. 29th helping.
8.3 Bath Green Park. Sainsbury's is expanding here and is encroaching on even more S&D land. It now makes it more certain than ever that the "New S&D", if it could ever re-open, would be unable to access the original station.
8.4 Midford station is up for sale.
Assistant Museum Curator's Report
February 1998
by Peter Cattermole
Over the winter, Trust volunteers have been continuing to work on several projects. We are most fortunate in a having secure, relatively dry (but cold!) workshop and now a good level shed in which to work. In the shed, Neil Pankhurst and his team has been carrying on with completing the external work on the S & D Coach No. 4. In the new year, the former generator van was stripped of its superstructure with the aid of the steam crane (Nigel always manages to keep warm!). The undercarriage was then professionally cleaned by grit-blasting and painted. It was hoped that the coach would be united with its six-wheel frame by Easter. The Chairman has been working on the axlebox bearings on Kilmersdon, to make sure of smooth running in 1998. He's been busy on all sorts of other jobs too! Stripping down and repainting of the CCT display vehicle and the brown LSWR van has been carried out in part professionally, then completed to the highest possible standards by Alan Cottrell. A scaffold tower has been purchased to help with access and to enable other maintenance work to be carried out safely. Now that the shed floor is concreted, the backlog of maintenance on the rolling stock should be reduced - especially if more volunteers are forthcoming to help with preparing and painting.
In the shed extension, Peter Davis and his gang of skilled senior citizens have been compressing draw-bar springs and generally fettling up the new oak chassis for the LSWR Road Van. It's an impressive and unique reconstruction which will be covered up all too soon by the superstructure. It's well worth visiting before the summer!
The extended Peat Works Railway has been put to bed for the winter. Some volunteers have come forward to help with restoration or rebuilding of the wagons, and I must apologise to them for not yet having made arrangements to transport the wagons to them. It's a problem that's not that easily or cheaply solved. If anyone can help, I should be very pleased to hear.
The winter storms which devastated so many parts of the country brought little damage at Washford. One clear plastic roof light was ripped off the shed, but soon replaced. The superior drainage system at Washford (the product of many hours labour) coped very well, but there was significant run-off from the field which caused some bank slippage beyond the Wells Hut. This area will need attention over the summer, and will probably result in some improvements being made in the region of the loop spur.
In the station, your Assistant Museum Curator has been warm and busy too. The old spotlamps (installed second-hand by him in the late 1970s) in the main room have been removed and replaced by brand new low voltage "luminaires". The saving in energy consumption will be very significant, for the total energy consumed by the new system will be equivalent to just three of the old lamps. Volunteers staffing the shop need not worry quite so much about turning the lights off (I hope that may mean many more of you will volunteer this year - please send your offers to Roy Pitman, address p2: every day helps). The remainder of the carriage and loco hand lamps have been illuminated and look very attractive. The large red bulls-eyes of the S & D carriage lamps are most impressive. New blinds have been fitted to some of the windows in order to screen exhibits and sensitive paperwork from sunlight. The recently conserved and framed Burnham-on-Sea poster has been replaced on display. Three long enamel signs from timetable boards at Bath have been cleaned, framed out and mounted on the panelling, and the STALBRIDGE station sign (white on green) has been fixed to the wall of the second room. With further work in progress, and with a new set of hitherto unseen S & D slides on this year's Photo-CD display, the Museum should certainly be worth a visit this year, so do come along - or even better, see it when you volunteer for a day.
New additions are always most welcome to the Museum. Please let Bill Gates or me know if you can help. Of special concern is the future of S & D or other railway items upon the death of elderly members or former railwaymen. Often a simple bequest to the S D R T in a Will ensures that the items are preserved for the future (and will not attract Inheritance Tax). Please contact us for further information.
___________________
WANTED
for the Museum
Whitaker Tablet Catching/delivering apparatus to fit to the side of Kilmersdon
Please contact Peter Cattermole
01962 854331
_____________________
BLUEBOOK
The Trust is considering publishing a second edition of the Bluebook on Alfred Whitaker and the Tablet Apparatus. I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who has material that they would consider lending for possible inclusion in the new monograph.
Manuscripts or suggestions for future Bluebooks are always most welcome at any time.
Please reply in the first instance to Peter Cattermole (address p.2)
___________________
April 1998
1.Dave Hallett has resigned from the Chair of the S&DRT to be replaced by Dr. Peter Cattermole.
2.The forementioned pumping station planning application near to Midsomer Norton has reared it's ugly head again. Please, if this one is planned for the trackbed, help us to fight it.
3.SUSTRANS have seemingly purchased some trackbed from Radstock to Bath for use as a cycle way. Remember that they appear anti-rail and might fight very hard to stop us or others in re-opening the line.
4.BANES may be going ahead with a cycle-way from Midsomer Norton to Radstock. This sounds like good news but the implications for the Wansdyke Plan are less encouraging.
5. The SARA project at Radstock may be under threat from BANES. If so, this is a grave disappointment, but not the end of the idea ... presumably just that the new station will be in the "wrong' place, (although that's bad enough)
Snippets from the SDRT...April/May 1998
Dr Peter Cattermole was elected Chairman at the AGM on 4 April. A new
management committee has met and is conducting a thorough review of the
Trust's activities. Some novel ideas are being thought up to help to keep
alive the old S & D and to encourage interest in the Trust's activities.
A few more track components surplus to SDRT requirements at Washford have
been donated to help at help at Midsomer Norton.
The new oak underframe for the LSWR Roadvan is nearly complete and was
reunited with its wheels on 26 April.
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