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MIDSOMER NORTON A few pictures showing progress, particularly the recreation of Midsomer Norton Signal Box on Thursday 24 May 2007. Sentinel 0-4-0 awaiting overhaul. No37 'Joyce' was recently privately
purchased by a consortium of SDRHT members (not the SDRHT itself). This unique
engine is very similar to the types used at Radstock until the 1950's. Midsomer
Norton Station, 25 February 2005.
One of the many jobs being carried out the day of my visit was the repair of the goods yard side of the platform edge. I was delighted to see that about 120ft of track had also been laid at the end of the yard. Several lengths of both bullhead and flat-bottomed rail were stacked up in preparation for further laying. Prior to laying track between platforms at the Radstock end of the site, the slope down to the old bridge abutments need to be made safe. There is unlikely to be any track laid in this area before Easter 2002 due to this. It was interesting to note the excavation of the remains of the old LSWR lattice starter at the Radstock end – it looked like `Time Team' had been digging an excavation - I expected Tony Robinson to pop out from nowhere. The station building was open showing off the excellent restoration that has taken place inside. Various new, second hand books, videos and prints were for sale in addition to trust information. Of particular interest was an aerial illustration of what the site could look like once the track is re-laid. My thoughts turned to how car parking could successfully be accommodated once the site was open to the general public, apparently visitors will be whisked up by bus from an off site car park. Standing in the yard whilst surveying the activity, I chatted to a cherpy old local chap who used the line from '59 onwards, he remembered the station from the days when the Pines Express used to romp through. He spoke about the line as if it were still open. His biggest regret was that video camcorders weren't around in those days – a regret we all share no doubt! He regularly used to photograph the line at Masbury, water damage due to flooding alas has tragically destroyed most of his photographic collection. When out taking pictures he would occasionally bump into Ivo Peters, his words were "Ivo was a very nice chap, he used the race the Pines in his Bentley, I used to try in my Mini van". Many of the volunteers are members of the Radstock to Frome railway scheme just down the road (an unconnected plan to utilise the old mothballed line to run passenger trains again). Several volunteers at Midsomer Norton wouldn't have even been born when the line closed back in '66, proving very that `heritage' railway preservation is not just an old boy's game. It also shows the `pulling power' the S&D extols despite being closed for well over a generation. Plans are already underway for the running of the first trains once a suitable length of track is down. A former S&D driver and fireman hopefully will be in charge of the first trains. It is hoped that two B.R. Standard class 4MT tanks masquerading as 80043 & 80138 will double-head the first train. These two engines were used on the final trains all those years ago.
Chris Nevard A bit of history . . .
Pics M. Snellegrove.
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