The S&DJR

[Retropractor]

Does anyone else have a fascination with the Somerset & Dorset? I think I must have owned or read, every book that Ivo Peters ever published, on the line.
Such a shame, that not a single part of it remains.
I never got to travel on the exclusive S&D line, proper. Although I did journey on the shared stretches from Bath Green Park, up to the midlands, and Bournemouth West to Parkstone. I have been over the line at Templecombe, and under it, at Cole.
Is Templecombe shed still in situ? It was, the last time I passed, on a rail tour.

 

[Templecombe]

Does anyone else have a fascination with the Somerset & Dorset? I think I must have owned or read, every book that Ivo Peters ever published, on the line.
Such a shame, that not a single part of it remains.
I never got to travel on the exclusive S&D line, proper. Although I did journey on the shared stretches from Bath Green Park, up to the midlands, and Bournemouth West to Parkstone. I have been over the line at Templecombe, and under it, at Cole.
Is Templecombe shed still in situ? It was, the last time I passed, on a rail tour.

I do even through I'm only 20 years old
yeah the sheds still there

 

[Kinghambranch]

"Such a shame, that not a single part of it remains."

Not quite. Track is being relaid at Midsomer Norton and at Shillingford, where both stations have been or are being rebuilt. The Gartell Light Railway runs over some of the old S&D formation and, although not a railway as such, the Devonshire Tunnel on the outskirts of Bath has been "uncovered" as part of the 2 tunnels linear path/cycleway. The Midford Station site purchase for restoration is imminent and, if certain people have their way, the line may well reopen throughout. It may not of course but there is much more of the old S&D to see now than there was say 10 years ago.

 

[Retropractor]

That would be quite extraordinary, if it could be re-opened, throughout. But wasn't a viaduct, or something, demolished? I seem to recall a TV programme about the line, where former driver Peter Smith, was walking along part of the line, until they came to a sheer drop.

Oh....and thank you guys, for my ticket upgrade, to First class.

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

There's loads of obstacles in the way, there's numerous bridges missing including over the GWML at Bruton, & Cole viaduct, then you've got an industrial estate on the site on Wincanton station, a dirty great gap where the A303 Wincanton Bypass went through the formation, the list is massive!

 

[Retropractor]

Not to mention, Bath Green Park station, which, I am led to believe, is now a Sainsbury's car park.

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

It IS Sainsbury's.

 

[Kinghambranch]

It IS Sainsbury's.

One thing to thank supermarkets for I suppose, there is little doubt that the station would have lost its overall roof at the very least if Sainsburys hadn't incorporated it into a car park. Of course the importance of architecture in Bath probably helped protect this fine edifice from destruction. Not long ago one of the 2 surviving S&D 7Fs was displayed in the car park area and mighty fine it looked too!

Incidentally, and off topic, we (my local RAF Association Branch) collected over £500 yesterday at our local Sainsburys as part of Armed Forces Day. Not bad.

 

[bnm]

A small pedantic point. Anyone fascinated by the Somerset & Dorset would know it's abbreviation as S&DJR, not SD&JR.

EDIT: Noted the change to the thread title. Now makes my post look silly. Thanks

 

[bluebottle]

It IS Sainsbury's.

No, it isn't. Take a look http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...eae75d:0x9c3683d3ad732d05,51.383982,-2.371019
Sainsbury's is the building just south of the formation between the station and the bridge.

 

[Retropractor]

AS I originally said Sainsbury's car park. Not the store, itself. And I have corrected my typo to read S&DJR.

Honestly. I didn't mean to start world war III, over such a trivial subject.

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

Much as Id like to see steam trains operate out of Green Park, I think the chance for doing it has long gone. Looking at Google maps its clear the only way you could do it is as a tramway. The best candidate for trying is the Avon Valley Railway, and they seem to have the plan to build a new station on the outskirts of Bath rather than try to get back in.

I gather there was a plan recently to try to open a guided busway over what little remains of the formation into Greenpark, but it was rejected due to too many people whose properties ajoining it complaining. I think the AVR also put forward a plan to link up with it, but it doesnt even seem to have been seriously considered by the local council.

Still, if you want to see trains operate out the station again, there is an easier alternative.....
http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/tmrg/

 

[Kinghambranch]

It is now confirmed on the New S&D Website that the Midford Station site has now been purchased for restoration as an information centre for the New Somerset & Dorset Railway. It is intended eventually to form part of the rebuilt S&D but of course this remains the subject of much debate, incredulity, etc. However, this is another (tiny) part of the S&D that will at least return from abandonment and that is good news.

 

[The Decapod]

It is now confirmed on the New S&D Website that the Midford Station site has now been purchased for restoration as an information centre for the New Somerset & Dorset Railway.

I'll stop there for coal and water next time I ride my bike along the cycleway!

 

[AndyJB]

I, personally, think that opening the S&D being reopened throughout is unrealistic due to much of the formation having been lost to housing/industrial estates, roads, bypasses, and the removal of numerous bridges/viaducts. Certainly, the Bath end has lost Green Park Station to Sainsburys, the Midland Bridge was demolished, Dartmouth Avenue bridge demolished and Monksdale Road bridge demolished.
Some interesting pictures of some of the area at this link: http://www.twotunnels.org.uk/gallery.html.
Furthermore, as per the link/website, the former trackbed through Bath to the Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels is to be converted into a cycle path.

Saying that, it would be fantastic if they could somehow link the parts of the line that have or are being reopened.

Although, as mentioned, the Avon Valley Railway could potentially find it's way back to the outskirts of Bath eventually. In fact, it's probably fair to say that the potential for reopening sections of the old Midland Bath - Mangotsfield route is considerably greater, since the trackbed is largely unaltered (save the fact it's a cycleway) and most of the stations are intact. Though it may be wishful thinking, I love the idea of seeing Mangotsfield with a train in one of it's platforms again!

 

[Templecombe]

88 and 34046 double headed a train on the west somerset at the weekend no pines headboard through