Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust

The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust is a UK-registered charity, that through operating a railway museum at Midsomer Norton railway station, aims to preserve as much of the former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway as possible. It is separate to and should not be confused with the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust, which is located at the West Somerset Railway's Washford railway station.

The trust was formed shortly before the closure of the S&DJR in 1966 under the Beeching Axe, headquartered in Midsomer Norton. The station site was sold in 1969 to a local school, and then in 1995 to the Wansdyke district council, who leased it to the trust to restore to its 1950s condition.

The trust has since restored the original station buildings, a signalbox and a goods shed. A museum is located in an old horse stable block that houses a collection of S&DJR memorabilia, and there is also a pillbox with World War II exhibits. The Trust has over time relaid the majority of track within the station site, and currently has almost 2 miles (3.2 km) of track.

A road bridge over the railway, north east of the station has been removed, therefore relaying track to the north of the station would be expensive. However, having agreed a lease arrangement with the trackbed owners, the trust is extending track southwards up the gradient along the 2 miles 2 chains (3.3 km) of trackbed towards Chilcompton, and has presently relaid half the required length. The full plan would require restoration of the former Chilcompton railway tunnel.

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Wikipedia