I've been hearing some disconcerting stuff about various S&D groups and I think it's time all the various parties stepped back from their tiny agendas and take time to set what they are doing in the wider perspective of UK rail renewal. The New S&D is committed to unifying the disparate strands in the S&D 'community', in fact it's enshrined in our constitution. As far as I'm concerned all the groups working to restore and preserve the S&D should commit to eventually combining their resources so that reinstatement of the entire S&D happens sooner rather than later.
The collection at Washford needs to come home at some time, it's out on a limb over at Washford and is only there due to ancient history - 1970s lack of appreciation of railways as an asset. Blame the council at Radstock, not the preservationists at Washford. But we're thirty years on from all that and S&D material belongs on the S&D.
Midsomer Norton and Shillingstone are doing wonders restoring their stations but I'm sure there is far more opportunity to work together on various projects. And the New S&D hopes that Washford, Shillingstone and Midsomer Norton members come along to help when the actual job of rebuilding, at Spetisbury and Midford for starters, begins in earnest.
We should make a point of having an annual joint event at each site in turn with all groups represented, everyone getting together for a social, and show the world the the old, friendly and cool image of the S&D didn't die in 1966 but is alive and well and stronger than ever. I'm up for it - are you?
