literary radstock ...

The Five arches, where the former Somerset and Dorset Railway crossed the Great Western Railway at Radstock, features on the front cover of a new children's book, Kitty's Bicycle, written by local author and railway enthusiast Andy Lunness. The book, which uses the familiar childhood experience of learning to ride a bicycle, was written to teach children about money and savings. It is one in a series of books with a financial theme based on the author's own family. The story ends with a bicycle ride along the former Great Western line, now a cycle route. The book is available on-line direct from MALT Publishing at malt-publishing.co.uk, where a 63-piece jigsaw of the Five Arches illustration by Mark Trewren is also available.

future transport

'Near the end of the 20th century, the belief in the desirability of perpetual growth in mobility and transport has started to fade. In many countries, highway accessibility is so ubiquitous that transport cost has almost disappeared as a location factor for industry. In metropolitan areas, the myth that rising travel demand will ever be satisfied by more motorways has been shattered by reappearing congestion.
People have realised that the car has not only brought freedom of movement but also air pollution, traffic noise and accidents. It has become obvious that in the face of finite fossil fuel resources and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions the use of petroleum cannot grow forever.
There is now broad agreement that present trends in transport are not sustainable, and many conclude that fundamental changes in the technology, design, operation, and financing of transport systems are needed.'

For those of you fazed (or crazed in some cases) by the prospect of Peak Oil and Climate Change, why not treat yourself to this book, which is a level-headed, academic but readable work that gives a far brighter prediction for future transport than many of the hair-shirted Peak Oil crazies would like you to have! Electricity is the key ...

buy!

Latest S&D book is Heyday of the Somerset and Dorset Railway by Alan and Christine Hammond. Now available in the station shop - alongside dozens of other S&D (and other) titles!

If you haven't visited the shop yet please try to ASAP! We have probably the best range of S&D books, DVDs and souvenirs on the planet. There is also an extensive (and very cheap!) secondhand shop with railway and other books. The shop's open every Sunday and Monday and there is something new on display most weeks. Remember every penny raised goes directly into restoring the real Somerset and Dorset Railway!

now and then

I remember this book from a few years ago when the whole S&D was quiet. It was inspiring in as much as it showed that much of the S&D was still there, just waiting for the track and trains to return. And already some of the 'now' scenes are reverting to the 'then' scenes, reversing history or, more precisely, righting the wrongs of 1966!

As time goes by more and more of the S&D will be restored, the restored pieces will link together and books like this - that almost perversely celebrated the destruction of the original S&D - will become quaint period pieces, reminding us of those few brief decades when the line was almost lost ...