2007 - the last easy year!

2007 is likely to be the last easy year at Midsomer Norton -not that we mind! At the moment everything is development, from 2008 and the opening to the public it will be development and operation.

Operating a working line will need a whole new tranche of volunteers - guards, station masters and mistresses, signalmen and women, engine drivers etc.

There will also be the need to open on extra days - to this end the shop is likely to be open 4 or 5 days a week from this month, we'll also be opening the catering coach on more days each week as the year passes. We're also planning occasional evening openings of the catering coach with special meals and patio discos. This will all give us a higher presence locally and, importantly, increased revenue.

With the receipt of the HLF funds for the museum there will be the need for museum staff, this will also bring many more visitors to the site.

Other developments in 2007 will include the launch of our new website, a glossy sales list and, of course, extension of the line southwards towards Chilcompton.

2008 - a year to remember

Steam Railway magazine has let the cat out of the bag so now it's public - the S&D should be running again, for the public, by the summer of 2008. Track should extend to over half a mile by then.

Now is definitely the time to join the Trust if you're not yet a member. The workload in order to get running is heavy but manageable, new volunteers will be made more than welcome! Work up till now has mainly been preparation, building etc, as well as setting up administration systems ready for the big day, but from 2008 we'll need drivers, station staff, guards, signalmen and women, gardeners, retail and office staff. We expect membership to go through the roof once we're up and running!

On a personal note I'm planning to get married on the reopening day, with a reception up at the station!