Winter Work Programme, are you able to help?

Winter Working Parties 

We are all aware that there is a lot to be done in the few short weeks before we launch the new season at the end of March. The purpose of this note is to tell you how you can help.

We have a major programme of track renewals, permanent way work, a locomotive fleet to prepare, and a range of ROGS procedures and standards work to enable our nineteenth century Railway to comply with twenty first century legislation and standards. 

In these notes, I concentrate on areas which improve the offering to the people who come to visit and who work on our Railway. The list is endless, there really is something for everyone. 

We will need people to help organise the activities, so if you like to get things organised, I will be especially pleased to hear from you – [email protected]

Thanks to some very generous support both financial and practical, we have a programme of coach painting under way. When our coaches emerge from the paint shops, they will need a thorough clean: 

windows internal and external, 

upholstery, 

table tops,

floors, 

lighting fitments, 

cobwebbing 

lavatories

If you can help organise any of the above, please let me know – [email protected] 

We justifiably take great pride in our stations, at this stage please get in touch with your stationmaster and offer some extra help so that they really sparkle by the end of March. 

Other common user parts of the Railway are also in need of some TLC. I think of mess rooms, including the wash ups, signing on points

At Minehead in particular, the general office is looking rather tired and we could cheer everyone up by giving it a lick of paint to help with this project contact - [email protected]

There are tasks to be undertaken along the line, here are a few.  Where no contact is listed, please contact – [email protected]

Minehead Station FOMS will be grateful for extra assistance with re-paint and weeding. 

Dunster Goods Shed This presents a real challenge as it involves working at height, obstructing the running line to Clean the Gutters and a major repaint so a project manager will be our first need – [email protected]

Dunster Station and Environs The stationmaster will need extra help to tidy up walk way and gates from station to Dunster Sea Lane Level Crossing. 

Blue Anchor – Replace Historic Board that says Beware of Catch Points and re-fix. This one looks a bit specialist so contact me if you can help get it organised - [email protected] 

Washford- Clear under growth from both Bridges approaching Washford- (Old Cleeve and Accommodation Bridge) [email protected] , Painting Platform White Line, Tuesday working party - [email protected] 

Williton- Site tidy up and re-painting of Swindon Shed Doors – [email protected]

The remaining tasks are perfect for people who enjoy being out of doors, more fun and productive than a gym membership. All need elements of careful pre-planning and some basic railway training so contact your usual team leader or the stationmaster or me first.  

Stogumber- removal of old gardening Sheds/ greenhouse- Cutting back behind Platform to enable monitoring of slope. Painting Platform White Line 

Crowcombe- undergrowth removal from both overbridges – [email protected] , Painting Platform White Line, Thursday working parties – [email protected]

Bishops Lydeard - Loco Shed tidy up – [email protected] , Filling Potholes in Car Park – [email protected] , assisting RAMs in Blackmore House. 

Norton Fitzwarren Triangle Site- Painting Platform White Line and Site tidy up of track work (excluding Luffmans’ Site!) – [email protected]

P Way- Blue Anchor Relay- help on site- Wet Weather Gear required – [email protected]

Engineering- Help with 9351 at Williton – [email protected] - Help with Carriages 4260 and 5002 currently in the workshop 

Commercial- Help with Leaflet distribution around Somerset. This requires a volunteer co-ordinator to ensure good coverage at known generators of passengers for our trains – [email protected]

And finally 

Scrap Trains. The first Scrap Train ran in the twentieth century and paid for the rewiring of parts of Minehead Shed, and subsequent trains provided much needed funds. Our need for cash and a tidier Railway has never been greater – [email protected]

For this and all the other Winter volunteering opportunities please return to the websites for updates. 

Mark Smith,