Skip to content

West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust WSRHT

Update on Gauge Museum Project

Trust Recruits New Learning Assistants

As part of our development of the Learning Offer for the Gauge Museum Project, the Trust is recruiting to the new role of Learning Assistant. Learning Assistants will work with Helen Anson in the implementation of the Learning Offer to schools, children and family visitors. We are looking for people who can combine their interest in heritage and museums with particular skills in working with groups and delivering material with an educational content. We have already had a number of individuals come forward to express interest and if you think this is something that you might wish to be involved with, then do please contact:

Helen Anson Learning Officer at helen_anson@hotmail.com

Design and Interpretation Programme for the Gauge Museum

Following the appointment of Smith and Jones as our external consultants, the first workshop to bring together the Trusts vision and the concept document from Smith and Jones will be held on Friday 5th April. A programme of work and timetable will also emerge from these discussions and we will keep Members, volunteers and the public up to date with progress as more detail emerges.

Learning and Education Group

A small working group has been established to look at key issues for all the organisations across the railway in this important area. Trust representatives are Geoff Evens and Helen Anson. The aims of the group are to:

  • to promote learning opportunities for visitors of all ages across the WSR;
  • to promote engagement with the local community/local interest groups through a programme of events and focused learning opportunities;
  • to promote and encourage people to become involved in the WSR by supporting these events/learning opportunities as volunteers;
  • to promote opportunities for younger people (13 and up) to become involved with the WSR;
  • to promote access to further education opportunities and funding

The Trust is fully behind this initiative and we wish the Group well in its deliberations. There is an initial focus on developing policies and working arrangements for safeguarding.

More information can be obtained either from Geoff Evens or Helen Anson

Presentation on the Project at the Trust AGM

At the Steam Trust AGM on Saturday 23rd March, Helen Anson and Steve Williams (Project Lead) gave a presentation to Members. A copy of the presentation is provided here.

Share the Post:

Recent News Posts

WSRHT Board Meeting January 2025 Minutes Published

January 2025
Board Meeting Minutes Published

The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust is pleased to publish the minutes of its May Board Meeting on Thursday, 30th January 2025.

Please click the Board Meeting link to access the document as a pop-up tab. Alternatively, to view all Trust Board Meetings since 2016 – view the collection

Board Meeting 30th January 2025

Join Heritage Trust as Communications & IT Trustee

Trustee Communications and Information Technology Opportunity

West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust is a key organisation on the West Somerset Railway and is responsible for:

  • Museums Management
  • Collections Management and Care
  • Heritage Carriages Restoration and Management
  • Education Learning and Community Outreach

The Board is composed of Trustees who are also Directors of the charity, each of whom has a specific set of portfolio responsibilities.

The Trust is looking to appoint a Trustee to lead on our Communications and Information Technology portfolio. The charity is pursuing a full and exciting business agenda over the next few years and we are looking for someone who has an interest in communications to help to promote the work of the Trust both within and across the West Somerset Railway but also externally. The individual concerned will also be responsible for the Information Technology brief and associated governance requirements and so will need to be able to demonstrate expertise in this area.

If you think you are interested and would like to know more, then please contact:

Closing date for applications with a CV and covering letter will be Monday, 7th April 2025.

© Gauge Museum Blue Anchor
WSRHT 2025

WSRHT Tribute to David Baker

WSRHT Tribute to David Baker

The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust (WSRHT) is saddened to learn of the passing of David Baker who held lots of roles across the West Somerset Railway. 

A statement from the Trust’s President, Chris Austin.

David Baker's interest in railways was kindled by his grandfather and uncle, both of whom worked for the Southern Railway. He was an enthusiastic and devoted supporter of the West Somerset Railway for over 25 years. David was Catering Manager for the railway's buffet cars and later was Commercial Director and in 2013, became Vice Chairman of the PLC and in 2015 was acting Chairman. In 2016 he became a trustee and Company Secretary for the Steam Trust (now the WSR Heritage Trust), while continuing to support the PLC as Share Registrar. After the retirement of Pete Treharne, David took on the role as curator of the Blue Anchor Railway Museum. Working with him in these roles was his wife Jill, who survives him and also worked for the Chief Mechanical Engineer, Andy Forster, fulfilling the key role of maintaining locomotive records and also minuted meetings of the Trust's board. David retired as a trustee in 2020.