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.

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Recent News Posts

WSRHT Board Meetings – July, September and November 2024

Board Meeting Minutes Published
July, September and November Meetings

The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust is pleased to publish the minutes of three recent Board Meetings. July Board Meeting held on Thursday, 25th July 2024. September Board Meeting held on Thursday, 26th September 2024. November Board Meeting held on Thursday, 28th November 2024.

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

July Board Meeting 25th July 2024
September Board Meeting 26th September 2024
November Board Meeting 28th November 2024

Trust News on Toplight Carriage No. 3639

WSRHT News on Toplight Carriage No. 3639

The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust is pleased to confirm the move of Toplight carriage no. 3639 from Williton to Washford was completed by a WSR PLC team using two shunters on Monday 7th October. 

The special train also carried a wreath in memory of Ronnie Wainhouse who passed away recently.  Ronnie was a well loved member of the carriage restoration team working for the past 10 years on both 6705 and 3639 – he will be sorely missed.

Due to the poor condition of the carriage, the move was completed using a specially devised safety procedure (as used for moving the earlier carriages from Dunster) at a maximum speed of 5mph with careful monitoring along the way before arriving safely at Washford.

The restoration of 3639 has been ongoing for many years at Williton without using any covered accommodation. The move to Washford brings a much improved environment for the Trust’s carriage restoration team with the carriage now residing under cover in the shed at Washford next to Collett carriage no. 6705 where restoration work will be carried out on both carriages.

© WSRHT 2024

Ongoing Website Maintenance

Maintenance to the WSRHT Website

The official website of the WSRHT is undergoing a short maintenance overhaul, but will remain live throughout this time. However, visitors to the website may notice some modest changes from time to time, which reflect valuable feedback from our members, volunteers, and members of the public. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for supporting our Heritage Trust and Railway. Our social media accounts remain open, live and will continue to update our community. 

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