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MSN 150 Gala - early view of the station
(Collection of) West Country Railway Archives
FROM 20 Jul

MSN 150 Gala

20th Jul 2024

On Saturday, July 20th, 2024, it will be exactly 150 years since the opening of Midsomer Norton Station on the Bath extension of the Somerset and Dorset Railway. Come and join us to celebrate this significant milestone in the history of our railway.

****TICKETS AVAILABLE SOON****

  • Separate daytime and evening events – see below.
  • Rover ticket format – travel on any or all of trains running.
  • Free Wickham Trolley Rides (day session only)
  • Pasty and a Pint ticket option (evening session only).
  • Free entry into prize draw with all online bookings – one entry per order
  • Station shop, buffet, book emporium and museum open.

 

Day Event (10:00 – 16:30)

  • Trains running throughout the day from 10am until approximately 16:30.
  • Loco hauled trains and Diesel Multiple Unit – vintage stock.
  • All available motive power will be in use.
  • Free Wickham Trolley rides in the yard area – running all day subject to demand.
  • Mendip Brass Band.
  • Online tickets are automatically entered into free Prize Draw

 

Evening Event (18:00 – 21:00) with Pasty and a Pint tickets available.

  • DMU service running from 18:15 to 20:45
  • Ticket options include Pasty and a Pint of Real Ale (age 18+ only) as well as “train only” options and child tickets.
  • Station shop & buffet open.
  • Online tickets are automatically entered into free Prize Draw
Somerset & Dorsert Railway Midsomer Norton South Signal Boc
B Hill

MSN 150 Gala - Free Prize Draw - "The Station Pilot" Bachmann

To celebrate 150 Years of the Station at Midsomer Norton South, the S&DJR are offering the chance for one lucky railway fan to own a quality OO scale Train Set – the “Station Pilot” by Bachmann - RRP £275!

The “Station Pilot” was a common sight at major stations in the days of steam. They were used to move empty coaching stock in and out of the platforms as services arrived and departed. The “Webb Coal Tank” was ideally suited to these duties and comes with three BR Mk1 coaches to keep it busy.

Contents:

• LNWR Webb Coal Tank No. 58900 BR Black Early Emblem

• BR Mk1 FK Maroon Coach x 1

• BR Mk1 BSK Maroon Coach x 1

• BR Mk1 GUV Maroon Coach x 1

• Oval of track

• Fully compatible with all other leading makes of UK track

• AC mains wall transformer and controller

The prize winner will be informed of the good news using the contact details provided with the online order.

 

MSN 150 - Historical Background

Midsomer Norton Station was opened on July 20th 1874 as part of the Bath extension which was built by the Somerset & Dorset Railway in a mere 2 years – remarkably quick considering the steeply graded profile and the need for 11 viaducts and 4 tunnels. 3000 men were employed in the work. The station name has changed over the years – originally just plain “Midsomer Norton”, it became “Midsomer Norton & Welton” in 1898,” Midsomer Norton Upper” in 1949 and finally “Midsomer Norton South” in 1950 – the last has survived into preservation. The accompanying pictures show the station as it was around 1900 and for comparison as it is now.

Midsomer Norton & Welton Station c1900
(Collection of) West Country Railway Achives
Midsomer Norton South Station - Down Platform view 12 05 2024
PS

Robin Atthill in his book “The Somerset & Dorset Railway” (pub David & Charles, 1967) writes as follows on the Bath extension:

“It was a courageous but fatal decision: courageous for the vision which replaced a struggling Channel-to-Channel line by the final link in a narrow-gauge route linking the North and the Midlands with the South Coast and the West of England; fatal in that it almost inevitably invited financial suicide and the death of the Somerset & Dorset as an independent company.”

Almost exactly 2 years after the opening of Midsomer Norton Station and the Bath extension the Somerset and Dorset Railway was taken over and run jointly by the Midland and the London & South Western railways: it became the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway by Act of Parliament on July 13th 1876.