Wickham Wednesdays back for 2022 - Trolley Rides on the S&D

The ride on the Wickham Trolley provides excellent all-round visibility of the railway and especially the track and signalling that has been installed in the last 20 years or so. Here is the view it affords looking towards the southern end of the current extension and the in-filled cutting on the approach to Chilcompton Tunnel.

These vehicles were mainly used for track inspection purposes and the one we have (a Type 27A) was originally supplied by D Wickham & Co Ltd to BR Western Region, Oxford in 1956. It was allocated to various localities, mainly in Wales,  until sold by BR in 1986. There then followed spells at the Narrow Gauge Railway Centre of North Wales, storage at Nuneaton, and then in 2011 to a new private owner in Dorset. Finally moved to Midsomer Norton in 2016 in "kit form" to undergo full restoration which was completed in 2019. Originally powered by a Ford 10hp engine it now uses the engine from a Reliant Robin! These trolleys were no stranger to the S&D and the last railway vehicle to be removed from Evercreech Junction was a Wickham!