Latest News – West Somerset Railway Association

West Somerset Railway Association

Supporting the Heritage of The West Somerset Railway

Restructuring the West Somerset Railway
As members will be aware, the WSRA has welcomed the direction of the Bailey report and is working with the PLC and other members of the railway family towards implementing a new structure. The proposed structure would achieve a new charity to own the railway and the operating company and offer a home to the...Read More »
WSRA receives £50,000 funding from Julia and Hans Rausing’s Charity Survival Fund
The West Somerset Railway Association are delighted to announce they have received £50,000 funding from Julia and Hans Rausing’s Charity Survival Fund. This kind and generous grant has been donated in order to mitigate the economic impact of the Covid 19 pandemic and to support the charity in covering their core costs. We are all...Read More »
West Somerset Railway Railway secures significant Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage support from Government
The West Somerset Railway (WSR) has announced today Friday 9 October that its recent application to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) ‘Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage’ support has been successful. The Plc will now receive a grant of £865,000, all of which will help the 23-mile former GWR branch line recover from...Read More »
A joint Statement from the Recent PDG Meeting held on 23rd Sept 2020
“The Partnership Development Group (PDG) met yesterday to consider proposals from the PLC towards achieving ‘One Railway’ via a fundamental re-organisation of the PLC to create a parent charity, with the PLC operating as a subsidiary company. The meeting was also attended by John Bailey, architect of the recent report recommending these changes. The PDG...Read More »
Representing your views at the AGM
Members will have received invitations and documents for the AGM, to be held on 26th September 2020, at 10.00am. There is detailed information on this website under Membership/AGM 2020 explaining how to book your place at the AGM, either in person, or via the weblink. All places at the AGM must be pre-booked and will...Read More »
4561 restoration project wins Transport Trust Commemorative Award
National Transport Trust (est. 1965 as Transport Trust) is the only national body which promotes and encourages the preservation and restoration of Britain’s transport heritage in all its forms – road, rail, wings and water. The National Transport Trust Commemorative Awards comprise four Commemorative awards named after key founding members of the Transport Trust and represent the very best of...Read More »
WSRA secures grant for 4561 from Aurelius Charitable trust
WSRA fundraiser, Kate Williams, reports that we have received a grant of £3,500 from the Aurelius Charitable trust to help towards the restoration costs of 4561. This brings the total secured towards this project from trusts and foundations to £82,940.67. The Aurelius Charitable Trust makes donations reflecting the founder’s interests in the conservation of culture...Read More »
Financial support for the West Somerset Railway
The trustees of the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA), and the board of the West Somerset Railway PLC (PLC) are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement which will financially support the railway during these challenging times. Today’s agreement means that: • The WSRA has sold their promotions business (which operates a shop...Read More »
West Somerset Railway Submits Bid to Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage
The West Somerset Railway Joint Fundraising Group is pleased to announce that it has been able to support the PLC in submitting, on behalf of the whole railway, a substantial 6-figure bid to the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage established by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The bid focuses on winter infrastructure...Read More »
WSRA starts blog on the Restoration of Small Prairie 4561
Following the success of the progress blog on the completion of 9351 last year, the WSRA has now started a progress blog on the work on Small Prairie 4561 as it moves towards a rolling chassis. The blog will be updated approximately weekly, whenever there is good progress to report and it can be read...Read More »

West Somerset Railway Association

Supporting the Heritage of The West Somerset Railway

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Supporting the Heritage of The West Somerset Railway