WEST BUCKLAND MINIATURE RAILWAY
NEWS NO.1 29/04/2019
I am delighted to
report that at 3pm on Friday 25th April 2019 Taunton Model
Engineers became the owners of 4.14 acres of land at West Buckland.
Friday was a rather fraught day and it was uncertain right until the
last minute that we would in fact complete on that day. In the end it
was the removal of the lorry from the site - ably assisted by Mark
Hartnell and his dumper truck – which finally allowed us to
finalise the purchase.
This last weekend an
advance working party was held. On the Saturday Maurice and Mark
Hartnell erected the first building on the site, considered essential
by many members. This is The Wee Hoose with obvious function. Every
member should make use of this facility when they visit…
The entrance work
was next, because we could not get members’ vehicles onto the
site, and parking out on the road is dangerous. On Sunday, Mark
Hartnell and David Hartland moved 45 tons of soil and rubbish from
the entrance area and cleared an area for car parking. They also
installed a water pipe and electric conduit under the entrance area.
We are now able to get vehicles in off the road, and this gives us the chance to invite all members to come and see the site, and also to help with the work! We will be returning to regular Thursday working parties and the first will be at 9.30 on Thursday 2nd May.
If you come to site, please wear good shoes because the site is very far from flat and there are many holes to trip you up. We must be very careful with the road. Until we have created a proper visibility splay, moving in and out of the site is awkward. Take care, and do not stop on the road, come right into the site. And one other point – do not obstruct or turn into Emerald Vale Nurseries opposite.
The location notes are attached. If you are using SATNAV, use the postcode TA21 9PX and follow the directions.
The work will be clearing back vegetation – bring strimmers, bowsaws and big brushcutters. There may be some fencing work, and a little bit of rubbish clearance – if anyone wants to help bring a trailer to take rubbish away then that will be great. There will also be some surveying work on the ground. But most of all, come and see what your donations have achieved. At the same time, there may be a group working up at Culmhead on the fabrication of the entrance gates.
Most of your kind pledges were for donations and these are very gratefully received. Several have offered loans and initially we were planning to keep these in reserve, to be called upon if needed. Having looked at our future spending on the site, we have agreed to commit to the first stage of the building purchase and hence we will be asking for the loans to be called in to act as a buffer for the next few months. The loans are appreciated just as much as the donations; and the CLUB SALUTES YOU ALL!
David Hartland, Chairman, Taunton Model Engineers
RETURNWEST BUCKLAND MINIATURE RAILWAY
THE SITE LOCATION - Stoford Lane, West Buckland, Wellington, Somerset.
SAT NAV:
Follow TA21 9PX. This will take you to the entrance to Lee Park. DO NOT TURN INTO LEE PARK but instead turn into the road almost opposite, Stoford Lane, down beside the motorway. The site entrance is 300 yards on the left.
Map Reference: ST179201
Full Map Coordinates: E: 317953 N: 120176
Global Coordinates: Lat:50.9751; Long: -3.1698
Directions:
From M5: Exit at Junction 26.At the roundabout take the minor road exit signed ‘WEST BUCKLAND’ in Blue (not the main road signed for lorries in Black) and proceed for ½ mile into the village. At ‘T’ Junction turn right and after 300 yards, turn left immediately before the motorway bridge. The site entrance is 300 yards on the left.
From A38: Approximately 4 miles south west of Taunton, turn off at Heatherton Park Junction (The World’s End Restaurant) signed ‘WEST BUCKLAND’. Proceed for 1 mile into village, keep straight on and after a further 300 yards turn left immediately before the motorway bridge. The site entrance is 300 yards on the left.
