Memories Shared at Gartell Reunion

It was a time for swapping memories and meeting old friends when over 30 former employees of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway met for their annual reunion on Sunday July 26.

This year’s reunion took place at the Gartell Light Railway’s two day Steam Festival where attractions included steam trains on the railway, including two engines in steam on the Sunday and a double headed six coach train on the last service. Cars , tractors, commercial vehicles and of course miniature steam road vehicles were also on display.

Both days proved popular with visitors many of whom visited the Trust’s sales stand manned by Ian Young and Robin Pearson who reported a healthy sales return from the variety of  books , Christmas cards , calendars, DVDs and postcards they had on display.

Trust Chairman Godfrey Baker was one of several committee members who attended the re-union and he said “ It was great to see so many old friends meeting together again and sharing tales from what is now a long time ago. The memories are still fresh in many of their minds and everyone went home happy. A particular attraction of meeting at the Gartell was that they had the opportunity to travel under steam along part of the old S&D trackbed although the motive power and stock were a bit smaller than  they were used to in the days before 1966. I am sure everyone is looking forward to next year”.

Photographs (c) Paul Guppy