An appeal to restore two former British Rail mineral wagons for Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust (S&DRHT) at Midsomer Norton features in this month's issue of Steam Railway magazine.

The S&DRHT appeal aims to raise £10,000 to overhaul the 16-ton wagons - along with others the trust would like to purchase in the future - to recreate a typical S&D freight train.

Stephen Lacey, chairman of trustees, said: "The trust has recently purchased two ex-British Railways 16-ton mineral wagons that currently reside at the Swanage Railway for £3,000.

"Appeal donations will assist with the transportation of these two wagons and their subsequent restoration to running order.

"Both wagons require replacement flooring, a mechanical overhaul, together with a thorough treatment of all the rust prior to painting.

"Transportation is approximately £750 and it will cost a further £2,500 to refurbish them.

"When fully-restored they will form part of the trust's long-term ambition to recreate a demonstration freight train - once so typical of the S&D operations on this part of the line.

"When the collieries were open, there would have been hundreds of these wagons pass through the station each week, we are looking forward to bringing another part of Midsomer Norton's heritage back to life."

The appeal which you can see here: the sdjr site has received just shy of £500 so far and donations over and above the transportation and restoration costs will be used to purchase additional wagons.