About Us
The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust is concerned with the historical and educational aspects of railway preservation in West Somerset.
Since 1984 the Trust has made financial contributions to the restoration of GWR steam locomotives 4561 and 4160, rescued a unique GWR sleeping car, established a GWR Museum, registering system and archive, published information leaflets and advised on historical matters. The newsletter, Trust News, is sent to members and associate members occasionally and contains news, information, comment and historical articles.
The Trust is administered by voluntary directors and cannot dispose of items it owns, so gifts and bequests remain safe for the future. In the unlikely event of the Trust being wound up, its property could only be passed to another similar trust. Because of this, people who have collected railway items, rolling stock or shares etc., which they wish to remain safe for the future may feel that a charitable body such as the Trust is the best organisation to which to bequeath them. The Trust may also be willing to accept certain items on loan for exhibition purposes, and these would normally be registered and covered by existing insurance arrangements.
Loans can only be accepted from Accredited Museums or recognised Heritage Sites. Loans from individuals cannot be accepted; only bequeathments or permanent gifts to the museum. Any loans from Accredited Museums or recognised Heritage Sites are accepted for a maximum period of 12 months; this is renewable by written agreement. Long-term loans may be accepted subject to prior written agreement – WSRHT museum staff are the only individuals on the railway that can scrutinize artefacts and give agreement for their acceptance.
Please contact the Curator for details.
Heritage Trust documents
- Articles of Assocation
- Rules
- Business Plans
- Museum Policies
- WSRHT Policies
- Annual General Meetings
- Agreements
Articles of Assocation 2021
Following from an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Trust on Friday 23rd July 2021, the Trust has newly altered and adopted new Articles of Association.
Membership Rules
The Trust adopted Membership Rules (these were amended on 10 February 2016).
Signal Box Heritage Fund Procedures
Signal Box Heritage Fund Procedures issued on 5 January 2017.
Business Plan 2018-2020
The Trust adopted the Business Plan 2018-2020 at the 2018 Annual General Meeting on 28 April 2018.
Business Plan 2020-2022
The Trust issued the Business Plan 2020-2022 on 5 August 2020.
Artefact Entry Form
Artefact Entry Form Policy issued on 28 July 2022.
Artefact Exit Form
Artefact Exit Form Policy issued on 28 July 2022.
Collections Care and Conservation Policy Revised
Revised Collections Care and Conservation Policy issued on 27 January 2023.
Museum Collections Care Plan Revised
Revised Museum Collections Care Plan issued on 28 July 2024.
Museum Collections Care and Conservation Monitoring Timetable Revised
Revised Museum Collections Care and Conservation Monitoring Timetable issued on 27 January 2023.
Museum and Artifact Cleaning Process Revised
Revised Museum and Artifact Cleaning Process issued on 27 January 2023.
Information Sheet for Lenders
Information Sheet for Lenders issued on 9 January 2023.
Museum and Collections Overview Revised
Revised Museum and Collections Overview issued on 9 January 2023.
Museum Collection Development Policy 2020-2025 Revised
Revised Museum Collection Development Policy 2020-2025 issued on 9 January 2023.
Museum Operating Policy Revised
Revised Museum Operating Policy issued on 9 January 2023.
Museum Emergency Response Team Revised
Revised Museum Emergency Response Team Policy issued on 28 February 2023.
Museum Copying and Photographic Policy Revised
Revised Museum Copying and Photographic Policy issued on 28 February 2023.
WSRHT Parental Consent Form
WSRHT Parental Consent Form issued on 28 February 2023.
Museum Facilities Report
Museum Facilities Report issued on 28 February 2023.
Museum Emergency Plan – Gauge Museum (Bishops Lydeard)
Museum Emergency Plan – Gauge Museum (Bishops Lydeard) issued on 28 July 2024.
Museum Emergency Plan – Gauge Museum (Blue Anchor)
Museum Emergency Plan – Gauge Museum (Blue Anchor) issued on 28 July 2024.
WSRHT Museum Emergency Plan Gauge Museum, Bishops Lydeard and Blue Anchor
WSRHT Museum Emergency Plan Gauge Museum, Bishops Lydeard and Blue Anchor issued on 28 July 2024.
Complaints procedure policy revised
Revised Complaints procedure policy issued on 28 July 2023.
Management of Cash Balances and Borrowing Policy
Management of Cash Balances and Borrowing Policy issued on 28 July 2023.
Conflict of interest policy
Conflict of interest policy issued on 28 July 2022.
Disclosure and Barring Service Policy Revised
Revised Disclosure and Barring Service Policy issued on 19 November 2022.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy issued on 13 February 2024.
DBS Policy
WSRHT DBS Policy [Disclosure and Barring Service] issued on 13 February 2024.
Donation and Legacy Recognition Policy
Policy on Donation and Legacy Recognition issued on 26 September 2025.
GDPR Consent Form Revised
Revised GDPR Consent Form issued on 19 November 2022.
Grants to Other Bodies Policy
Grants to Other Bodies Policy issued on 1 September 2022
Cash Management and Short-Term Deposits
Cash Management and Short-Term Deposits issued on 1 September 2022.
Financial Decision Making and Delegated Authority Policy
Decision Making and Delegated Authority Policy issued on 9th February 2024.
Museum Fund Procedures
Museum Fund Procedures issued on 1 September 2022.
Privacy Statement and Policy
Privacy Statement and Policy issued on 1 September 2022.
Financial Reserves Policy
Reserves policy issued on 28 July 2022.
Risk Management Policy
Risk Management Policy issued on 1 September 2022.
WSRHT Safety Policy Revised 2022
Revised WSRHT Safety Policy issued on 19 November 2022.
Volunteer Policy
Volunteer Policy issued on 1 September 2022.
Safeguarding Policy 2024
Safeguarding Policy issued on 5 June 2024.
Signed agreement with WSR Plc
Signed agreement with WSR Plc issued in 2017.
2019 AGM Minutes
The Minutes of the 2019 AGM on 23 March 2019.
The 2019 AGM: Documents
The Notice and documents for the 2019 AGM on 23 March 2019.
The 2019 AGM: Informal Briefing
The 2019 AGM: informal briefing, presentation and questions & answers.
2021 Extraordinary General Meeting: Minutes
The minutes fom the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Trust on Friday 23rd July 2021.
2023 AGM Minutes
The Minutes of the 2023 AGM on 23 September 2023.
2022 AGM Minutes
The Minutes of the 2022 AGM on 3 September 2022.
2021 AGM Minutes
The Minutes of the 2021 AGM on 18 September 2021.
The 2021 AGM: Post-Meeting Informal Q and A Session
The 2021 AGM: Post-meeting informal Q and A Document.
Business Plan 2022-2024
The Trust issued the Business Plan 2022-2024 on 11 February 2022.
Business Plan 2023-2025
The Trust issued the Business Plan 2023-2025 on 8 June 2023.
Business Plan 2024-2026
The Trust issued the Business Plan 2024-2026 on 20 April 2024.
Business Plan 2024-2026 Plan Implementation 2025 Update
The Trust issued the Business Plan 2024-2026 Implementation 2025 Update on 1 February 2025.
Board Paper May 2025 Business Plan Additional Schedule - Accreditation
The Trust issued Board Paper May 2025 Business Plan Additional Schedule – Accreditation on 28 July 2025.