The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust has been given the opportunity to purchase its resident Sentinel steam locomotive 7109 Joyce by its owner Andy Chapman.

Joyce arrived at Midsomer Norton in 2004 and has been restored to full working order. Since 2016 it has been the backbone of the Trusts’s steam-hauled services.

Although Joyce is not historically a Somerset & Dorset locomotive, its design was the basis for two almost identical locomotives that were purchased by the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Company for use at Radstock. These were numbered by the LMS as 7190 and 7191, then renumbered by BR as 47190 and 47191.

The Trust wishes to complete the purchase of Joyce so that it can be enjoyed by future generations at Midsomer Norton. It needs to raise £55,000 to cover the purchase of Joyce, and provide a strategic reserve to help cover the cost of Joyce’s next major overhaul which is scheduled for 2026; these overhauls have to be carried out every 10 years.

The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust is inviting the public to make donations so that the purchase of Joyce can be completed as soon as possible. Anyone donating over £750 will be invited to a special day at Midsomer Norton, where they will be able to operate Joyce under supervision.

Donations can be made online by clicking here to visit their website, in person at the station, or by cheque payable to the Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust, details are in the donations link.

Online donations are in multiples of £10, so for example to donate £50, simply increase the quantity to 5 by hitting the + sign. The total amount being donated will always be displayed.

All donations are eligible for Gift Aid which help the Trust to increase the value of donations. Details of the Gift Aid declaration form that can be found on the link above.