WEST Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) is seeking people with professional, practical, and volunteering skills to help deliver a new ambitious five-year corporate plan to protect and develop the heritage of the West Somerset Railway (WSR).

WSRA has launched its corporate plan for 2026-2031, setting out an ambitious programme to strengthen its heritage preservation, education, community engagement, volunteering, and financial sustainability in support of the steam railway.

Launched this week, the plan reaffirms the association’s aim to ‘set out a practical roadmap for closer collaboration across the railway family’.

A board spokesperson said: “The WSRA is clear the successful delivery of the plan will depend on attracting additional resources, particularly new trustees, volunteers, and advisors with the skills, time, and experience needed to support an increasingly wide range of work.”

They said key priorities would include completing the restoration of locomotives Great Western Small Prairie 4561 and British Railways 80064, both targeted for return to service in 2028.

There would also be a long-term plan for restoring the classic steam locomotive 7821 Ditcheat Manor, devising a carriage restoration scheme, and exploring options for covered accommodation for the railway’s carriage fleet.

The plan places strong emphasis on growing the membership, expanding educational outreach, and increasing community engagement.

The spokesperson said: “Recent work has already placed the association on a strong footing.

“The board oversees assets exceeding £3.25 million, including cash and investments of more than £2.1 million, providing an important platform for future restoration projects and charitable activity.

“There are also substantial costs involved with the restoration of locomotives and carriages and the carriage shed.

“The association also continues to build constructive relationships with the West Somerset Railway plc, the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust (WSRHT), the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group, local communities, educational partners, and funders.”

WSRA chairman Edward Martin said: “We recognise the aspirations we have set out in this plan are challenging.

“Like all heritage bodies and many charities, we are finding resourcing our plans increasingly difficult.

“We hope this plan will provide a solid foundation to support grant applications and attract more donors and volunteers to support our work.”

WSRA vice-chairman Mike Lanning said strengthening the association’s skills base was critical to delivering the plan’s milestones, particularly as its work expanded across heritage restoration, events, compliance, fund-raising, education, and business planning.

WSR plc chief executive Clive Hetherington said: "The support provided by the WSRA is vital to the long-term success of the West Somerset Railway.

“This corporate plan demonstrates a shared commitment to preserving the railway's unique heritage while building the resilience, skills, and partnerships needed for the future."

WSRHT chairman Mike Thompson said: "The emphasis on collaboration is particularly encouraging.

“By working closely together across the railway family, we can achieve more for heritage conservation, public engagement, and the long-term resilience of the railway than any organisation can achieve alone."

Anybody interested in supporting the WSRA as a trustee, advisor, or volunteer can contact the association by emailing [email protected] or writing to WSRA, Bishops Lydeard Station, Station Approach, Bishops Lydeard.