IT'S full steam ahead for a railway conservation group as two of its projects look set to come to fruition in close succession.

The North Dorset Railway Trust (TNDRT) has successfully tendered for the lease of the derelict station building at Shillingstone which is to be restored as a museum, it is hoped.

And the trust is also bidding to take over derelict railway arches at Blandford which could be the focus for an original work of art.

General secretary Syd Howlett said the trust had raised the cash to buy the lease of the station and some of the track from Dorset County Council.

"It is most exciting news - I have actually just received the official news from Dorset," he said.

"It's been an uphill struggle, not actually knowing what to expect.

"But it's been three long years of constantly badgering of the council because, let's face it, it's not the top of their priorities.

"We had to make a stand and this is exactly what we have done.

"There's always been fear of the whole area being given to developers so it was important that a group like us should come along and save it.

"This is the only station in existence that was built by the Dorset Central Railway which became the Somerset and Dorset.

"We have the money to purchase the lease through donations and pledges.

"We don't have enough to start the renovation yet but this will safeguard it.

"We hope to have static displays of how it was up until March 6, 1966 when it was closed."

The trust is also negotiating with Blandford town council to take over the fragment of railway arches which is under threat of demolition.

TNDRT is seeking to convince the town that restoration would cost less than destruction would

"The idea is to repair the arches, make them vandal-proof and fabricate a piece of sculpture based on a locomotive which was called Blandford Forum, I believe," said Syd.

The trust - also known as the Shillingstone Station Project - is taking a stand at the Great Dorset Steam Fair at Tarrant Hinton next week.