Members' Layouts

The Model

The group of WRS members that built Tarrant Valley Railway, decided to move up to 0-scale for their next project. Having bought an 0-16.5 layout second hand, they proceded to convert it to better suit their needs by extendending it to a 20′ × 6′ L-shape.

The period the model represents is the late 1940s, up to the line’s closure in 1951. Stock consists entirely of kit built models.  The original layout had a canal modelled on it so we kept that feature and then set about designing the trackwork which included a bridge over the canal, The timber merchant’s yard was added as a point of interest and to give a purpose to a “siding to nowhere” that ran in front of the original fiddleyard. All the baseboards are 4′ x 2′ and all but two are built differently to take account of the scenery constructed on them.

All buildings have been scratchbuilt. The roof of the large warehouse which hides the corner join is removable as the two walls are on separate boards. The sack hoist works on a timed interval basis.  A grounded coach body (Peco) acts as a parcels office and there are working lights in the yard and station. The boiler house at the timber merchants is detailed with two boilers while the cutting shed contains a saw bench with rotating saw based on a product made by Stenner & Gunn of Tiverton. 

Locomotives and rolling stock are all kit built models, including 4 Peco Glyn Valley Tramway 0-4-2T tram locos running on 0-6-0 chassis , plus 2 sets of four 4 wheel coaches and a rake of 10 1 ton slate wagons about 20 4 ton open wagons. Four sets of twin bolster wagons are used, two work with the gravity slate train (using a Tenshodo “spud” motor to provide the “gravity”) and the other two work to/from the timber merchants, carrying logs in and sawn timber out. Five bogie coaches have been scratchbuilt using etched brass and Bachmann Collett coach bogies in a shortened Vale of Rheidol style. Four resin Smallbrook Studios steam locos and one diesel shunter have been built on r-t-r Hornby chassis. One of the steam locos, an “Echo” kit, has been enlarged and modified to run on an old Lima class 08 chassis, complete with outside cylinders and valve gear. The loco now resembles “Dennis” of Snailbeach District Railways fame. There are always opportunities for interlopers from other railways to make an appearance! 

Peco Code 100 0-16.5 track has been used with a mixture of standard and scratchbuilt pointwork. Woodlands Scenic scatter materials and clump foliage has been used for the greenery and the trees are made from dead stems of heather, cut to shape and glued together to create the desired shapes.

The Model

The layout is based on the Somerset and Dorset Railway with its unique infrastructure depicting local station buildings and associated support activities.

The scenic section reflects the type of terrain that the S&D famously traversed on its way through and over the Mendips. The main station layout is loosely based on Yeovil Pen Mill and is very much a space saver.

Shottesford is the name given to Blandford Forum by Thomas Hardy in his epic novels and today the name appears on a new estate within Blandford to reflect the importance of this local connection.

Specific buildings have been modelled based on those found at Blandford, Shillingstone, Durweston and Midsomer Norton. The viaduct is reminiscent of the one at Tucking Mill.