Engine Wood - now sold

[Captain Kernow]

‘Engine Wood’ is the first exhibition layout that I built and was initially completed in 1994. I extended it a couple of years later and have given parts of the scenery occasional ‘revamps’ from time to time.

 

The name ‘Engine Wood’ has it's origins in the industrial history of the area of North Somerset immediately to the south of Bath. The Somersetshire Coal Canal eventually built a substantial flight of locks in the Cam Valley, to replace an abortive inclined plane. Situated at the upper end of these locks near the village of Southstoke was a pumping station, which kept the upper levels of the canal stocked with water. The area around the pumping station became known as 'Engine Wood', the name lingering even after the closure of the canal.

 

There had been various proposals to build a railway along the remainder of the Cam Valley towards Midford and Limpley Stoke, but in the event a line from Limpley Stoke to Camerton was built by the GWR and opened in 1910.

 

In my world, however, the railway through the Cam Valley was built by the Somerset & Dorset and started from a south-facing junction at Midford. I have assumed that the S&DJR managed to negotiate running rights over the GWR from Camerton to Hallatrow and eventually constructed a north-facing spur there, enabling them to run through to Bristol TM without reversing. This effectively constituted an alternative through route for traffic off the Somerset & Dorset to the North.

 

 

For operational purposes, the period of the layout is set between 1959 and 1964, when the S&D was in decline, prior to eventual closure in March 1966.

 

When construction of the layout started some years previously, it was intended to be a GWR branch line set in 1930s Herefordshire. Work on the layout stopped for a while due to work-related house moves, during which time my interest in the 1930s period had waned. The layout wasn’t unpacked again until the summer of 1994, when I was faced with an exhibition deadline a few months later, so I decided to change the focus and complete it as a ‘might have been’ S&D layout instead.

 

 

Telephoto shot showing Engine Wood Tunnel, this would be looking towards Hallatrow and Bristol:

 

View taken from the Midford end, looking towards the station:

 

T9s worked over the S&D very occasionally, and here is one on an up train for Bristol TM, waiting in the loop for a down service hauled by a Bullied Pacific to pass:

 

An unlikely variety of motive power in the goods yard, as an Up passenger train passes:

 

2219 passes the goods yard with an up train:

 

Cottages at the Midford-end of the layout:

 

 

One of the 'set piece' operations at exhibitions has been the working of coal trains from a colliery 'off scene' to the Exchange Siding at Engine Wood. The loaded trains would be worked in by a NCB loco, which would have been specially authorised to run on BR metals. The story is that the track is in poor condition in Camerton Colliery, just up the valley, so BR locos are not permitted to work into the colliery.

 

When I first exhibited the layout in 1994 and for a few years thereafter, my choices for NCB motive power were rather limited, and essentially consisted of two locos. One was a former LNER J72, which had been sold into NCB service a few years earlier. The other was a scratchbuilt Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 diesel on loan from my friend Brian Clarke. In this view, the J72 'Charlotte' waits in the goods yard for a path back to the colliery:

 

The 'other side of the coin' sees more modern BR motive power in the shape of a 'Hymek' diesel-hydraulic waiting in the goods yard, to take a loaded coal train to Portishead power station, via Hallatrow and Bristol TM:

 

No, it's not a bus, but here is the 'inevitable' road vehicle on the road-over-rail bridge at the Midford-end of the layout:

 

A pannier tank approaches Engine Wood with a goods working from Radstock to Bristol East Depot:

 

More to follow.

 

Edited April 5, 2018 by Captain Kernow

[PMP]

This was one of my favourite layouts when you were exhibiting. I think the first time I saw it' was at a Watford Finescale exhibition!

 

How time flies!

Edited October 1, 2017 by PMP

[Captain Kernow]

A former S&DJR 3F stands at Engine Wood with a down passenger train for Radstock and Evercreech Jct:

 

The main station building on the Up platform:

 

The Down platform waiting shelter:

 

A BR Standard Class 3 2-6-2T approaches Engine Wood from the Midford Junction direction:

 

This loco was built some years ago from the Kemilway kit, which I have always really liked, and well over 10 years prior to the appearance of the excellent Bachmann version. For some reason, this is one of the few locos that I have never got around to weathering:

 

General view of the layout from the Hallatrow-end:

 

Edited October 1, 2017 by Captain Kernow

[Captain Kernow]

This is the track plan:

 

At the time, I got so into the 'fictitious history' aspect of exhibiting the layout, that I asked a friend in the local S&T department to make me up an authentic-looking signal box diagram!

 

[Ramblin Rich]

Nice to see this being 'aired' again. I always like the look of the pictures I've seen but never caught it 'in the flesh' as it were. Does the fact that you've started posting again suggest it's being re-awakened for further showing?

[brianusa]

I've never seen it either! If this is the kind of handiwork that comes from 'workin' on the railroad', we should all take note as the quality reflected must be representative of the real thing which presumably the Cap'n has a hand in!

 

Great stuff!

 

Brian

[Moggs Eye]

I remember seeing Engine Wood in a modelling magazine some years back. That particular edition has survived thinning out of the magazine collection due to the Engine Wood article. What I especially liked, aside from the atmosphere generated by the modelling, was the attention given to the back story - not just the fine signalbox diagram, but the closure notices too. Good work, nice to see some pictures again.

[newcastle_central]

Always loved this layout when it was being exhibited.  I seem to remember a great website at the time as well.  I think a key element for me was the relative simplicity of the track layout but with wonderfully observed detail and great attention to detail.  No attempt to cram to much in.  The back story was also well thought out and added a real dimension to how believable the layout was.  Great to see shots of it again.  

[westerner]

I remember thoroughly enjoying the article in RM. It was always in the back of my mind when I built Wencombe.

[BlackRat]

Return of an old friend!

[Max Legroom]

I've been a big fan of Engine Wood ever since it first appeared in print. Nice combination of a believable setting and simple trackplan, and really captures the atmosphere of the real place. Lovely stuff!

[Captain Kernow]

'Engine Wood' has appeared in one or two magazines, and did so in Hornby Magazine a few years ago. I had the pleasure of a visit from Chris Nevard, who produced some really lovely images and then photoshopped a sky background, so much better than the walls of our house!

 

NCB 0-4-0 diesel 'Buntie' (scratchbuilt by Brian Clarke) arrives at Engine Wood with a loaded coal train. This will now be run-round and stabled in the Exchange Siding, for a BR loco to collect later:

 

BR Standard Class 5 73051 (DJH kit) arrives at Engine Wood with a Down stopping service:

 

7F 53804 (Gibson) passes Engine Wood with a Down van train of fertilizer from Avonmouth Docks to Blandford Forum:

 

And meanwhile at track level, Ivan Petersfield's mate Norman Lockhart has secured his own photo of 53804 approaching:

 

 

All photos in this post by Chris Nevard, courtesy Hornby Magazine.

Edited October 5, 2017 by Captain Kernow

[Tim Dubya]

I've actually been in Engine Wood

 

Absolutely stunning layout Capitan, so glad you've shared it with us.

[JZ]

Nice to see this layout again Tim. More photo's to come?

[Benbow]

One of my favourite layouts. Nice to see it again.

[Tim V]

Spotted this on an open day at the lock flight at Combe Hay, thought you might like it Captain!

[Siberian Snooper]

I had heard rumours of this layout, but up until now never saw anything about it, some cracking modelling. It would be great to see it it at one of the local shows in Devon.

[PaulRhB]

Great photos and they show just how fine the buildings are. Bags of atmosphere and captures what it's like in person. The signalbox diagram just adds that bit to your historical stories

[Captain Kernow]

The signalbox diagram just adds that bit to your historical stories

The S&T guy that did it for me sort of got caught up in the anal nature of the back story, and gave the diagram a serial number midway between the real diagram numbers for Midford and Camerton!

[Captain Kernow]

A few more of the images taken by Chris Nevard.

 

A general view of the goods yard, with the ancient lorry belonging to Mr Dando parked outside the goods shed:

 

44422 does a little light shunting:

 

The very clean 82041 approaches Engine Wood from the direction of Midford South Jct:

 

General view of the station:

 

[gwrrob]

Now I know where you love of the standard class 3mt comes from.Nice vans too.

[Ramblin Rich]

Come along, Capt. K - tell us if this is presaging a revival?

[caradoc]

By coincidence, last night I was reading Issue 1 of Hornby Magazine (April/May 2007) and the very first layout featured was ......... Engine Wood !

A superb layout.

[St Enodoc]

A few more of the images taken by Chris Nevard.

 

A general view of the goods yard, with the ancient lorry belonging to Mr Dando parked outside the goods shed:

EW_CN_03.jpg

 

44422 does a little light shunting:

EW_CN_04.jpg.jpg

 

The very clean 82041 approaches Engine Wood from the direction of Midford South Jct:

EW_CN_05.jpg

 

General view of the station:

EW_CN_08.jpg.jpg

How nice to see some of Chris Nevard's wonderful photos without that silly fake smoke coming out of the chimney.

[scottystitch]

What an outstanding layout! Yet another inspirational piece of work.

 

Thank you for sharing. I don't ghink we'd tire of photos of this; any chance of a video?