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Reality concurs There is/was the Mill Stream running just to the south of the shed. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=50.6657&lon=-2.5889&layers=168&b=1 Presumably that's where the supply was taken from - I'd guess via a simple pumping engine in the tower base similar to the set-up that used to exist at Williton.

Hi Grahame, quite right! Thanks for the appropriate picture from one of my favourite films! That’s actually a very good idea! If and when I extend the layout and model the other side of the bridge I would have all the necessary buildings already made!

Hi Dave, Much like yourself I have wrestled with possibly putting a water tower onto my as yet unbuilt layout. Hope you don't mind the intrusion with my scratch built effort but its here to show what a 90mm x 105mm footprint would be like basically. If anyone wanted to be pedantic about the use of a water tower on a branch terminus then there are plenty of discussions elsewhere ( hopefully not on your Blog please ! ) and I am just portraying mine as an example of a smaller ( ? ) tower that would fit. I don't think you would spoil what is a beautifully modelled layout and also Rule 1 applies eh ? If you want one and it blends into the scene then I for one say do it, it doesn't look to be spoiling anything by being there. G

Of course it’s a good idea!

If you have room for it, you could always build a small diorama with loco shed and water tank, as a display piece.

Now that's what I call a fiddle yard, it makes mine look very shabby!

Hi Dave, I tend to agree with the opinions of the august group above. One option would be to opt for something lighter with a "see-through" effect, such as BGmans rather excellent tower (which I'm sure he'd let you have for free). However it might be a bit too tall and would not solve another problem that I see, namely that a large structure in that location disrupts the perspective vis-a-vis the church in the background. If you wish to visually balance things, how about simply parking a 7-plank wagon in one of those sidings. What with the wheels and all, it can even form part of the operational routine

3ft, some will find that a drastic rule It's a size of board that suits me too, though I'd like to combine them. Is your Fun Town modular? Hardly Dave. But they are certainly impressive. For some reason I thought fiddle yards were little used in Germany, but appparently there's enough of a market for such a business.

This is just what I require if I need to build (and I think it will be a need, to fit the space I have) a bridge similar to this. Your pictures speak a hundred words and the use of identified materials is very helpful. Many thanks Phil

I wouldn't let a drop of water spoil your fun Dave, after all its all about having fun !

Hi All, Thank you very much for your views, ideas and suggestions, all very thought provoking and useful. I'll respond to your comments one by one and then finish with an overall conclusion:-) I tend to agree with your thoughts, the prototype water tower at Abottsbury was alongside the engine shed away from the station building. I like the idea of a water crane on the platform, but don't really want to move the Home Starter signal! It was worth a try, but I think you are quite right! Hi Duncan, that could work, but might involve some judicious pruning of the trees:-) Hi Grahame, I certainly don't mind the intrusion, that is a truly splendid water tower! Have you documented it's build anywhere, I'd love to read more about it. I'm beginning to agree with Al's comments that any large structure that end of the layout would detract from the view down to the Abbey on the backscene, which is a shame because I would love a similar tower at Sherton Abbas! The Abbotsbury water tower mock up has a foot print of 120mm x 88mm, so really not much bigger than your lovely tower. I must admit I hadn't realised just how big water towers really were! Completely agree Duncan! I still think it might be a bit big for Sherton Abbas unfortunately. Thanks Al, the illusion of spaciousness was exactly what I was trying to achieve with the layout and the main reason that I chose to have 4 foot six inch deep baseboards. I love your description of "locos trundling quietly into the distance" and certainly don't want to compromise that! I think if I had a bit more space that scenario could work very well. I'm starting to think that anything added to that end of the layout might spoil things by "over egging the pudding" No it's very helpful Al! Your final comment is something I need to bear in mind. "I think people really like that sense of nothing much going on at that end of the layout, which really helps emphasize the bucolic atmosphere of an isolated branch terminus" Thanks Chris, glad you like the layout! the saying "Less is more" is probably very appropriate:-) It really is stunning! Hi Stubby, that could work, but I'm beginning to take the hint that I should leave well alone:-) I really like this idea of just having a water crane at this end of the layout. My only concern is whether they would have gone to the expense of piping the water right down to the end of the run round loop, rather than placing the water crane on the departure end of the platform. Any thoughts on this much appreciated!:-) Any prototype pictures of a water crane at the run around end of a terminus would be very handy! Really glad you are looking forward to seeing the layout, It should be a really good weekend:-) Lol!, No need for any apologies, I'd completely forgotten about that post and have just gone back and re-read it! Hi Dave, I'm definitely coming round to that way of thinking! I'm working on Mrs Wenlock with a view to being allowed to extend my workshop. If negotiations are successful you might well get your wish! The deal breaker at the moment is that her hot tub is in the way, some people have their priorities all wrong!:-) Now that's a much easier feature to incorporate and certainly wouldn't block the view to the Abbey!:-) Thanks Mike, that's a great bit of photo trickery:-) It actually works rather well and definitely suggests more going on the other side of the bridge. I need to give that idea more thought. At Abbotsbury the water tower was alongside the engine shed quite a way from the platform, as you say the prototype often has the answers we are looking for! Hmmm that would stop me using my Dean Goods and that would never do! Hi Pete, I beginning to agree, the tower does look out of place! Yes I'm not really a fan of the conical or flat topped type of towers, so don't want to go down that route. Thanks Mikkel, the consensus certainly appears to be nothing too large at that end of the layout! I don't think it would be unreasonable for Grahame to give me his water tower, as he says he hasn't built a layout yet:-) It might be just the incentive I need to model the "Other side of the bridge!" No there's a simple solution:-) Thanks Simon, I don't think I've got quite enough clearance to put a crane in the loop unfortunately.

I’m with Peter & others who prefer a crane. Possibly in the loop at the departure end? best Simon

Oops, sorry, completely missed that. Thanks David. :-) But I'm not sure there was any need, Don B, for the exclamation mark. I do apologise if my inadequacy offended you so much. Yes, punctuation is important and exclamation marks are powerful endings to sentences. In fact these two responses are a good learning point for all who use social media such as this forum. Notice the same message conveyed in quite different ways. One polite, one disparaging. One explained, the other tried to belittle with an assumed superiority. Even the opening word in the latter, 'sorry', is part of the subsequent expression of intolerence and despair at the incompetence I deigned to display. It must be terrible for my betters to suffer those such as I. My sincere apologies to David/Fen End Pit for going OT on this. I implore that any further comments be limited to matters regarding his model and the techniques he has shown.

Packaging material from some office whiteboards, as per first paragraph.. David

I think the tower looks out of place, I would be tempted with either a crane at the end of the platform or possibly one of those balloon tanks. Well that's my two penn'orth worth anyway.

Where was the water tower located at Abbotsbury? At the loco release, or on the shed road? Use your prototype inspiration as the source for, well, your inspiration... (Or possibly, as the well-spring for your ideas.) Edit: if you have it that far down your loco release road, then tender engines running loco first to Sherton Abbas won’t be able to top up.

I don't think it works in that location, either - too much shoe-horned in and it 'fights' with the Church tower in the backscene. You could make the tower a part of the backscene at the other end, as suggested below, where I've grafted in part of bgman's splendid tower behind the trees:

If all else fails Dave there's always a space saving to be had with one of these !

One thing that's always struck me with Sherton is the spaciousness of the headshunt end of the layout, which to me is one of those features that lifts it above the competition; there's a real feeling of locos trundling quietly into the distance before they come back around the loop. I do think the mock-up somewhat undermines this, as well as detracting from the excellently effective view of the abbey on the backscene, which works really well as it stands, and as you know gets a lot of positive comments at exhibitions. I think people really like that sense of nothing much going on at that end of the layout, which really helps emphasize the bucolic atmosphere of an isolated branch terminus. I don't really have an alternative suggestion (so not very helpful really!) but I'd be wary of undoing the good work that's already there.

I'm not sure what's more disturbing.......you examining the drawer runners in a 'quiet spot' or the Japanese tourists in B&Q. Rob.

Hi Silver Sidelines, I hope you may be interested in my coupling mods. I'm hoping to have 3' radius curves on my new layout and have been experimenting. Obviously many people have to use tighter curves than 36" but you can probably move the couplings further outboard. I experimented with some Bachman DMU couplings (sorry don't have part number but they're on eg the Class 104 DMU). I took off the bottom part of the old Airfix coupling and glued the 'NEM box' of the Bachmann one underneath what was the top part of the Airfix coupling box. This side on view shows the closer coupling arrangement and on the far left you can see an original coupling.