LAYOUTS
Whitchurch Canonicorum is a small village station on the Western Region's Taunton - Chard - Castle Regis branch line. The branch has a connection with the Southern Region at Winsham Junction, which allows through trains from Yeovil and beyond.
Whitchurch Canonicorum is a bit of a sleepy backwater, with a small loop, which can be used to hold a freight train, similar to that found at Illminster. It stables a small locomotive, which is used to work trip workings over the freight only lines to the dairy at Broadoak, and the brewery at Pilsdon, as well as to the local MOD depot, Dovington Camp, and ranges....
With Castle Regis at the height of its busy summer period and the Traptins holiday Camp in full flow, considerable holiday traffic is to be seen. These services usually represent portions of trains detached at either Taunton, or Yeovil Pen Mill. At Taunton, trains are split to also run to Minehead or Ilfracombe with local engines in charge. Yeovil trains are often portions of Weymouth bound services, and may bring in some 'foreign' or more unusual motive power! Additionally, a small 'set' may be dropped at Yeovil Junction from Southern Region services, such as the Atlantic Coast Express.
Dovington Camp was developed during World War II, with quite an extensive rail network-. This has been rationalised over time but still maintains a rail link for the movement of fuel, stores, munitions and, of course, a wide variety of military vehicles. The ranges are used for testing and evaluation, and some unusual vehicles can be seen from time to time!
“Whitchurch Canonicorum” layout extensively features the BR 'Green' period. But, as well as running 'green diesels', it is an exercise in recycling. At least 75% of what you will see - layout and stock - has been sourced from the second hand market and shows what can be achieved on a tight budget!
THIS LAYOUT HAS BEEN DISMANTLED
SORRY TO SEE IT GO!
SORRY TO SEE IT GO!