Penbury Abbas
Owner: Peter Rednall
Gauge: 009
Scale: 4mm Narrow Gauge
Area Modelled: South Dorset
Era / Period: 1950s
Size of Layout: 4ft x 2ft 6in
Total Operating Area: 9ft x 6ft
Number of Operators: 2
Insurance Value: £2,000
Cost of Transport: Fuel for one car
Power Requirements: 240v power supply for transformer / light
Other Notes: Insurance covers layout and rolling stock, 6ft x 2ft 6in table supplied
Layout Description
South Wessex Light Railway
Penbury Abbas is a fictional small village located in the limestone area of South Dorset. During the railway mania the settlement had failed to be connected to the main rail network and so, decades later, local businessmen and promoters had instigated a small narrow gauge light railway to allow freight and passengers to gain access to a junction with the standard gauge main line.
Hitherto, a canal with barges at Penbury Wharf, had delivered produce to local markets but with the coming of the railway and construction of a bridge the upper canal was abandoned.
The layout shows what 'might have been' in the 1950s, having independent upper and lower circuits with sidings to allow shunting manoeuvres. The points are all operated by wire in tube from the fiddle yard at the rear of the layout. Buildings are mainly scratch built and modelled on Dorset originals. However a collection of plastic kits collected over the years has been utilised on the premise that the builder of the light railway has had overseas experience.
A variety of rolling stock collected over many years is in evidence.