By Steve Green
A small branch line terminus connecting with the LSWR/SR at Norden on the Swanage branch. The branch serves the tourist traffic to Lulworth Castle, local industries at Tyneham Works and the Lulworth Camp Military Railway. The layout can be operated as either LSWR, Southern Railway or BR(S) steam, BR Blue diesels or as the Lulworth Military Railway (LMR).
This light railway on the Isle of Purbeck was built between 1890-2 to serve the various small industries at Tyneham and clay pits (now exhausted) on the Weld Estate and was connected to the LSWR/SR at Norden on the Swanage branch. A siding was laid during 1915 to the Army camp at Lulworth. The current brick-built station building replaced the dilapidated wooden buildings around 1920. During 1924, the land claimed by the War Department for the firing ranges severed the line between Povington and Lulworth Castle, so the line was diverted around the ranges due to the important military traffic.
Trains to Lulworth Camp and Tyneham Works reverse at the station and climb almost in a circle on a gradient up towards the Camp. The tight radius curve means that short wheelbase locos are used, and post WWII, trains were restricted to supplies and small armoured vehicles as newer tanks were too large to be carried by train.
The layout has been built mainly using ‘ready to plant’ buildings by Bachmann Scenecraft. Track is ready to lay flexible track by C&L Finescale, whereas the points are handbuilt from Marcway fitted with Cobalt point motors. Greenscenes N gauge ballast has been used, mixed to try and match that on the Swanage branch, with Woodland Scenics scatter material used through a static grass applicator for the greenery and shrubs. The lattice post signal is another handbuilt item from Borg Rail.
The photographic backscene has been created using a panoramic image of the actual location, including the Castle, and has been printed on thin weather and wash-proof vinyl.
The whole layout packs away in the two cabinets in sits on top of, which has been produced using a built-in fridge/freezer unit carcass, which then stack on top of each other for storage purposes at home, thus resembling a piece of furniture.
Layout plan
