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The Prototype The British Army established a Military Stores depot adjacent to the South Polden Light Railway station at Burrowbridge in April 1938. With the threat of war with Germany now looming, this was intended to be part of the gradual build up of military preparedness. In the event, the military authorities could not have chosen a more inconveniently located site from a rail access point of view, but in view of the sensitivities of the time and the relatively remote location, it was considered suitable. The coming of the Army Stores Depot saw a significant increase in traffic over the light railway, so much so that some of the original flat bottomed sections were relaid with heavier duty bullhead track. Business was brisk throughout the war years, with a steady stream of additional goods trains conveying military traffic, both inward and outwards. Trains were typically hauled as far as Bleakhouse Road by one of Templecombe’s S&D 7Fs, where SPLR motive power took over. Trains were frequently double-headed by the two SPLR 0-4-0STs, although the increase in use required of these old workhorses meant that one of them was often out of traffic for repairs. The light railway was eventually allocated an Austerity 0-6-0 saddle tank in 1944 to assist with the run-up to the D-Day landings, when traffic over the line reached its peak. Passenger trains for military personnel were also occasionally run, although normally limited to two ‘main line’ coaches hauled by one of the saddle tanks. These used the original passenger station at Burrowbridge. In the event, the Austerity tank was never sent back and was bought by the SPLR from the Government for a knock-down price at the end of the war. It remained active on the Light Railway right up until closure, but was frequently loaned back to the Military to shunt the stores depot. In 1959 the future of the Stores Depot looked bright and the War Department bought a new North British/Paxman 0-4-0 diesel mechanical shunting loco, which was kept inside the Stores compound at Burrowbridge. By 1964 traffic on the light railway was restricted to a daily trip to the Eclipse Peat Works near Middlezoy and transfer traffic to and from the Bleak Moor Peat & Sedge Company’s works at Bleakhouse Road. Military traffic ran as required but had been much reduced following an unexpected ‘review’ of Army stores requirements in 1963. Burrowbridge Military Stores Depot closed in 1965, leaving just the Eclipse Peat Works at Middlezoy to provide traffic over the light railway until final closure in March 1966. 'Burrowbridge' will be my next layout project and will be a small end-to-end layout, capable of being operated on it's own or as an extension of Bleakhouse Road. The layout will feature the Army Depot with it's own resident diesel shunting engine, together with the South Polden Light Railway passenger station, officially disused as a passenger facility since 1935 except for military specials. The resident MoD diesel loco was a North British/Paxman 0-4-0, which was delivered new in 1959. The Military had running powers along the SPLR as far as Bleakhouse Road and occasionally worked traffic along the branch for exchange with B.R. Most heavy through services were worked by B.R. motive power throughout, however, although the 'running powers' agreement did not normally permit a B.R. loco to work any other kind of traffic along the SPLR. Through trains of military equipment and troop trains were normally destined for camps and bases in the North of England, such as Catterick and in latter years were frequently worked throughout by main line diesel locos. The Model I have now completed the North British/Paxman 0-4-0 (from the excellent Judith Edge Models kit) and the accompanying train of flat wagons, Lowmacs etc. with their military loads.
Here is the Paxman resting between duties at Bleakhouse Road. Photo taken at the Exeter Model Railway Exhibition on 31/5/03 and 1/6/03 The Lowmacs are mostly from the Dapol kit, although I have also modified one Hornby example. The military vehicles are mainly from the JB Models plastic range. These are 1:76 (hence right for 4mm scale) and are very reasonably priced at around £4 - £5 per kit. I got most of mine from 'Antics' in Plymouth and Bristol, and also from the Model Centre in Sidwell Street, Exeter. Painting information and transfers are provided in the kits.
A Class 25 diesel works a through train of military vehicles off the South Polden Light Railway at Bleakhouse Road. I hope to begin construction of 'Burrowbridge' at some point in the future, but work on the P4 layout 'Callow Lane Goods' will initially take priority. In the meantime, 'Bleakhouse Road' has been modified by adding the other fiddle yard board from 'Engine Wood' to the opposite end of the layout, thus allowing the light railway somewhere to run to. This is intended to be a temporary arrangement until the new fiddle yard board and 'Burrowbridge' itself are built. 'Bleakhouse Road' has now effectively got a fiddle yard at each end, although in answer to various people's questions, I do not intend to connect the B.R. line to Athelney back up, as that closed in 1951, well before the period my model is set in. I will add more information on 'Burrowbridge' once work has started.
Some military buildings typical of the scene that I hope to recreate with 'Burrowbridge' (Photo - Iain Hampton) |
