Upcoming Dates for the
Woody Gate Garden Railway
Garden rail running event for the Santa Specials on Sunday 21st December 2025.
We hope to see you there.
Just in case of post Christmas blues, we shall be letting off steam on the 29th December.
These are all subject to the weather,
which we cannot control in spite of our best efforts!!!
Please feel free to Contact [email protected]
Woody Gate Garden Railway
Garden rail running event for the Santa Specials on Sunday 21st December 2025.
We hope to see you there.
Just in case of post Christmas blues, we shall be letting off steam on the 29th December.
These are all subject to the weather,
which we cannot control in spite of our best efforts!!!
Please feel free to Contact [email protected]
Our sincere thanks to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
There are many more Steam on the Moor Video's available on YouTube and they are well worth a watch.
For more information on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway please click here https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/
For more information on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway please click here https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/
An Archangel L&B Manning Wardle in imaginary British Railways Livery
The Woody Gate Layout
An outdoor model railway at Woody Bay station was initially considered a possibility some years ago, and a quantity of used 16mm and 45mm gauge track donations was collected at the time. This then remained in storage while a decision was made as to who would be willing to build the layout and, more importantly, who would be responsible for its upkeep. This turned out to be a problem when no firm offers of assistance were forthcoming. So the idea was shelved for several years.
As it was apparent that the project was still awaiting enough enthusiasm by volunteers to go ahead, could Woody Bay station be a location the Two Moors 16mm Group might be able to negotiate accommodation at as a more public meeting place? The L&BR would naturally be the layout's owner, but with Two Moors members building and maintaining the layout.
The idea was put to Stuart Nelhams, General Manager of the Railway, by Pete Chandler and an agreement was struck which at last utilised the already donated trackage. A suitable siting position was chosen and a layout designed to fit the area allowed. In garden railway terms the size of the project was not extensive compared to some private installations we have known, so shoe horning in a 45mm gauge circuit with sidings to boot was an impossible option within the offered area of just 11 feet by 32 feet. As a 16mm gauge layout it would be perfectly adequate for a double track system, plus ample loops and spurs for operational interest.
The 45mm gauge track donations are still in storage. Perhaps a G scale layout might be a future consideration by another group of enthusiasts when a suitable space belonging to the L&BR becomes available.
An outdoor model railway at Woody Bay station was initially considered a possibility some years ago, and a quantity of used 16mm and 45mm gauge track donations was collected at the time. This then remained in storage while a decision was made as to who would be willing to build the layout and, more importantly, who would be responsible for its upkeep. This turned out to be a problem when no firm offers of assistance were forthcoming. So the idea was shelved for several years.
As it was apparent that the project was still awaiting enough enthusiasm by volunteers to go ahead, could Woody Bay station be a location the Two Moors 16mm Group might be able to negotiate accommodation at as a more public meeting place? The L&BR would naturally be the layout's owner, but with Two Moors members building and maintaining the layout.
The idea was put to Stuart Nelhams, General Manager of the Railway, by Pete Chandler and an agreement was struck which at last utilised the already donated trackage. A suitable siting position was chosen and a layout designed to fit the area allowed. In garden railway terms the size of the project was not extensive compared to some private installations we have known, so shoe horning in a 45mm gauge circuit with sidings to boot was an impossible option within the offered area of just 11 feet by 32 feet. As a 16mm gauge layout it would be perfectly adequate for a double track system, plus ample loops and spurs for operational interest.
The 45mm gauge track donations are still in storage. Perhaps a G scale layout might be a future consideration by another group of enthusiasts when a suitable space belonging to the L&BR becomes available.
The Woody Bay Garden Railway's installation was therefore commenced early in 2022, with one workday a week being the pace at which it could be conveniently built.
To assist in the build, as well as becoming an equally accommodating running facility for Two Moors' friends from across the border in Somerset, an equal number of members of the Central Somerset 16mm Group agreed to contribute their time and energies to the project and join in with maintenance tasks if required. Finished in July, it took about six months to complete which allowed three remaining months of L&BR's running season to iron out any necessary refinements. To help dress the layout's scenic image a donated model kit of Woody Bay station building was completed by Roger Gardner, and other buildings to be seen were donated by Pete Chandler, formerly used on his then dismantled home layout.
To assist in the build, as well as becoming an equally accommodating running facility for Two Moors' friends from across the border in Somerset, an equal number of members of the Central Somerset 16mm Group agreed to contribute their time and energies to the project and join in with maintenance tasks if required. Finished in July, it took about six months to complete which allowed three remaining months of L&BR's running season to iron out any necessary refinements. To help dress the layout's scenic image a donated model kit of Woody Bay station building was completed by Roger Gardner, and other buildings to be seen were donated by Pete Chandler, formerly used on his then dismantled home layout.
A fine Line up of Lynton and Barnstaple Locomotives at a recent meet
As a baseboard, the availability of a valuable donation of Dibond aluminium faced polyethylene cored sheeting, and therefore superbly suited to strong outdoor construction without any rotting, warping or rusting, was generously provided by Paul Fennon, owner of Glasgow based EVM, advertising and corporate display specialists.
Most of the other materials required were financed by the L&BR, with various other items sourced from members' own gardens if of no further use to them. An access 'duck under' was included in the finished design but despite being fairly easy of passage to the more flexible members, it was obviously necessary to also have a more easily negotiable 'step over' option as well, and this was built and added a few months later by Arthur Cole.
A sitting area was also part of the design, which was sectioned off from L&BR visitors as a more relaxing place to talk shop and operate radio controlled trains from while being more comfortably seated.
Dave Barnett then joined our activities as he was actively instrumental in helping to further the progress of the layout during its languishing days of non commital participation.
Most of the other materials required were financed by the L&BR, with various other items sourced from members' own gardens if of no further use to them. An access 'duck under' was included in the finished design but despite being fairly easy of passage to the more flexible members, it was obviously necessary to also have a more easily negotiable 'step over' option as well, and this was built and added a few months later by Arthur Cole.
A sitting area was also part of the design, which was sectioned off from L&BR visitors as a more relaxing place to talk shop and operate radio controlled trains from while being more comfortably seated.
Dave Barnett then joined our activities as he was actively instrumental in helping to further the progress of the layout during its languishing days of non commital participation.
The completed layout, by this time now named the 'Woody Gate Garden Railway', as suggested by Chris Tilley, and fictitiously amalgamating Woody Bay with Blackmoor Gate, was an immediate success with L&BR's visitors, adding a valuable extra facet to the Railway's entertainment programme.
For the layout's planning and installation thanks are extended to the following members of both Groups...Pete Chandler, Arthur Cole, Roger Gardner, Paul James, Pat Brewer, Ken Povey, Laurence Poole, Chris Tilley, Terry Bowden, Ernie Smith, Nigel Gettings and Dave Gibbon. Dave Barnett and David Pearson later joined in with the shed installation.
Unfortunately the railway has to be operated in the presence of members of the two Groups who of course have other commitments as well. This means that running days are only possible on certain days during each month.
This is also determined by any weather restrictions, and weather patterns at almost 1000ft above sea level can at times be testing of moral fibre.
For the layout's planning and installation thanks are extended to the following members of both Groups...Pete Chandler, Arthur Cole, Roger Gardner, Paul James, Pat Brewer, Ken Povey, Laurence Poole, Chris Tilley, Terry Bowden, Ernie Smith, Nigel Gettings and Dave Gibbon. Dave Barnett and David Pearson later joined in with the shed installation.
Unfortunately the railway has to be operated in the presence of members of the two Groups who of course have other commitments as well. This means that running days are only possible on certain days during each month.
This is also determined by any weather restrictions, and weather patterns at almost 1000ft above sea level can at times be testing of moral fibre.
