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The Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum
Models

 

 

It is impossible (or desirable) to recreate  full size everything that was clay related in Purbeck for every period, so to capture young and old minds and educate, the Museum has a couple of working models. One (Norden in the 1960's shown above) is resident in the Foreman's Office (although as you can see from the schedule below it does go out and about). 
The other model shown below is of Eldon's Siding as it was in the 1930's. On the right can be seen the Swanage branch and to the left of that is the 3' 9" gauge railway system on which "Tiny" and "Thames" ran. You will also see that horses were also used up until the second world war.

Both models are full of small details that amuse and entertain.  Their purpose is to catch your attention and enable all ages to learn in the most pleasant and enjoyable way.

Exhibition Roster 2010

Date Venue Layout  
7th,8th Alton    
13th,14th February Gartell    
20th February Shepton Mallet Eldon's Siding
26th,27th February Eastleigh Eldon's Siding
3rd April Ilfracombe Eldon's Siding  
25th April  Yeovil Jct. Norden Mine  
1st May  Old Kiln, Farnham Norden Mine  
29th,30th May Brockenhurst Eldon's Siding Cancelled
12th 13th June FAAM. Yeovilton
Norden Mine
10th,11th July Amberley   Cancelled
24th 25th July Puffing Billy, Torrington Norden Mine
7th,8th August By-Gone Days at Brook Farm, North Gorley Eldon's Siding
28th,29th August Burnham Norden Mine  
5th September  Yeovil Jct. Eldon's Siding
25th 26th September L & B R. Woody Bay Eldon's Siding
2nd,3rd October Exbury Eldon's Siding
9th 10th October Blandford Eldon's Siding
28th December Central Bristol Eldon's Siding  
       

At the 2009 Sedgemoor Rail

 Peter Hollins with Eldon's Sidings won "best of show"

At Eastleigh 100

Swanage Railway was very well represented at Eastleigh 100 with M7, Manston, and Eddystone. However the Eldon's Sidings Model also drew a small crowd.

At Old Kiln Light Railway


© Richard Bentley 2009

During the weekend of 2nd and 3rd May 2009 Peter Hollins had the pleasure of placing his model of the ex Norden Ruston on the real thing at the Old Kiln Light Railway

At Bognor Regis Club 2009

Please note that the last Norden Mine closed in 1999 and not in the 1960s