Construction of Taw Magna began back in 2003, when we retired our previous layout Kirkby Grandfield from the exhibition circuit. The size of the layout has been kept small for exhibition purposes, and to prevent the more senior members suffering from backache whenever we move it!

The club's 2005 Exhibition was the first public showing of the layout, and since then it has made many exhibition appearances including the Romford Haverers O Gauge Group Exhibition, Kettering GOG and the Warley Show in 2011.

Based on GWR Branch Line practice somewhere in the West Country, the layout has been designed to be run as a GWR scene in the 1930-40’s and as BR practice in the 1950’s until the Beeching closure plan. Long term, the group are considering adapting the layout to also represent a preserved line. The current buildings will be removable so changes can be easily made and so introduce some of those modern structures that are often seen at such sites.

This will give the group an excuse to run anything they want from a dock shunter to a 47 diesel! Trackwork is basically Peco with handmade C & L pointwork built by O Gauge section member Don Neighbour. Buildings are mostly scratch built with the station based on Abbotsbury. The Goods shed is a modified card kit. Most of the Locomotives and Rolling Stock are kit built, and made by group members.