Five Elms MPD

Set between 1964 and 1967, Five Elms MPD captures the end of British Railways steam in the South and is modelled in ‘OO’ gauge.

Gauge: ‘OO’ | Period: 1964-1967 | Region: Southern | Operating team: Harry Pollard and friends

Five Elms MPD is a fictional Southern Region shed modelled in 'OO' gauge.

Above: Five Elms MPD is a fictional Southern Region shed modelled in 'OO' gauge. Trevor Jones.

Set between 1964 and 1967, Five Elms MPD captures the end of British Railways steam in the South.

The ‘OO’ gauge layout represents a fictitious engine shed on the Southern Region. As it is modelled in the late 1960s, Southern Region diesels are becoming more numerous, but steam still remains the main source of motive power.

Locomotives seen are mainly BR Standards and Bulleid designs with very few Drummond and Maunsell locomotives still in operation. Diesels in use are Class 33s, 47s, 73s, 08s and 03s.

The scene is based somewhere in the suburbs of London and the shed is able to stable freight, express and suburban locomotives from the Western section of the Southern Region. A few of the early preserved engines appear on Railtour duties from time to time adding to the drab ‘60s theme.

The shed (70J) is pure imagination, inspired by various different parts of Nine Elms, Stewarts Lane, Bournemouth and Redhill. 

Five Elms features in HM197 – on sale at the 2023 Great Electric Train Show.