Woodland Vehicles

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WOODLAND VEHICLES

These devices make interesting 'set piece' models when displayed complete with a 'tree trunk' and shire horse, and once you have mastered the making of model wheels they show your workmanship to advantage. Many different local names were used, the same equipment was used all over the country.

Timber Waggon

Large Timber Bob

Medium Timber Bob

Straked Wheel Timber Bob

Charcoal Burners Mare

Timber Waggon Click here for list

After the trunks had been dragged out of the woods with the aid of the bob they would be loaded onto a four wheeled pole waggon for transport to the timber yard or sawmill. The load could be 10 tons or more, so a team of five horses was sometimes used - one in the shafts and two pairs in trace harness in front. The carriage I have drawn was built about 1905 at Sheepwash in Devon, and is now on display at the Countryside Museum, Bicton Gardens. Note the box on the forcarriage, for stowing the chains and other gear. Length (excluding shafts) approx 15ft.

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Large Timber Bob Click here for list

This example has huge wheels, over 8ft. in diameter, and is a good one to build in the smaller 1/12th scale. It was used on the Leigh Estate in Sussex, and is now at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum.

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Medium Timber Bob Click here for list

A horse drawn implement, which was used to extract lengths of timber from the forest. Debris, soil and the risks of fouling stumps of felled trees made the task very difficult. The bob was first made to straddle the log, the pole was upended and the log was chained to the axle of the bob. The pole was then pulled down, thus lifting the end of the log off the ground allowing it to be towed without the risk of fouling. This example is from the Leigh Estate and is of a more normal size, and would make a more manageable model in 1/8th scale.

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Straked Wheel Timber BobClick here for list

The Wheels are shod with a double row of strakes, on 6 inch wide felloes - an interesting project for a patient model wheelwright. Built in 1880 in Somerset, and now at the Old Kiln Museum, Tilford

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Charcoal Burners Mare Click here for list

Charcoal is produced by the controlled burning of wood with a restricted air supply. The burning kiln has to be constantly watched, so the charcoal burner lived on site, very often with his family. The finished product was sold as a fuel giving an intense heat about twice that of wood. Charcoal burning finally died out at the beginning of the 20th century, when charcoal production in the traditional way was no longer profitable.The charcoal burners mare, shown here, is a type of hand barrow with frames instead of a body, used for carrying the branches to the charcoal burners camp. It is preserved at the Weld and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton. An easy model to start with.

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