After working on the Glasgow telephone system for a while, he established a commercial art studio in London, where, as a side-line, he branched out into designing and making model aircraft for sale, in due course expanding to the manufacture of full size gliders.
Twining was also a prolific author, writing for numerous hobby magazines, and wrote several books, the most notable being: Twining sold out his interest in his business in 1940, and moved back to Bristol where he spent the war years on the staff of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, working as a draughtsman.
A 15-inch gauge miniature steam locomotive named Ernest W. Twining exists in Japan at the Shuzenji Romney Railway in Shizuoka Prefecture.
It was a freelance 4-6-2 (2-C-1) Pacific tender loco designed by Twining and built by G & S Light Engineering & Maintenance Co., Ltd. in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in 1950 to Works No.
[1] On page 104 of “Preserved Steam Locomotives of Britain” ISBN 0 7137 0917 0 published in 1982 by Blandford Press, to accompany the colour plate No.