Mick's Roving Reporter Photo Gallery http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/ 21 rows en-gb 60 Expo NG - Swanley, Kent, 31 October 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1777684.html Following the rather special circumstances of Expong 2008, this years’ event was always going to be something of an anti-climax from some perspectives, however although it was quite a “light” show with regards to the number of layouts attending: just 15 out of a total of 66 stands, it cannot be disputed that the quality of the layouts that were on show was extremely high; but Expong is not simply about the number of narrow gauge layouts that are exhibited. It is the undisputed magnet for all the specialist traders that support this end of the model railway spectrum and for everyone who is either involved in or a supporter of narrow gauge railways, full size and model, to meet up for both a major social gathering and to empty wallets before the money gets wasted on the family Christmas shopping! I thoroughly enjoyed the day as I expected to and I would like to express my own appreciation to Hazel Brewer and her fellow Greenwich & District NG Society members for working so hard to welcome arrivals on both Friday night and Saturday morning and to maintain the hard work throughout the actual event to ensure that both participants and paying visitors enjoyed a splendidly organised and smooth running show. Recently I had a page published in 009 News that included photos of some of the traders who support the hobby rather than the models themselves. This proved to be very popular so I have kept to this theme for the start of this report and have featured as wide a selection as I could showing some of the personalities that support narrow gauge modelling, and because I know that some people like to put faces to names. I hope this proves as popular as the 009 News article was and I apologise if I have inadvertently omitted anyone who should have been included – please let me know and I will try to get you in the lens next time! Saturday 31 October 2009: Following the rather special circumstances of Expong 2008, this years_ event was always going to be something of an anti-climax from some perspectives, however although it was quite a _light_ show with regards to the number of layouts attending: just 15 out of a total of 66 stands, it cannot be disputed that the quality of the layouts that were on show was extremely high; but Expong is not simply about the number of narrow gauge layouts that are exhibited. It is the undisputed magnet for all the specialist traders that support this end of the model railway spectrum and for everyone who is either involved in or a supporter of narrow gauge railways, full size and model, to meet up for both a major social gathering and to empty wallets before the money gets wasted on the family Christmas shopping! I thoroughly enjoyed the day as I expected to and I would like to express my own appreciation to Hazel Brewer and her fellow Greenwich & District NG Society members for working so hard to welcome arrivals on both Friday night and Saturday morning and to maintain the hard work throughout the actual event to ensure that both participants and paying visitors enjoyed a splendidly organised and smooth running show. Recently I had a page published in 009 News that included photos of some of the traders who support the hobby rather than the models themselves. This proved to be very popular so I have kept to this theme for the start of this report and have featured as wide a selection as I could showing some of the personalities that support narrow gauge modelling, and because I know that some people like to put faces to names. I hope this proves as popular as the 009 News article was and I apologise if I have inadvertently omitted anyone who should have been included _ please let me know and I will try to get you in the lens next time!

009 Society sales stand in squash court 1 – 90 minutes BEFORE the show started! 009 Society sales stand 2 hours later – under siege! Meanwhile in the main hall, the 7mm NGA publicity and sales stand were experiencing a rather busy surge as well. Howard Martin, the Chairman of the 7mm NGA with his own Avalon Lines stand Steve Bennett with his Black Dog and Black Cat ranges of 09 and Gn15 resin kits Neville Kent, with his range of N Drive 009 and 09 chassis that are filling a big gap for 9mm gauge modellers Jen McParlin with the impressive Backwoods Models etched brass kit display Allen Doherty of Worsley Works etched brass “scratch aid” kits giving a quote to 009 Society stalwart Stephen Sullivan for a new etched hair styling set....... The joint Greenwich & District NGS and Meridian Models stand Michael Raynor (sitting in blue shirt) had a very impressive display of his 7mm and Gn15 scale Smallbrook Studios resin kits. Standing behind in the black sweater is well known ng personality, historian and book vendor Andrew Neale Andrew and Ian Hastie, of Parkside Dundas, who consistently support narrow gauge modelling events right down to small group members days in village halls throughout the country – distance is no object! Andrew Burnham, Editor of Continental Modeller, always represents Peco with a portable photo studio at Expong. Seen here being distracted by Lee Bryant of the Wessex NGM’s and Robin Winter of the G&DNGS. Michael Raynor (Smallbrook Studios) enjoys the moment! As well as the huge sales stand out in the squash court, the 009 Society was represented in the main hall by a publicity display and modelling demonstration laid on by the Sussex Downs Group. In this shot Phil Savage tries his best to look photogenic whilst Martin Collins gets on with building ever more brass slate wagons for his finescale Festiniog layout. Easily the smallest layout at the show (unless anybody can prove differently!). Phil Savage’s exquisite cheese box-on a wine bottle “Tuppenny Handley” that features fully automatic operation (well you wouldn’t want to operate it manually all day would you?) and a real 2p piece as the inside rail of the half inch radius circuit! The Dave Brewer Challenge this year was to model a static diorama showing some aspect of servicing or maintenance of ng locos or rolling stock in a maximum of 60 scale feet. This innovative entry by Mark Goodwin showing an Emmett style scene in Gn15 was titled “Chipping Clinker Locomotive Works” Ike A Costabuck by Martin Biswell in 0n30 009 Society’s member in Slovenia, Bostjan Jarc, entered this little Hof (6.5mm gauge) scene: “Werkstatt” Another highly original entry by Matt Wildsmith in 0-16.5: “Jones the Steam stops for tea”, featuring Ivor the Engine One of my favourite entries was “Cuckoo Lane Anglicisation Works” in 009 by Stephen Fulljames. I think if he had called it “The Pugbash Factory” it might have won! This very detailed WW1 scene in an ammunition box “Ole Bill Springs” in 009 was entered by Robin Winter Trevor Ridley, publisher of Narrow Gauge World magazine, congratulates Robin Winter on being voted the winner of the Dave Brewer Challenge Cwmorgoth Copper Mining Company – Jean-Luc Pineau, 0-16.5 A very nicely modelled working incline ono Jean-Luc Pineau’s 0-16.5 Cwmorgoth Copper Mining Company A superb Gn15 model of Heywood’s “Effie” by Andrew Griffith’s on Gerry Bullock’s Gneiss Farm Gerry Bullock’s very attractive Gneiss Farm – Gn15 Graham & Caroline Watling with their 009 Whitsend Tramway An attractive little scene tucked away at one end of Graham & Caroline Watling’s Whitsend Tramway, 009 Looking across the fish quay into the village at Whitsend A box cab steam tram loco with a train of sheep wagons crosses the daily mixed service at Whitsend Graham Watling’s 009 Sentinel steam tram loco was built by Paul Windle Beyer Peacock tram loco Luthor shunting the fish quay at Whitsend is another Paul Windle-built model The Groupe Escadrille St Michel are one of several French modelling groups that are regularly invited to Expong. This very well made layout “Dargil et Lataird” was in 014 scale Dargil et Lataird in 014 is a model of a freelance brickworks. Most of the locomotives and wagons are by KBScale models William Loyd’s Sn3 (14.2mm gauge) Oro Grande Railroad has been featured with William operating it in previous reports, so I have rung the changes with this shot which shows 009 Society Treasurer Geoff Bowyer operating and Patrick Collins of the Wessex NGM’s admiring his skill with the controller Another “ringing the changes” view of William Loyd’s Sn3 Oro Grande, taken from the Roving Reporter’s helicopter – which is not easy to achieve on a layout that appears in an all-round display case (as seen in the previous photo)! A more conventional view of Oro Grande by William Loyd in Sn3 In my personal opinion, one of the best presented layouts on show was this very nice 0-16.5 layout by teenage modeller Peter-John Saunders: “Blackwood Valley Railway” A scene on the Blackwood Valley by PJ Saunders in 0-16.5 A low level atmospheric view of PJ Saunders’ 0-16.5 Bagnall 0-4-0ST shunting on the Blackwood Valley Railway The 5.5 mm Association managed to mount a small stand, courtesy of Francis Stapleton (that’s not him in the photo!) despite the Association having its own AGM some 200 miles away in Manchester on the same day as Expong. Francis Stapleton’s under-construction New Ira Mine seen on the 5.5mm Association stand Brian Cameron operating his St Reatham Hall Estate Railway, which was stated as Hn18 scale (1/24 using 16.5mm track to represent 18” gauge) which I am assured is very different from the popularly termed Gn15! St Reatham Hall Estate Railway, Hn18 by Brian Cameron is exhibited as a shunting puzzle, viewers being invited to participate in shuffling the cards which determine the shunting moves required. An innovative method of involving and entertaining the visitors! Stephen Sullivan’s 009 Holbeach Estates Railway representing a scene from one of the Lincolnshire “Potato Railways” A feature of Stephen Sullivan’s Holbeach Estates Railway in 009 is the large collection of exquisitely modelled petrol, paraffin and diesel powered locomotives that he has built. A train made up from ex-WDLR bogie open wagons trundles across the potato fields on the Holbeach Estates Railway A view across the Lincolnshire flatlands on Stephen Sullivan’s 009 Holbeach Estates Railway A new feature (I apologise if it isn’t but it is the first time I’ve noticed it!) on Stephen Sullivan’s Holbeach Estates Railway is this pig farm scene An authentic modern-day scene in the potato fields on the Holbeach Estates shows (illegal?) immigrants hard at work for the minimum wage! Don and Val Sibley come across from their home in Belgium to exhibit at Expong every year with one of Don’s exquisitely modelled finescale layouts. This year he brought the Willowdale Light Railway, a very attractive and skilfully made model in 1/50 scale, 18.2mm gauge, featuring locomotives named after and scenes inspired by the Wind in the Willows stories – Toad of Toad Hall and all that!

Published in Mick's Roving Reporter Photo Gallery

]]> Sat Oct 31 2009 Wiltshire Group 009 Society Members Day and MOMING 09 - Pewsey, 15 August 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1744430.html The 12th biennial event organised by the Wiltshire Group of the 009 Society, and the 3rd occasion that they had hosted the "exhibition within an exhibition" "Modelling the Minimum Gauge" (MOMING), ably coordinated by well-known minimum gauge modeller and enthusiast, Christopher Payne. With 9 009 layouts, 8 "MOMING" in various scales between 09 and 1:22.5, an outstanding display of 15mm scale Irish NG models by John Campbell and Neil Ramsay, a very good presence from the specialist trade support (much appreciated chaps!) covering both 009 and MOMING specialities, and probably the best, stickiest and sweetest lardy cake that I have ever sampled, it all added up to another memorable, friendly, informal and enjoyable day out in deepest Wiltshire - an experience shared by over 200 other narrow gauge modellers who travelled considerable distances in some cases to be there. If you could have gone but didn't bother, you really should put Pewsey in your diary for next time - but you will have to wait until 2011! Saturday 15 August 2009: The 12th biennial event organised by the Wiltshire Group of the 009 Society, and the 3rd occasion that they had hosted the "exhibition within an exhibition" "Modelling the Minimum Gauge" (MOMING), ably coordinated by well-known minimum gauge modeller and enthusiast, Christopher Payne. With 9 009 layouts, 8 "MOMING" in various scales between 09 and 1:22.5, an outstanding display of 15mm scale Irish NG models by John Campbell and Neil Ramsay, a very good presence from the specialist trade support (much appreciated chaps!) covering both 009 and MOMING specialities, and probably the best, stickiest and sweetest lardy cake that I have ever sampled, it all added up to another memorable, friendly, informal and enjoyable day out in deepest Wiltshire - an experience shared by over 200 other narrow gauge modellers who travelled considerable distances in some cases to be there. If you could have gone but didn't bother, you really should put Pewsey in your diary for next time - but you will have to wait until 2011!

The traditional opening view of the hall shortly after opening time. Are you in the photo? Up on the stage the 009 Society sales stand settles down to another day under siege from those who know where to shop for a good deal! 7mm NGA Chairman Howard Martin with Barry Baker at Howard's Avalon Line trade stand More MOMING trade sustenance was provided by Steve Bennett with his well known Black Dog Mining Co. Derek Hart of the Wessex NGM's engages Steve in conversation in this shot Allen Doherty brought his Worsley Works scratch aid etched kit range (covering all scales!) down from Manchester. Peter Dale poses as the customer in this candid shot! Andrew Hastie brought the Parkside Dundas stand all the way from Kirkcaldy in Fife in order to sell these two members of the Buccabury (North London) 009 Group a length of the new Peco Another long distance traveller (and much appreciated as well) was Neville Kent with his growing N-Drive chassis range. Seen here tempting David Churchill of the West Midlands Group with a new chassis! John Bruce, chairman of the Wiltshire Group doing his stint on A successful part of the Pewsey experience which other small event organisers may care to take note of was the raffle. Here Andy Cundick and Darryl Foxwell start the pre-draw warm-up Francis Stapleton, well known 5.5mm scale exhibitor, has had a small diversion to larger things and showed his An excellent working diorama by Angus Watkins, which featured scratchbuilt electronics, bridge, trees and PBSSR tram locos according to Angus's notes! For some reason I got distracted whilst snapping Angus Watkins Beddgelert 1910 diorama and discovered that I had only taken one photo of this excellent work. So I have made a rather cruel crop of the previous image to try to show something of the electric tram - note the unusual overhead twin wires and current collector. Derek Hart again! This time he has appeared with Patrick Collins' superbly presented little mini-layout in 009: Wintoncester Water Works A busy scene at Wintoncester Water Works - Patrick Collins excellent little layout Steam locos waiting for the next working at Patrick Collins Wintoncester Water Works. Some much better photos than mine, by Lee Bryant, of this attractive little layout appear in the August 2009 009 News - you are a member aren't you? If not, why not!! Geoff and Shirley Harper, from Bromsgrove, are regular attenders at Pewsey. This year Geoff brought along a small layout that he had purchased Hawthorn Mill, Geoff Harper's Geoff Harper's Hawthorn Mill Hawthorn Mill by Geoff Harper Adrian Ponting with his new Two of Adrian Ponting's attractively modified Manning Wardle locos give a preview of how the loco shed at Figgins Lane will look when completed. A neatly repainted Minitrains Plymouth diesel loco at Adrian Ponting's under-construction Figgins Lane An overview across one leg of the L shaped layout of Figgins Lane, Adrian Ponting's new terminus John Thorne's Purbeck has only been The distinctive and easily recognisable works at John Thorne's Purbeck, from a slightly different from usual angle A view across the loco shed area at John Thorne's Purbeck Executive transport, Purbeck style! Tucked away at the end of a siding at Purbeck, I found John Thorne's Simplex diesel - notable because it is a successful creation of an open version - how many of these open cab models have you seen on layouts? Not many I can assure you! This and following photos taken of John Thorne's latest items of stock show a distinctive French atmosphere. What can John be planning for his next NG adventure? This one is the Jouef Decauville loco suitably detailed and made more realistically credible Another of John Thorne's new locomotives John Thorne is a prolific builder of 009 locomotives. This French 0-6-2T example has a scratchbuilt body on a Minitrix chassis Another attractive modification of an easily obtainable 009/HOe loco is this Roco 0-6-0T that has been considerably improved by John Thorne John Thorne's Crochat railcar with a 2 wheel trailer that could only have come from France! Matthew and Helen Kean brought along their new layout Garreg Wen, which has been built to satisfy two aims (from their own exhibition notes): Garreg Wen by Matthew and Helen Kean is set in Snowdonia in the Victorian period and acts as a very suitable setting for their attractive collection of Welsh NG stock of the period A very neat Corris loco arrives at Matthew and Helen Kean's Garreg Wen Even in Victorian days it was impossible to escape from the Roving Reporter, although his camera is not quite so bulky nowadays! Latham's Brewery is Julien Webb's long term layout project that has developed considerably since the last time I saw this atmospheric depiction of a brewery inspired by Burton on Trent and the Guiness brewery in Dublin. Julien (left) is pictured here with his brother Simon. Julien Webb's Latham's Brewery An attempt at an Another successful Locomotives stabled at Julien Webb's Latham's Brewery. One of a pair of distinguished visitors to Julien Webb's Latham's Brewery was this superbly detailed loco built by Francis Samish. Note the exquisitely modelled valve gear A second locomotive built by Francis Samish at Julien Webb's Latham's Brewery Barry and Shelley Thomas are frequent exhibitors at model railway exhibitions in the south and south west of England with a range of entertaining and popular 009 layouts, On this occasion they showed their River Mead River Mead, an 009 layout by Barry and Shelley Thomas Colour, movement and activity at Barry & Shelley Thomas's River Mead 009 Society Membership Secretary Alan Rolfe was in charge of Graham Lindley's Lyddbridge when I passed by with the camera A colourful view across Graham Lindley's Lyydbridge Lyddbridge by Graham Lindley features a colourful scenic feature in the form of a transport museum, which can be seen in the background of this view, and a wide variety of Graham's railcars. This scratchbuilt County Donegal example was built by Graham from traditional card and balsa methods some 30 years ago, and it still looks superb!

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]]> Sat Aug 15 2009 More Geranium Red & Cream Delights at the Bradford on Avon MRX 19 July 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1738389.html Although Andy Cundick had announced that his 00n3 County Donegal layout "Letterkenny" was having its final outing before retirement at the Donegal MRX in May (covered in my earlier collection), he decided to give it "just one more showing" at the Bradford on Avon show on 19 July, and as I live within an hour's drive, I just had to make the effort to snap up some of the stuff I had missed before whilst there was still an opportunity to see this super layout! An added bonus that I discovered on arrival was the presence of 2 more excellent narrow gauge layouts, both in unusual scales: Christopher Payne's 1:34 scale St Pierre et La Rue Perrin and William Loyd's Sn3 (1:64 scale on 14.2mm gauge track) Oro Grande Railroad. Although the primary purpose of my visit to Bradford on Avon was to take a last chance to capture some more photos of Letterkenny, I have also included a small selection of snaps of these 2 layouts - they are both far too good to ignore! Sunday 19 July 2009: Although Andy Cundick had announced that his 00n3 County Donegal layout "Letterkenny" was having its final outing before retirement at the Donegal MRX in May (covered in my earlier collection), he decided to give it "just one more showing" at the Bradford on Avon show on 19 July, and as I live within an hour's drive, I just had to make the effort to snap up some of the stuff I had missed before whilst there was still an opportunity to see this super layout! An added bonus that I discovered on arrival was the presence of 2 more excellent narrow gauge layouts, both in unusual scales: Christopher Payne's 1:34 scale St Pierre et La Rue Perrin and William Loyd's Sn3 (1:64 scale on 14.2mm gauge track) Oro Grande Railroad. Although the primary purpose of my visit to Bradford on Avon was to take a last chance to capture some more photos of Letterkenny, I have also included a small selection of snaps of these 2 layouts - they are both far too good to ignore!

First of the The layout is in the form of a A very atmospheric and well modelled narrow gauge Mallet loco at Christopher Payne's 1:34 scale St Pierre Another view of Christopher Payne's 1:34 scale Mallet at St Pierre A glimpse of the superb quality of Christopher Payne's scenic modelling at St Pierre et La Rue Perrin in 1:34 scale Just a single van at La Rue Perrin, part of Christopher Payne's 1:34 scale French layout This little wagon in 1:34 scale on Christopher Payne's layout is a vast improvement from its origin as a humble 00 scale Hornby goods wagon The canal bridge between La Rue Perrin and St Pierre quayside on Christopher Payne's 1:34 scale French layout. Another layout in an unusual scale and an unusual subject for this part of the world is William Loyd's superb little diorama: Another view of the whole of William Loyd's excellent Oro Grande Railroad A zoomed in view from the same angle as the previous photo William Loyd has added this new scratchbuilt loco to Oro Grande since the last time I saw the layout. A superb example of meticulous modelling of the highest standard. Another view of the new diesel loco at William Loyd's Sn3 Oro Grande Railroad Oro Grande Railroad - William Loyd, Sn3 The diesel loco shunts some hopper wagons into place ready to be loaded from the working mechanical shovel If you weren't sure of the location of the Oro Grande Railroad, then the automobiles in the carpark at the station (depot) should give a clue that it is in the USA! Loaded hoppers wait to be moved offstage An ancient Porter locomotive on shed at William Loyd's Oro Grande Railroad A final view across Oro Grande. if you like your narrow gauge layouts to be small but exquisitely modelled then this one takes some beating! And on to the main purpose of my visit to Bradford on Avon on this occasion. Andy Cundick in a customary pose enthusiastically explaining points of detail about the Donegal Railcars Meanwhile, Andy's assistant for the day, fellow Wiltshire narrow gauge modeller John Bruce operates Letterkenny We start our brief tour at Letterkenny station building, which still exists in real life, nowadays serving as the local bus station. Here in model form however it is still 1959 and the only car outside the station is this pre-war Vauxhall 10 The station yard at Letterkenny, showing a variety of prototypically correct for the period road vehicles Further into the yard we find 3 of the County Donegal Railway's road fleet in their distinctive livery. A nostalgic moment for me as I learned to drive in a military version of the Austin truck in the centre - crash gearbox up and down, ah the joys of double declutching and still praying that they go in without scrambling the box! This view across Letterkenny platforms is instantly recognisable to anyone familiar with the real station. A steam excursion waits to leave, whilst recently arrived railcar 15 shunts. Railcar 15 shunts a pair of goods vehicles Another view of the steam excursion train. The following photos will take a close look at the individual vehicles in the train Class 5 2-6-4T Columbkille in characteristically Brake van 28 - the prototype of this vehicle has been preserved and can be seen at Donegal railway heritage centre - photograph appears in the previous collection in this gallery Olbury saloon coach no.30 as refitted in 1932 I couldn't make out the number of this coach, it is one of the 1893 Oldbury's - probably one of 14-17 Lurking behind the station canopy I found ex-Ballymena & Larne boat train corridor coach 58. The Lough Swilly motor bus in the yard is a Leyland PS2/1 of 1949, fleet number 66 (I know because I checked the VRN against an Irish bus register on the internet!), and to complete the picture, I think that the car is an Austin 10 Tickford! (I'm sure somebody will let me know if I have described it incorrectly!) Prototype photos of the County Donegal often emphasise the mainline atmosphere generated by the station canopy at Letterkenny, emulated in this photo I think. Another view of the steam hauled excursion waiting to leave for Strabane A view across the yard to the goods sidings A wider view of the goods yard taken from the station throat. What is that in the wagon on the right? See following photo! A closer view of the contents of the wagon spotted in the last photo - Thomas en-route to his final destination (and about time too was the chorus!) Andy Cundick has his own opinion about Thomas, as illustrated here in this little diorama that he displays at exhibitions with all his layouts! This model of one of the pallet-borne oil tankers that were used on the CDR was quite simply made using an old Triang TT tanker - exactly the right size for the tank in 4mm scale! Railcar 10 arrives with ex Ballymena & Larne coach 58 as its trailer I rather liked this shot of railcar 10 arriving and entered it for the Photo of the Month competition in the NG Modelling Yahoo Group. It came joint 2nd - because the judge didn't like the Railcar 12 arriving at Letterkenny Railcar 15. Note the similarity with railcar 12 - except this is one of 4 Donegal railcars that had full fronted cabs Railcar 15 again, indulging in a spot of shunting, whilst Columbkille continues to wait for departure time with the excursion train. Railcar 15. This and most of the other railcars are adapted and detailed Backwoods or Worsley kits An unusual combination of the tiny railcar number 1 with trailer 5 in its original condition Another of the 1st generation of Donegal railcars, this time number 4, arrives at Letterkenny. If you are unsure of the identity of the locomotive half hidden behind it, it will be revealed before the end of this collection! Railcar 7, the first diesel powered railcar in the British Isles when the prototype was built in 1931 Another view of diesel railcar no. 7 Railcar 12 arrives from Strabane with a maximum allowed load of 5 goods vehicles

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]]> Sun Jul 19 2009 A Weekend In Donegal 23-24 May 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1705623.html Well, after I had given my County Donegal Railways inspired 009 railcars and Irish cattle train a run through Ted Polet's Rae Bridge at the 009 Society AGM (see earlier report in this gallery), and Charlie Insley had described it as "A hibernian moment", there was nothing for it really but to load the camera into the car and head off across the Irish Sea in order to attend the model railway exhibition that the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre manager, Ann Temple, and her staff had been working very hard to organise in order to publicise the ongoing project that the CDRRL has to recreate a little bit of the County Donegal Railways by building a tourist railway through the Barnesmore Gap, a few miles out of Donegal on the old line to Stranorlar. I managed to dovetail a couple of visits to the exhibition in over the weekend with a pre-arranged "grand road trip to Ireland" with my son, and because of the very tight schedule, my presence with camera in front of the layouts was always going to be rather rushed, but despite that I managed to capture a goodly number of geranium red and cream flavoured images, which I am pleased to share with those interested in such things here.... The only disappointments were 2 "no-shows" of booked narrow gauge layouts that let down both the travelling visitors (such as myself) and Ann Temple and her team. One narrow gauge layout owner pulled out at a late stage after publicity had already been placed in the modelling press, whilst a club owned layout of Fivemiletown on the Clogher Valley, which I was particularly looking forward to seeing, turned out on the day to be an 00 gauge "tail chaser" layout complete with Thomas the Tank! When tasked about this, the club spokesperson simply stated that "they had brought Fivemiletown to the Donegal exhibition last year and thought they would bring one of their other layouts this time to make a change". Wrong answer guys and both the organiser and visitors who had paid a lot of money to attend (eg me) were not very happy bunnies at all. My memory is long........... However, those layout owners that did make the effort to attend more than compensated for that let-down. For me, the highlight of the trip was an opportunity to see some of the 5mm scale models made by George Hanan in the 1950's and 60's which are on permanent display in the Heritage Centre. Photographing these models was certainly a bit of a challenge, but I think you will see that I have managed to capture a good representation in this collection. See Railway Modeller July 1959 and March 1963 to learn about George Hanan's County Donegal Railway models! I hope that more than just the Red and Cream Appreciation Brigade get some enjoyment out of this little set of photos! Mick Sunday 24 May 2009: Well, after I had given my County Donegal Railways inspired 009 railcars and Irish cattle train a run through Ted Polet's Rae Bridge at the 009 Society AGM (see earlier report in this gallery), and Charlie Insley had described it as "A hibernian moment", there was nothing for it really but to load the camera into the car and head off across the Irish Sea in order to attend the model railway exhibition that the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre manager, Ann Temple, and her staff had been working very hard to organise in order to publicise the ongoing project that the CDRRL has to recreate a little bit of the County Donegal Railways by building a tourist railway through the Barnesmore Gap, a few miles out of Donegal on the old line to Stranorlar. I managed to dovetail a couple of visits to the exhibition in over the weekend with a pre-arranged "grand road trip to Ireland" with my son, and because of the very tight schedule, my presence with camera in front of the layouts was always going to be rather rushed, but despite that I managed to capture a goodly number of geranium red and cream flavoured images, which I am pleased to share with those interested in such things here.... The only disappointments were 2 "no-shows" of booked narrow gauge layouts that let down both the travelling visitors (such as myself) and Ann Temple and her team. One narrow gauge layout owner pulled out at a late stage after publicity had already been placed in the modelling press, whilst a club owned layout of Fivemiletown on the Clogher Valley, which I was particularly looking forward to seeing, turned out on the day to be an 00 gauge "tail chaser" layout complete with Thomas the Tank! When tasked about this, the club spokesperson simply stated that "they had brought Fivemiletown to the Donegal exhibition last year and thought they would bring one of their other layouts this time to make a change". Wrong answer guys and both the organiser and visitors who had paid a lot of money to attend (eg me) were not very happy bunnies at all. My memory is long........... However, those layout owners that did make the effort to attend more than compensated for that let-down. For me, the highlight of the trip was an opportunity to see some of the 5mm scale models made by George Hanan in the 1950's and 60's which are on permanent display in the Heritage Centre. Photographing these models was certainly a bit of a challenge, but I think you will see that I have managed to capture a good representation in this collection. See Railway Modeller July 1959 and March 1963 to learn about George Hanan's County Donegal Railway models! I hope that more than just the Red and Cream Appreciation Brigade get some enjoyment out of this little set of photos! Mick

Donegal Town railway station, now the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre and headquarters of the County Donegal Railway Restoration Limited (CDRRL). The exterior of the building is largely unchanged in the 50 years since trains last passed through Donegal Town station from the railway side. This view was taken from just about where the end of the platform on the Killybegs side of the station would have been. The remains of the old loco shed, sited behind what is now the St John Bosco Centre, the location for the model railway exhibition Restored CDRJC brake coach 28 with the inevitable spots of rain on the camera lens! There is a reason why Ireland is so green you know! The body of Railcar Trailer 5 was used as the ticket office for Donegal Town football club before being put to a more relevant use as a venue for showing a video display about the railway Trailer 5 again. I was quite surprised at how dark the cream is on this vehicle. The body of one of the ex-Clogher Valley goods vans which were employed on the County Donegal as Ex-Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway Newtoncunningham signal box Andy Cundick took me around the back of the Bus Eireann depot which now occupies the site of the old goods yard and showed me this restored CDR goods van (I didn't catch the number, perhaps somebody can provide it please?). I would never have known it was there otherwise! Also in store behind the bus garage were this trio of ex Bord na Mona Ruston diesel locos On the Sunday morning there was a brief pause between showers and we rushed off to the west to take in a quick visit to Killybegs. This view covers most of the site of the old station A view of the old fish pier, from approximately where the carriage sidings were in front of the train shed at Killybegs The last remaining piece of original 3ft gauge County Donegal Railways track and also the furthest point west on the whole system! The old fish pier in Killlybegs still has a length of track permanantly embedded into the road surface On to the model railway exhibition! First stop is the Thetford Model Railway Society 16mm scale Buggleskelly, featuring a wealth of Irish railcar subjects More 16mm scale (2ft gauge!) Donegal stock on the Thetford MRS And there's more! Some The other large scale exhibit was a 15mm scale display using the correct 45mm gauge rails with a display of an absolutely superb range of Irish locomotive and railcar models by John Campbell and rolling stock scratchbuilt by Neil Ramsay, who are both clearly master modellers of considerable skill John Campbell and Neil Ramsay showed a stunning display of 15mm scale models encompassing a wide and comprehensive variety of Irish narrow gauge subjects CDRJC class 5 2-6-4T More 15mm scale delights! A West Clare diesel loco with Clogher Valley Number 1, the original Walker articulated diesel railcar of 1932 And this model, also on John Campbell and Neil Ramsay's superb 15mm scale display shows how A Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T with Northern Counties Commission (NCC) stock representing the Antrim narrow gauge lines in John Campbell and Neil Ramsay's splendid 15mm scale display. In general John has built the motive power models whilst Neil has scratchbuilt the rolling stock. John Campbell and Neil Ramsay brought so many 15mm scale models that an overflow side-table had to be added to the main display. This view shows a variety of stock from the NCC, Cavan & Leitrim and West Clare lines. The Chester MRC brought their very well known prizewinning 00n3 layout Dingle station by the Chester MRC in 00n3 showing a variety of T&D and CDRJC stock Another Dingle station with a more familiar sight of the historic A variety of cattle vans await the loading of livestock at Dingle Hunslet 2-6-2T number 5T on the turntable at Dingle. Refer to Railway Modeller December 2002 and January & February 2003 issues for a comprehensive description of this superb layout. Another familiar and entertaining Irish NG layout that attended is Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal, which was understandably a very popular attraction with the local visitors. An overview of Alan Gee's very attractive model in 00n3 of Donegal station. See Railway Modeller September and October 2006 for a full description of this layout and its stock. A topical model on Alan Gee's attractive 00n3 Donegal is Biddy's O'Barnes, a real life refreshment stop at Barnesmore Gap, and the site of where the CDRRL hopes to run a tourist railway through Railcar 10 on the turntable at Alan Gee's Donegal Town Older railcars in the form of ex-Dublin & Blessington Drewry car number 3 and railcar 7 of 1931, the first diesel powered railcar in the British Isles A small flight of fancy at Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal Town as one of the West Clare Walker diesel locos in County Donegel livery brings a goods train in from Stranorlar. If the CDRJC had remained open after its actual closure on 31 December 1959, and the West Clare had still closed in 1961, as it did, it is just possible and maybe even probable that this scene may have been recreated in real life in the early 1960's! Alan Gee's new scratchbuilt 00n3 model of Schull & Skibberreen 4-4-0T The other visiting Irish NG layout was Andy Cundick's well known 00n3 Letterkenny. I was very glad that I had decided to make this trip across to Donegal as I learned that Andy intends to retire this layout after some years of exhibitions and this was to be its last appearance A feature of the CDRJC in its later years was the steam hauled special excursions where all available coaching stock was pressed into use. Letterkenny saw school special trips that travelled through onto the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway system. Here is one of these special trains approaching Letterkenny (CDR) terminus with a class 5 2-6-4T loco in charge The special excursion train arrives at Letterkenny on Andy Cundick's very realistic 00n3 layout The excursion train has now been shunted to the departure platform and shortly the class 5 2-6-4T will transfer the train to the adjoining L&LSR through station where it will be handed over to a Lough Swilly loco for its onward journey into the Meanwhile at Letterkenny, whilst excursion train shunting is going on, normal services are maintained, and a full cab railcar (at a guess from the trailer I would say it is number 18 - confirmation anyone please?) has arrived from Strabane with one of the original West Donegal 1882 RC&W 6-wheel coaches as its trailer Andy Cundick's 00n3 version of ex-Clogher Valley railcar 10. Andy has reversed the chassis on this Backwoods kitbuilt model (superdetailed by Andy), so that he can model the engine covers authentically open and More County Donegal vintage stock on Andy Cundick's 00n3 Letterkenny layout. This shot shows old Railcar number 1 arriving from Strabane with Trailer 5 in tow. The trailer is modelled in its less frequently seen original condition. Just a glimpse at about two thirds of Andy Cundick's well stocked fiddle yard on his 00n3 Letterkenny layout. A truly fabulous array of red and cream trains, with both early and later versions of several items of stock in view. The Heritage Centre includes two layouts that were either built by or inspired by GR (George) Hanan, an accomplished modeller and artist who lives in Mountcharles, just a few miles along the route to Killybegs from Donegal. This view shows a model of Killybegs station and harbour by Neil Tee that was completed in 5.5mm scale (using 16.5mm gauge track) in 1969. The model was directly inspired by George Hanan's own model of Killybegs that appeared in Railway Modeller in July 1959 and March 1963 - and is also included in my own top 10 list of most inspiring articles that I have seen. A view from the opposite end of Neil Tee's 5.5mm scale model of Killybegs. This and the previous photo show something of the So the only solution in extreme cases like this is to cheat! This is the same photo as the previous one after I have spent a happy half hour or so with Paint Shop Pro, airbrushing out most of the intrusive non-railway background and the Another A scratchbuilt model of class 5A

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]]> Sun May 24 2009 009 Society Members Day and AGM, Edlington, South Yorkshire, 09 May 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1697141.html For some reason the 9th of May was a particularly popular one in the narrow gauge calendar, with the NG Railway Society and the 7mm NGA also having their AGM's. However about 100 009 Society members put these distractions to one side and found their way to the outskirts of Doncaster and enjoyed a really splendid informal, very well organised and friendly event - despite having to stop the main business of the day for 90 minutes whilst the formal proceedings of the AGM took place. After several years of 009 Society AGM's not making it further north than Birmingham, it was a pleasure to be back in the north this year (and I remembered to pack an extra jumper and snow chains just in case.....). I noticed that I was not the only lunatic to have vacated my warm bed in Dorset at 3 AM in order to be there, as I spotted fellow members from Exeter, Bristol, Somerset and Croydon as well as those from north of the Watford Gap who had easier journeys and didn't have to worry about having their visas validated at M1 junction 15A "gateway to the frozen north". 10 layouts were assembled by the co-hosting South Yorkshire and Lampoons (Leeds & Morley) Groups, from east and west of the Pennines and Tyneside, plus a special guest appearance of Ted Polet and his brother Marcel, who had brought the Rae Bridge module of Ted's famous Craigcorrie & Dunalistair Railway across from Leiden in Holland. It was very fitting that at the AGM, Ted was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the 009 Society in recognition of the outstanding contribution he has made to the 009 Society and narrow gauge modelling in general over many years. A very worthy and popular accolade. The only problem encountered on the day, besides the little one of staying awake on the homeward drive, was the bright sunlight coming through the large windows of the school hall venue, causing some challenges to photography - well that was my excuse for some of the very grainy and washed out images that were the best that I could achieve from the almost silhouette starkness of the originals! Nevertheless, I hope that I have managed to salvage a reasonable selection here to give a fair impression of what was a really grand day. Saturday 9 May 2009: For some reason the 9th of May was a particularly popular one in the narrow gauge calendar, with the NG Railway Society and the 7mm NGA also having their AGM's. However about 100 009 Society members put these distractions to one side and found their way to the outskirts of Doncaster and enjoyed a really splendid informal, very well organised and friendly event - despite having to stop the main business of the day for 90 minutes whilst the formal proceedings of the AGM took place. After several years of 009 Society AGM's not making it further north than Birmingham, it was a pleasure to be back in the north this year (and I remembered to pack an extra jumper and snow chains just in case.....). I noticed that I was not the only lunatic to have vacated my warm bed in Dorset at 3 AM in order to be there, as I spotted fellow members from Exeter, Bristol, Somerset and Croydon as well as those from north of the Watford Gap who had easier journeys and didn't have to worry about having their visas validated at M1 junction 15A "gateway to the frozen north". 10 layouts were assembled by the co-hosting South Yorkshire and Lampoons (Leeds & Morley) Groups, from east and west of the Pennines and Tyneside, plus a special guest appearance of Ted Polet and his brother Marcel, who had brought the Rae Bridge module of Ted's famous Craigcorrie & Dunalistair Railway across from Leiden in Holland. It was very fitting that at the AGM, Ted was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the 009 Society in recognition of the outstanding contribution he has made to the 009 Society and narrow gauge modelling in general over many years. A very worthy and popular accolade. The only problem encountered on the day, besides the little one of staying awake on the homeward drive, was the bright sunlight coming through the large windows of the school hall venue, causing some challenges to photography - well that was my excuse for some of the very grainy and washed out images that were the best that I could achieve from the almost silhouette starkness of the originals! Nevertheless, I hope that I have managed to salvage a reasonable selection here to give a fair impression of what was a really grand day.

I normally show a photo of the 009 Society sales table early in a report, and it is normally buried under a sea of customers! This time I took an early shot, before anyone got into the door, just so you can see the extent of the goodies on offer - and this represents what Brian Guilmant described as Meanwhile, just around the corner, Andrew Hastie was already hard at it with the Parkside Dundas stand, all the way from Kirkcaldy in Fife. Where would the hobby be without dedicated people such as Andrew who will travel the length of the country to provide specialist trade support. Note how fast his hand is moving as his in-built cash detecting radar picks up some movement from David Gander's wallet.... Are you in the photo? If you are a member of the 009 Society, why aren't you in the photo if you're not?! The AGM gathers just before the meeting was called to order and whilst most were still awake. The rogues gallery. The committee prepares for action. L to R: Brian Guilmant (Sales Officer); Geoff Bowyer (Treasurer); Garry Whiting (Archivist); Charles Insley (Secretary); Simon Coward (Chairman); Mark Howe (Editor 009 News); David Gander (Trade Liaison). Missing from the photo: Alan Rolfe, who could not be present and Bill Luty who forgot that he is Publicity Officer and sat down amongst the proletariat! First presentation of the day went to David Burleigh in recognition of his 6 years as Society Chairman 2002-8 Graham Hand poses proudly in the stark backlight coming through the large hall windows with his HOe Burgdorf A typical Austrian scene at Graham Hand's Burgdorf The goods yard at Burgdorf, by Graham Hand A view showing the station area and boating lake at Burgdorf Gary Marsh was sited in a very difficult lighting environment with Camberwick South which he showed with David Hall representing the Tyneside Group A Windle-built 2-6-2T at Gary Marsh and David Hall's Camberwick South A very nicely done Knightwing diesel kitbash on an unknown chassis. Can anybody enlighten me please? Camberwick South by Gary Marsh and David Hall A view through Camberwick South station showing a nice rake of scratchbuilt open cattle wagons in the foreground Gary Marsh and David Hall's Camberwick South Darren Hedges receives a certificate of commendation for his modified Roco diesel that was fully described in 009 News January 2008. Doesn't time fly! And here is Darren's Roco diesel - a very nicely done modification from the original Draig Goch by Darren Hedges An England 0-4-0ST loco at Darren Hedges' Draig Goch More modern motive power in the form of one of the very popular Roco 0-6-0T locos at Draig Goch, by Darren Hedges Brian Haynes was a popular winner of the Chairman's Challenge ( A second award in the form of a certificate of commendation was won by Brian Haynes for his Brian Haynes layout, Drakes End, acts as a platform for Brian to display a whole range of esoteric and imaginative freelance stock. A glimpse behind the scenes at Brian Haynes fiddle yard at Drakes End revealed a range of interesting freelance stock No 009 event would be complete without at least one Brian Haynes built this little ambulance The Whitehouse brothers stand guard over John Varley's Ghylldale John Varley's freelance slice of the North Yorkshire Moors coastline A busy scene at Ghylldale, by John Varley This end of Ghylldale is often overlooked by photographers. Here is my attempt to redress this omission! A familiar scene of the attractive quayside at John Varley's Ghylldale One of my favourite layouts from a photogenic point of view is Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine Scenic excellence in a small space in Gilderdale Mine by Peter Hogarth Gilderdale Mine - Peter Hogarth A busy scene at Gilderdale Mine Annother of the almost obligatory Roco diesel locos at Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine Just about the whole layout in view showing the excellent design and scenic work on Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine It was good to catch up with Paul Davies again after a gap of a few years. Paul was editor of 009 News during 2003-5. Paul is seen here with Jonathan Stockwell's HOe layout: Zerlos Jonathan Stockwell's Zerlos is inspired by the Austrian Zillertalbahn, with some additional East German influences And here is one of the East German influences at Jonathan Stockwell's Zerlos in the form of a giant Hartz Camel loco, created in prototype form by converting a standard gauge Deutsche Reichsbahn diesel loco to metre gauge. In HOe, the loco dwarfs all other narrow gauge stock Paul Titmuss (left) with Stan Williams and Paul's Grange Road layout Grange Road by Paul Titmuss is a very well designed and attractive compact layout that is small enough to find a place in almost any home A view across the goods yard at Paul Titmuss' Grange Road Grange Road by Paul Titmuss The whole 3ft x 2ft of Grange Road - the presentation of this layout is truly outstanding. Another overhead view showing the whole of Grange Road by Paul Titmuss, highlighting the attractive all-round design David Burleigh presents Paul Windle with the Paul Morris Trophy for his Moorton Bottom Yard, which will go nicely with the Reinier Hendriksen Trophy that Paul was awarded at a previous Expo NG Paul Windle with his assistant operator, Malcolm Scrimshaw and Moorton Bottom Yard, which was fully described in Railway Modeller May 2007 Another container load from the Regent warehouse is transported along the low level line at Moorton Bottom Yard Another award for Paul Windle! This time Simon Coward presents Paul with the Peter Bayly award for innovative modelling - for the hydraulic wagon lift on Moorton Bottom Yard A view across the dump siding to the loco graveyard at Moorton Bottom Yard, which also catches a glimpse of Paul Windle's prizewinning hydraulic wagon lift

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]]> Sat May 9 2009 Narrow Gauge at the Wimborne Model Railway Exhibition 18-19 April 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1685510.html With no specialist narrow gauge modelling events scheduled for April this year, there was a possibility of a photo famine, but fortunately, the excellent biennial Wimborne MRX, thanks to a heavy narrow gauge following in the ranks of the hosts, the Wimborne Railway Society, can be relied upon to come up with the goods and this year was no exception, with 4 good layouts providing welcome relief amongst the engines with milk churns instead of brass domes on top of their boilers (picture a a GWR loco.....) and (horrors!) - DCC modern image with authentic diesel sound effects - arrgh! For our delectation and delight, we had: Roy Wood's 0-16.5 Crichel and Peter Hollins' 0-14 Norden Mine in 7mm scale, with the still-growing 30 feet plus of the host Society's Tarrant Valley and John Thorne's Purbeck in 009. I've photographed all of these layouts before, but still welcomed the opportunity to point the camera at them again, particularly Crichel, which I've snapped about 4 times previously since 2003, each time unsuccessfully! Norden provided a further opportunity to supplement a single visit at the Weymouth MRX in October 2007, whilst both Tarrant Valley and Purbeck had a number of new items of rolling stock previously un-snapped. I hope there is something in my selection to please most of you! Sunday 19 April 2009: With no specialist narrow gauge modelling events scheduled for April this year, there was a possibility of a photo famine, but fortunately, the excellent biennial Wimborne MRX, thanks to a heavy narrow gauge following in the ranks of the hosts, the Wimborne Railway Society, can be relied upon to come up with the goods and this year was no exception, with 4 good layouts providing welcome relief amongst the engines with milk churns instead of brass domes on top of their boilers (picture a a GWR loco.....) and (horrors!) - DCC modern image with authentic diesel sound effects - arrgh! For our delectation and delight, we had: Roy Wood's 0-16.5 Crichel and Peter Hollins' 0-14 Norden Mine in 7mm scale, with the still-growing 30 feet plus of the host Society's Tarrant Valley and John Thorne's Purbeck in 009. I've photographed all of these layouts before, but still welcomed the opportunity to point the camera at them again, particularly Crichel, which I've snapped about 4 times previously since 2003, each time unsuccessfully! Norden provided a further opportunity to supplement a single visit at the Weymouth MRX in October 2007, whilst both Tarrant Valley and Purbeck had a number of new items of rolling stock previously un-snapped. I hope there is something in my selection to please most of you!

The nearby 7¼ I was pleased to meet up with Roy Wood's award winning 0-16.5 layout The Witchampton terminus, which is one leg of an inside The daily goods train prepares to depart from Witchampton bound for Long Crichel A charming little Lister, built from a Roy Link kit, with a loaded watercress train The Lister runs around the watercress wagons An innovative brake van - look closely and you can see the Peco Lynton & Barntaple 4 ton open wagon origins The little Lister again, with a train of empty flats A Bagnall loco with a livestock wagon. Livestock on this line means pigs - headed for the sausage factory Another little loco - this time it is a Hunslet A view from the buffer stops at Long Crichel - the other end of the The goods train we previously saw departing from Witchampton, arrives at Long Crichel The familiar and impressive frontage of just half of the Tarrant Valley 009 layout The Tarrant Valley was set up as an 2 of the Tarrant Valley's unique class of Hunslet 0-6-0T locos at Tarrant Gunville station. The railway has about 10 of these locos in the roster - all whitemetal kits, from a master made by a Wimborne RS member - they are not available commercially A new item of motive power on the Tarrant Valley in the form of a Hunslet 2-6-2T Tarrant Gunville terminus at rush hour! Another new loco, this time an 0-6-0T running on a Roco chassis A pretty impressive The chalk quarry - you can tell it is Sunday by the lack of activity! A comedian has been tampering with the sign on the end of the True Lover's Knot Inn. Dorset viewers will no doubt be familiar with the real Inn of this name sited, coincidentally, in the real Tarrant Valley! His lordship (has he got a title and name?) has his own ornate loco shed in his private siding with a railcar awaiting his pleasure His Lordship's residence In this part of the world, the phrase More lineside industry in the Tarrant Valley The pleasure boat jetty on the banks of the River Stour, just below Stonemere A rather impressive and original double fairlie, cobbled together in the Tarrant Valley workshops from two of the line's standard Hunslet 0-6-0T locos Helicopter view of activity just outside Rawston & Rushton Another of the Tarrant Valley's Hunslet locos on a goods service pauses at Stonemere, the principal passing station on the line The bridge over the River Stour. Superb scenic work Peter Hollins' 0-14 Norden Mine - a tribute to the Purbeck ball clay mining industry set around 1969 Norden Mine normally resides in the Purbeck museum, where it acts as an animated diorama to depict the ball clay mining industry Norden Mine A diesel loco hauls a loaded skip up to the main road crossing Norden Mine, in the shadow of Corfe Castle A view of the whole of Norden Mine, a very attractively presented animated display showing the Purbeck clay mining industry in the 1960's 1960's traffic jam - cars en-route to Swanage are held up at the level crossing whilst a train of clay skips comes up from the mine John Thorne with Purbeck - an 009 tribute to the Dorset clay mining industry. Whilst there is already a collection in this gallery devoted exclusively to this attractive layout, I took the opportunity to have some new items of stock posed for photos - read on! This very purposeful looking 0-6-0T has a rare German Merker & Fischer body mounted on the Arnold chassis An exquisite Tortillard kitbuilt model of a French 4-6-0T design, another superb 009 model This loco was in the earlier photo collection, but this is a better photo! A Belgian Meuse 2-6-0T, which makes an interesting comparison with the French 4-6-0T in the previous photo Another new loco at Purbeck. This freelance 0-6-0T runs on a very highly detailed Fleischman chassis and has a scratchbuilt boiler with British fittings, plus the cab and tanks from the well known Liliput HOe John's French Crochat railcar has been joined by an authentic 2-wheel trailer. I'm getting a bit worried about John's developing tendency towards French models! A familiar view across the works at Purbeck, with a Meridian models ex-WDLR Baldwin petrol mechanical loco and Hunslet 2-6-2T Russell (Chivers kit) in view A Simplex at the station end of the layout The Baldwin loco poses for a photo with the mechanical shovel Two types of modern image transport at Purbeck! French Crochat railcar on the right passes a Wickham trolley Russell brings a loaded train down the valley This foreman's shed is a model of the actual building that is displayed at the Purbeck clay mine museum A final overall view up the valley. We will certainly be visiting Purbeck again sometime in the future!

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]]> Sun Apr 19 2009 Sussex Downs Group, 009 Society, Open Day, Haywards Heath, 7 March 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1665982.html Another 009 Society area group event, the 3rd this year, following the same successful formula used by the SWOONS and Beds & Bucks Groups in January - a selection of layouts provided by Group members and invited friends, some trade support from Meridian Models and Nigel Lawson in this case, Brian Guilmant and team with the aladdin's cave known as 009 Society Members Sales and a very well organised refreshments facility. Mix all together with friendly informality and ambient fellowship, add around 100 attenders and you have a great day out! This little event was very well organised by Tim Sanderson and a hard working team from the hosting group and was attended by many narrow gauge modellers "in the know" who travelled long distances in some cases to be there. If you haven't managed to get to one of these informal group days and it is practicable for you to do so then you really should put it in your diary and make it a priority to attend - so much better in many ways than the big shows. I hope my photo selection gives something of a taste of most of the good modelling that was there to be enjoyed. Congratulations Sussex Downs Group, looking forward to the next one already! Saturday 7 March 2009: Another 009 Society area group event, the 3rd this year, following the same successful formula used by the SWOONS and Beds & Bucks Groups in January - a selection of layouts provided by Group members and invited friends, some trade support from Meridian Models and Nigel Lawson in this case, Brian Guilmant and team with the aladdin's cave known as 009 Society Members Sales and a very well organised refreshments facility. Mix all together with friendly informality and ambient fellowship, add around 100 attenders and you have a great day out! This little event was very well organised by Tim Sanderson and a hard working team from the hosting group and was attended by many narrow gauge modellers "in the know" who travelled long distances in some cases to be there. If you haven't managed to get to one of these informal group days and it is practicable for you to do so then you really should put it in your diary and make it a priority to attend - so much better in many ways than the big shows. I hope my photo selection gives something of a taste of most of the good modelling that was there to be enjoyed. Congratulations Sussex Downs Group, looking forward to the next one already!

As normal, we start off with a view across the main hall And here is a view of the hall from the other end! One of the nice things about these small group events is that there is room to browse the full selection of the fantastic 009 Society Sales without feeling as if you have been in a rugby scrum, which may be the case at one of the large shows. I've included this view of Nigel Lawton's stand as a representative view of the specialist trade support that consider it worth supporting an event such as this. An example of Nigel Lawton's products - exquisite miniature engineering in 009 scale. Sussex Downs member Robert Kaczmarczyk asked me to take And here is another view of Robert's Baldwin. A superb model and I was quite pleased with the snap as well, considering that it was taken on a table in the refreshment area in poor light! To provide some hope for those 009 modellers who have had problems sourcing suitable N gauge 0-4-0 chassis recently, Garry Whiting brought this exquisite little 009 loco that he has made using the Tomix Smallest layout in the show! Phil Savage brought his award winning micro-layout Tuppenny Handley, built into a cheese tub and mounted on the top of a wine bottle. The inside rail is a 2 pence piece and yes, the locomotive does work! One of 3 highly detailed and attractive A slightly larger pizza layout by Trevor Giddings, but no less detailed, is If the steam railmotor at Trevor Giddings' 009 Downton looks familiar it is because it started as a Backwoods Otavi Railway unit, from German South West Africa (Namibia), with the small difference that Trevor has incorporated tram skirts and a modified front end. The 3rd Pizza layout exhibited by Trevor Giddings was this little HOn30 example, entitled A close up view of the subtle improvements made to the Egger wild west loco at Trevor Giddings' HOn30 Herbert's Crossing. Dave Marshall showed his A modified Roco HOe diesel on Dave Marshall's Wickhambreux Road. Some subtle changes have transformed this little engine into quite a chunky and powerful looking 009 locomotive. A splendid steam railmotor, modified from the old Egger German steam railcar by Trevor Giddings. Another flight of imagineering fancy by Trevor Giddings. I can spot the Hunslet heritage and believe there are parts from both Beddgelert and Linda/Blanche kits in this 0-10-0ST. Can anyone confirm the ingredients of this exotic and powerful engine? Mark and Phoebe Holland with Mark's new under-construction W&LLR inspired Spirit of Welshpool - an attractive 009 layout under construction by Mark Holland Mark Holland's under-construction 009 layout Spirit of Welshpool. It will be a cracker when it is complete! An attempt at an atmospheric shot at the terminus of Mark Holland's Spirit of Welshpool. Only partially successful because I did not have time to properly set the scene up and relied on the auto features in the camera instead of using maximum aperture settings like I should have done in a properly posed photo! An even more ambitious attempt than the previous photo. I tried to get under the canopy here and was partially successful, but the shot suffers from a lamentable lack of field-depth due to me having the camera on full auto settings instead of aperture priority and a careful manual focus. We saw Stephen Sullivan's latest Stephen Sullivan and David Gander showed this A1 models brass body kit that fits directly onto the Bachman N gauge diesel loco. And now for something completely different! Laurie Maunder is enjoying a diversion into Gn15 scale with this wonderfully exotic Rowland Emmett-inspired Much Pottering and Flakey Bottom layout Laurie Maunder's Much Pottering and Flakey Bottom in Gn15 scale. At Laurie Maunder's Gn15 Much Pottering and Flakey Bottom, even the station is a self-propelled train! It runs on 61mm gauge tracks! Chris O'Donoghue with his micro-layout Wills Walled Nursery, which was built as a competition entry for Expo NG a couple of years ago. Some of the fine detail in Chris O'Donoghue's Wills Walled Nursery. The little petrol loco is built onto an Arnold kof chassis and is a model of a prototype that operated a watercress farm line in Bere Regis, Dorset. Phil Savage with his This view of Phil Savage's Darjeeling to Ghum in 009 shows the loops and spirals, all actual models from the prototype, to advantage. This layout is definitely NOT from the Phil Savage has two Backwoods North British class B locos under construction. Meanwhile, services on the Darjeeling to Ghum line are maintained by this very finely detailed and improved model built from a Langley kit by Stephen Sullivan. Note the outside frame conversion to the basic Arnold 0-6-0 chassis. The Sussex Downs Group display case. A model design for other groups to copy? The display case itself, which is getting quite old now, was originally made by David Burleigh when he was publicity officer of the 009 Society. After it was passed across to the Sussex Downs Group, they enhanced it with the fine little A glimpse inside the display case showing models by several members of the Sussex Downs Group, and some that you may remember reading about in Railway Modeller several years ago! I still think your TT Jinty-bash is a super model, Tim! One of several trains that circled the Sussex Downs display during the day. This 40 year-old Jouef Decauville 0-4-0T loco, owned by Tim Sanderson, is hauling a workman's train that Phil Savage built and described in 009 News February 2009 issue. Awngate, a very neat and attractive layout that Michael Campbell has been working hard on recently and is now approaching completion. It resides in his dining room at home, so it needs to be neat to keep the domestic authorities happy! Micahael Campbell's Awngate is a freelance 009 layout, but is inspired by the standard gauge Wantage Tramway. This train exudes I think this view displays the A Peckett 0-6-0ST, Chivers body kit on a Minitrix dock tank chassis , on Michael Campbell's 009 Awngate. Michael Campbell's innovative fiddle yard cassette system, made from electrical cable ducting, obtainable from DIY stores. The host group showed Wharf Cut, part of their well known 009 multi-configuration Upsands Downs and Evaleight Railway I did take a closer macro-shot of the canal seen here on the Sussex Downs, 009 Wharf Cut layout, but the very realistically modelled surface scum on the canal water could have easily been mistaken for thick dust by lay-people, so I omitted the shot! An exquisite little 0-4-0ST that I believe is one of the old Brian Clarke kits, waddles its way across the viaduct on the Sussex Downs Group's Wharf Cut The Camera Van. Simon Wilson has built a TV camera and transmitter into this van on the Sussex Downs Group 009 Wharf Cut layout. The picture was transmitted to a receiver and monitor mounted above the layout and a very good quality of rail-level live viewing was obtained Not a train in sight! A rather nice piece of scenery on the Sussex Downs Group Wharf Cut 009 layout. A railcar built by Tim Sanderson from the diecast Lledo Days Gone bus, pauses at Gryndene Halt on the Sussex Down's Group Wharf Cut layout. This rather exotic 1930's railcar, by Martin Collins of the Sussex Downs Group, features a cut-down Springside whitemetal bus, with a scratch-built trailer powered by a Kato A very well detailed Hunslet 0-6-4ST The Sussex Downs Group Upsands Downs and Evaleight Railway is notable for some very good scenic work, as in this very realistic little quarry scene

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]]> Sat Mar 7 2009 Narrow Gauge South West Shepton Mallet 21 February 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1659390.html A bright spring day and huge numbers of narrow gauge modelling enthusiasts headed for Shepton Mallet in Somerset for the 16th annual modelfest splendidly organised by the hard working Small & Delightful team. Delightful it certainly was, small it certainly wasn't with over 30 layouts present in all scales from 2mm to 16mm and an attendance by just about all the UK based specialist narrow gauge modelling traders, including Parkside Dundas all the way from Kirkaldy (that's how it is spelt in their advert folks in case anyone is thinking of pulling me up for spelling it without the "c"!), in Fife, 450 miles and 10 hours drive away. Many people that I spoke to considered that this was the best NGSW yet and the 009 Society reported record sales figures. I noticed that the crowds around the 7mm NGA stand were much deeper than usual as well. I think everyone must be spending their pounds while they still have some value left! My only disappointment was that there was so much to see and it was such a challenge getting the camera lens through the crowds and in front of layouts that I did not have time to do my customary quality control check on the famous cake selection available at "The Bistro". Such sacrifice in the cause of keeping up with the demand for photos, I hope that you agree that it was worth the effort as I snapped some really good models, despite having to abandon plans for posed photos with the camera on the tripod etc and just "point and shoot". I hope you enjoy my selection of what there was to see on the day anyway. Saturday 21 February 2009: A bright spring day and huge numbers of narrow gauge modelling enthusiasts headed for Shepton Mallet in Somerset for the 16th annual modelfest splendidly organised by the hard working Small & Delightful team. Delightful it certainly was, small it certainly wasn't with over 30 layouts present in all scales from 2mm to 16mm and an attendance by just about all the UK based specialist narrow gauge modelling traders, including Parkside Dundas all the way from Kirkaldy (that's how it is spelt in their advert folks in case anyone is thinking of pulling me up for spelling it without the "c"!), in Fife, 450 miles and 10 hours drive away. Many people that I spoke to considered that this was the best NGSW yet and the 009 Society reported record sales figures. I noticed that the crowds around the 7mm NGA stand were much deeper than usual as well. I think everyone must be spending their pounds while they still have some value left! My only disappointment was that there was so much to see and it was such a challenge getting the camera lens through the crowds and in front of layouts that I did not have time to do my customary quality control check on the famous cake selection available at "The Bistro". Such sacrifice in the cause of keeping up with the demand for photos, I hope that you agree that it was worth the effort as I snapped some really good models, despite having to abandon plans for posed photos with the camera on the tripod etc and just "point and shoot". I hope you enjoy my selection of what there was to see on the day anyway.

Whilst I reported in my introduction blurb that I did not have time to sample the famous cake selection, I did rush past before opening time and before the servery was swamped with hungry customers! Just past the A shot of the balcony taken from the depths of the main hall Having fought your way along the balcony, you come to the gymnasium. It was as full as this all day long. A view of the main hall taken from the stage, during the morning. At one end of the main hall, the 7mm NGA was kept busy all day. And the 009 Society sales stand at the other end of the hall also reported record business An additional overflow room was in use, and this is the view I initially got of William Loyd's Oro Grande Railroad! Did I manage to barge my way in to take photos? Of course I did, see the next 3 photos! William Loyd's superb Oro Grande Railroad, in Sn3 scale - 1:64 on 14.2mm gauge track. William built the layout to accomodate the Backwoods Miniatures American Hoist and Ditcher Digger seen here, which he completed as a fully operating working model. A nice view across Oro Grande, Sn3 by William Loyd A splendid ancient vertical boiler loco on William Loyd's Sn3 Oro Grande Railroad. A loco like this would look good in any scale and in any setting. I have got one on my building list for a future project already! Elwyn, Ellis Johns' first exhibition layout, in 0-16.5 Elwyn, 0-16.5 by Ellis Johns of the Nailsea & District MRC Mark Fielder's well known 2mm scale 6.5mm gauge pizza layout operated perfectly as usual and was seen at the 2mm Narrow Gauge Group stand. A close-up of the centre scenic part of Mark Fielder's superbly built 2mm scale pizza layout Another well known view in the form of Howard Martin's triple gauge 7mm scale layout Tor Farm. Good to see Steve Bennett up and about after his recent illness. Here is a shot of his well known Gn15 micro layout: Big Cat Mine. Simon Andrews with his tiny, but excellent, 09 estate railway: Black Hall Sidings. There's something very attractive about Heywood style estate railways and this shot of Simon Andrews' Black Hall Sidings portrays this atmosphere exactly. The loco is styled after the Lanchester-powered ICL2 of the Ravenglass & Eskdale in the 1920's. Personalised transport that makes my Roving Reporter inspection railcar appear luxurious! Simon Andrews' 09 speeder at his Black Hall Sidings is built onto a Japanese N gauge Caramel bogie. A pity about the backdrop, but even so, Harvey Faulkner-Aston's 0n30 Darius Washington State mini-layout still managed to portray an American logging scene atmosphere very well. An attractive box cab IC loco at Darius Washington State, American logging in 0n30 by Harvey Faulkner-Aston This shot was one of my best efforts of the day, which I was very pleased with, particularly as it was taken on full auto low aperture hand-held fast shutter setting. Darius Washington State, 0n30 by Harvey Faulkner-Aston Christopher Payne's well known 1:25 scale 16.5mm gauge Paradise Mining Company, with Adrian Ponting as the operator when I passed with the camera. Highly individual 18 Chris Peacock's 0-16.5 Calstock (Cothele), featured in depth in Railway Modeller Jan - March 2009 issues. A nice view across Calstock (Cothele), 0-16.5 by Chris Peacock A very attractive ancient Neilson box tank loco at Chris Peacock's 0-16.5 Calstock (Cothele). Steve Green (left) with John Webb of the Wimborne Railway Society, with Steve's industrial 0-9 layout: Gideon Postlethwaite & Sons A wide variety of 09 stock was featured on Steve Green's Gideon Postlethwaite & Sons Graham Lindley has temporarily returned to 009 from his famous 1:24 scale Hythe layout, with his highly individual Lyddbridge Junction, which features mainly railcar operation and has a transport museum as its main setting. Jerry Oakey of the Wessex NG Modellers is the operator in this view. This little diesel loco by Graham Lindley on his 009 Lyddbridge Junction, was recently the subject of some correspondence on one of the internet forums, in relation to its origin. I can reveal here that it started life as a now discontinued diecast Graham Lindley has been modelling in 009 for many years and this Donegal railcar (in Isle of Man livery) was scratchbuilt from card over 30 years ago, many years before Pete McParlin produced his first Backwoods kits! Lyddbridge Junction, 009 More railcars at Graham Lindley's 009 Lyddbridge Junction. Another scratchbuilt Donegal railcar, this time number 15 (or 16?) with the first sighting in this collection of my Gretton & Wenlock, the 0-16.5 layout of the Wimborne & District Railway Society, CLANGERS group (Colehill Locomotive and NG Enthusiasts Rly Soc in case you were curious!) An attractive view across the station at the Clangers Group 016.5 layout Gretton & Wenlock A very nicely done 0-6-0T loco at Gretton & Wenlock, 0-16.5 by the Clangers Group An impressive 4-6-0T Baldwin on a passenger service at Gretton & Wenlock, the 0-16.5 layout of the Wimborne RS Clangers Group A mixed train, hauled by one of the attractive Smallbrook Studios resin bodied loco kits at Gretton & Wenlock, 0-16.5 by the Wimborne RS Clangers Group. A first visit to Shepton Mallet for Chris Mackenzie's very impressive large 16mm scale SM32 layout: Timpdon Lake A live steam loco passes through the main station at Chris Mackenzie's SM32 Timpdon Lake Railway Well in 16mm scale you can see the detail! One of many little scenes on Chris Mackenzie's SM32 Timpdon Lake Railway The very impressive loco storage area at Timpdon Lake, by Chris Mackenzie in SM32 Not to be outdone by Chris Mackenzie's visiting SM32 layout, the Severn Mendip 16mm Group were in their customary place at the end of the gymnasium with their impressive scenic live steam running track. Just one of many live steam trains running at Mendip Vale, the scenic running track of the Severn Mendip 16mm Group. Another regular attender in the gymnasium is Mike Brown with his G Scale publicity stand. This year he showed Entwhistle Green, and an even tinier layout, only 2ft square, North Pole Cottage, just to illustrate that micro layouts are indeed possible in this large scale. Gerry Bullock, from Essex (on the left in the headgear), has also become a regular attender at NGSW, with his highly original and attractive Gn15 essays. This year we were entertained with Gneiss Farm Some of the fine detailed modelling to be seen at Gerry Bullock's Gn15 Gneiss Farm. Wessex NGM member Stuart Reeve, with son, brought their table-top 009 layout Feltwell Road, which was very successfully debuted at Exbury Gardens, covered earlier in this photo gallery A closer view of Stuart Reeve's 009 Feltwell Road

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]]> Sat Feb 21 2009 Beds & Bucks Area Group, 009 Society, Open Day, Barton Le Clay, 18 January 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1641872.html The second narrow gauge modelling-fest in successive weeks, and it is still January! Sunday 18th Jan found me and my new camera (a Fuji S100FS - fantastic value for money, and great results, despite it being me pressing the buttons!) in Bedfordshire at Barton Le Clay village hall, where about 100 participants, "support staff" and visitors arrived to enjoy one of those well organised. informal, friendly events amongst a selection of really top quality narrow gauge model railway layouts that has become a hallmark of the 009 Society particularly in recent years. Brian Guilmant enhanced the proceedings of course by bringing the fantastic members sales operation up from his home in Dorset, which filled a complete room in the hall. Appreciation is extended to Mark Howe and his fellow group members for the huge effort put in to ensure that this was a really "grand day out". Thanks to you all! Sunday 18 January 2009: The second narrow gauge modelling-fest in successive weeks, and it is still January! Sunday 18th Jan found me and my new camera (a Fuji S100FS - fantastic value for money, and great results, despite it being me pressing the buttons!) in Bedfordshire at Barton Le Clay village hall, where about 100 participants, "support staff" and visitors arrived to enjoy one of those well organised. informal, friendly events amongst a selection of really top quality narrow gauge model railway layouts that has become a hallmark of the 009 Society particularly in recent years. Brian Guilmant enhanced the proceedings of course by bringing the fantastic members sales operation up from his home in Dorset, which filled a complete room in the hall. Appreciation is extended to Mark Howe and his fellow group members for the huge effort put in to ensure that this was a really "grand day out". Thanks to you all!

The main village hall - some familiar faces - but where is everyone else? See next photo! Here they are! Brian Guilmant (foreground left) set up the fantastic aladdin's cave of the 009 Society members sales in a side room which ensured that the main hall was free enough to walk around and enjoy viewing the layouts, whilst the sales tables were under siege all day! Geoff and Shirley Harper represented the West Midlands group with their 009 layout Upper Norton, Geoff Harper's 009 layout A view across the station and market square at Geoff Harper's Upper Norton David Gander is the 009 Society Trade Liaison Officer and is also a member of the local group. He contributed his famous and much published 009 Welshpool & Llanfair inspired layout, Green End And what could be more suitable on a Welshpool & Llanfair-based layout than a W&LLR Beyer Peacock loco? This fabulous prizewinning model by Stephen Sullivan was made from the basis of a Golden Arrow kit. Stephen Sullivan's model of W&LLR 0-6-0T Stephen Sullivan's model of Manning Wardle 0-6-2T 0-6-2T Canopus, built by Stephen Sullivan, has been constructed from a Backwoods kit. Seen here on David Gander's Green End layout Unusual French vehicles at David Gander's Green End - the grey locomotive is a Crochat petrol loco of 1st world war vintage Jeff Haigh from the Northampton Group brought his latest micro layout Watling Beck by Jeff Haigh is all of about one foot long, but really is a case of A Paul Windle 0-6-0T brings a train of Glyn Valley stock into Jeff Haigh's Watling Beck Watling Beck. An 009 micro layout by Jeff Haigh Jeff Haigh's Watling Beck, a rather nice view showing his superb modelling skills to advantage. Mike Higgins came over from West Bromwich with his 009 Holloway St James layout Holloway St James by Mike Higgins A scratchbuilt Clogher Valley style Beyer Peacock tram loco that runs on the cheap but very reliable Bachman 6wh diesel chassis at Mike Higgins' Holloway St James Holloway St James by Mike Higgins. The loco in this photo has a scratchbuilt body on the Bachman American Prairie N gauge chassis. The only non-009 layout was David Coates' N gauge continental St Niklaus. A very professionally presented layout. A suitably Christmasy scene at David Coates' Dr Stephen Sullivan is another local group member who brought along his Lincolnshire potato farm layout An attractive enhancement to Stephen Sullivan's Holbeach Estate is the working Faller system road, providing movement in addition to the trains from this cleverly adapted tractor and trailer. A Nigel Lawson model of an O&K diesel shows that it has sufficient torque to haul a heavy train across the potato fields at Stephen Sullivan's 009 Holbeach Estate. I just had to include this photo taken through the back door of a 4mm scale nissan hut as Stephen Sullivan did not believe it was possible! More exotic IC motive power at Stephen Sullivan's excellent little slice of Lincolnshire - Holbeach Estate Stephen Sullivan showed his latest acquisition to the Holbeach Estate stock roster, an unusual locomotive built to special order by Paul Windle. Stephen thought that the prototype was a Hudswell Clarke loco built for the Egyptian Delta Light Railway at around the time of the 1st world war, however 009 Society member Tony Wall has sent me clear pictorial evidence to suggest that it is a model of a Hawthorn Leslie 55hp petrol loco that was supplied to the War Dept for use in Alexandria in 1915 and then found its way to the EDLR - which seems to tie together any loose strings, and is good enough for me - unless anybody else can prove Tony wrong?.... A rail tractor crosses the very realistically modelled drainage ditch at Stephen Sullivan's Holbeach Estate The workers take their lunch break in the sunshine at Holbeach Estate, 009 by Stephen Sullivan This very finely detailed Plymouth is an etched brass American kit by Brick Price that runs on the popular and economical Bachman 6wh diesel chassis. Model by Stephen Sullivan Who hasn't got room for a model railway? This is T gauge, 1:450, running on 3mm gauge track! Japanese of course, the model is by Eishindo and I am informed is available from Gaugemaster. A much larger than life close up of the tiny Eishindo T scale (1:450, 3mm gauge) trainset that Stephen Sullivan brought to the event. It works perfectly as well, it is just a job to see it! Beds & Bucks Group member, Brian Key brought along his superb Lynton & Barnstaple One of Brian's very nicely modelled L&B Manning Wardle locos. I think his stud uses the Stenning and Chivers body kits, which still make up into excellent models if careful attention to detail is applied. This loco runs on the much derided (by the Brian's imaginative articulated railcar built from a Dapol 00 plastic kit and running on a Kato tram chassis was described in 009 News January 2009 issue. Brian Key's Dapol railbus is in the Brian Key's 009 Ilfracombe East A train crosses the new viaduct section on Brian Key's 009 Ilfracombe East Overhead view from the roving reporter helicopter of the viaduct on Brian Key's Ilfracombe East Brian Key has added a new module to his excellent Ilfracombe East layout, with the passing station of Brinscott A coachload of tourists has stopped for lunch at the White Hart hostelry in the North Devon village of Brinscott at Brian Key's Ilfracombe East 009 layout. A fiddle yard view of an innovative repaint of the popular Liliput 2091 HOe diesel at Brian Key's Ilfracombe East This Minehead & Lynmouth liveried 0-6-2T is a cleverly anglicised 009 rebuild of the common Liliput Austrian HOe class U 0-6-2T. Brian Key's article on how he made this model was published in the September 2007 issue of 009 News John Lee, from the Chelmsford MRC, brought his superbly modelled Avon Quay. This layout was described in 009 News in the October 2007 issue A Clyde Puffer, very nicely detailed from the Langley kit, at John Lee's Avon Quay Avon Quay by John Lee in 009. The passenger train was constructed using the ever-popular Ratio coach sides and is headed by a Gem Bagnall 0-6-0T kitbuilt loco. An overhead view from one end of John Lee's excellent Avon Quay. Note the front operating position of the impressive console. Detail abounds at Avon Quay, 009 by John Lee An industrial siding at John Lee's Avon Quay, featuring a Minitrains Baldwin diesel and a tiny Backwoods 0-4-0 tender loco

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]]> Sun Jan 18 2009 SWOONS Members Open Day, Ilton Somerset, 10 January 2009 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1638162.html The South West Area Group of the 009 Society (SWOONS) held their 3rd Members Open Day at Ilton Village Hall (and the second that I have covered in this Gallery) and again what a super way to start the new year and meet up with the 80-plus narrow gauge modelling enthusiasts, or simply curious who attended to take part in another of the regular small informal and friendly village hall experiences that has by now become an established and enviable series of events within the 009 Society. I counted 13 exhibits ranging from a micro "pizza" and a Gn15 mini-diorama through to full sized layouts that had been provided by SWOONS members and supplemented by friends from the Wessex NG Modellers, an excellent buffet service run by Moreen Golding and her team and the world famous travelling 009 Society Sales courtesy of Brian Guilmant. If you live in the UK and think that these little events are not worth travelling to get to, the 80-odd who did come to rural Somerset for this occasion had travelled from: Yorkshire, Essex, Surrey, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Avon, Devon, Cornwall, Hampshire and Dorset (and these were just the people I know!) as well as the home county. A very enjoyable, informal and friendly day, that was superbly organised by an enthusiastic and hard-working Group. Thanks to you all and I look forward to the next one! Wednesday 14 January 2009: The South West Area Group of the 009 Society (SWOONS) held their 3rd Members Open Day at Ilton Village Hall (and the second that I have covered in this Gallery) and again what a super way to start the new year and meet up with the 80-plus narrow gauge modelling enthusiasts, or simply curious who attended to take part in another of the regular small informal and friendly village hall experiences that has by now become an established and enviable series of events within the 009 Society. I counted 13 exhibits ranging from a micro "pizza" and a Gn15 mini-diorama through to full sized layouts that had been provided by SWOONS members and supplemented by friends from the Wessex NG Modellers, an excellent buffet service run by Moreen Golding and her team and the world famous travelling 009 Society Sales courtesy of Brian Guilmant. If you live in the UK and think that these little events are not worth travelling to get to, the 80-odd who did come to rural Somerset for this occasion had travelled from: Yorkshire, Essex, Surrey, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Avon, Devon, Cornwall, Hampshire and Dorset (and these were just the people I know!) as well as the home county. A very enjoyable, informal and friendly day, that was superbly organised by an enthusiastic and hard-working Group. Thanks to you all and I look forward to the next one!

An overall view of the village hall, early in the day. As usual, the 009 Society sales stand was a mecca (and a melee!) for ng modelling enthusiasts who know where to do their value shopping! Three Biscuits. A freelance Cornish layout in 009 by Martin Sharp. The tunnel to the right hides a 6 inch radius curve leading to the rear fiddle yard - very well disguised! An imaginative diesel loco on an Ibertren chassis on Martin Sharp's 009 Three Biscuits Three Biscuits, 009 by Martin Sharp. A very attractive little Bagnall style 0-4-0ST from one of the old Brian Clarke locomotives. A view of the loco shed at Three Biscuits, 009 by Martin Sharp Kestor Castle Estate Railway by Geoff Broadhurst is probably one of biggest challenges to photography that I have experienced, being around 5ft long and all of 4 inches or so wide! The far caption states Rod Allcock made good use of Kestor Castle to run his superb brass detailed kit and scratchbuilt stock. 009 heritage afficianados will no doubt easily recognise the VB loco in the background! (Clue: Rod Allcock's tiny Ruston diesel shunts some Nigel Lawson tippers on Geoff Broadhurst's 009 windowsill layout, Kestor Castle. SWOONS member Chas May showed his A Dapol pug shunts a van whilst a Bachman standard tank brings in a train of containers to Trevellyn Bridge, 4mm scale excellence by Chas May. Note the very realistic weathering on the locomotives The Western National bus loses out on right of way across the very narrow bridge at Chas May's 4mm scale Chas May's Trevellyn does at least provide a token gesture to 009, so all is forgiven! Heywood, an estate railway in 09 by Matthew Gicquel Spotted at Matthew Gicquel's 09 layout Another view of Matthew Gicquel's 09 Simplex on his 2 Roy Link Ruston diesels, originally intended for 0-14, at Matthew Gicquel's 09 layout, Heywood This very attractive 09 Heywood locomotive (at Matthew Gicquel's namesake layout The accolade for largest scale but smallest layout at the event goes to Wessex NG Modeller Derek Hart, who brought along his first excursion into the attractive scale of Gn15: Creckley Hall Light Railway A splendid way to display a duff loco! Derek Hart's Gn15 Creckley Hall out of service motive power has been imaginatively modified from an 00 class 08 diesel shunter body to make a very acceptable industrial loco in the larger scale. Hon Editor of Continental Modeller, Andrew Burnham is also a keen narrow gauge modeller and for this occasion he assisted with Peter Martin's HOe under-construction layout An unusual Peter Martin's HOe Sachsen. A heavy passenger train prepares to depart. Ths impressive Bemo 2-10-2T loco illustrates very well one of the attractions of continental narrow gauge modelling. More attractive ready-to-run HOe narrow gauge rollings stock at Sachsen, Peter Martin's German layout. Jon Heslop with the attractive portable loco, wagon and carriage works of his home-based East Cornwall Tramways layout. An innovative bit of imagineering in the shape of a railvan that started off as a plastic kit of a Thorneycroft road delivery van. It runs on one of the popular Kato tram chassis. Jon's superbly detailed Jon Heslop's 009 Lanson Road A railbus, made from a Corgi diecast toy enters the works at Jon Heslop's 009 Lanson Road Lee Bryant from the Wessex NG Modellers, brought his well known mini-layout An atmospheric view across the quays at Lee Bryant's 009 Thurtey. Amongst Lee Bryant's extensive collection of 4mm scale narrow gauge stock, he has included examples of many makes of IC locos. This superb and unusual 90hp Kerr Stuart is one of my own favourites of Lee's locos. Rhianon is an example of the more common 60hp Kerr Stuart diesel loco, of which Lee has no less than 3 (all different) in his collection. They all run on the oft-derided but very reliable Minitirx dock tank chassis. This 009 diesel loco on Lee Bryant's triple gauge Coil End Lane layout is simply a very old (and overscale) N gauge Lima diesel loco with a new taller cab. Still regularly obtainable through the 009 Society Sales, secondhand examples of these locomotives are a very economical and easy way to start in 009. (I have 2 in my own loco roster) Lee Bryant's Coil End Lane - which he built as an entry for the 2008 Expo NG 40th anniversary challenge competition. The layout had to be built within 80cm by 40cm maximum dimensions and many considered that Lee's superb scratchbuilt TRIPLE gauge (6.5mm, 9mm, 12mm) track made this layout easily the most innovative of the entries. The motive power for the 6.5mm gauge section of Lee Bryant's Coil End Lane A bit of a diesel convention in 006.5, 009 and 00n3 with no less than 8 IC locomotives from various origins gather at Lee Brant's Coil End Lane. SWOONS student member Phil Farr-Cox is a very keen, talented and prolific modeller. Last year he showed two layouts, this year it had grown to three! Pithead winding gear at Phil Farr-Cox's 009 Foxcombe Colliery A view across the yard at Foxcombe Colliery, an 009 layout by Phil Farr-Cox A very nicely built Backwoods Barclay wing tank loco at Phil Farr-Cox's Foxcombe Colliery. It's the little detail scenes that make a good model, as with this horse shoeing vignette at Foxcombe Colliery, 009 by Phil Farr-Cox Phil Farr-Cox's newest micro layout is this little working diorama using Metcalfe building kits - Foxcombe Brewery Spotted at Phil Farr-Cox's 009 Foxcomber Brewery is this imaginative modification from the Tomix Phil Farr-Cox's rebuilt Tomix Percy at his 009 Foxcombe Brewery. Ivor Knott's Timber Yard is a good example of an 009 The small 4 wheel Japanese Caramel motor units that have recently been imported in small batches to the UK have proved to be an economical and very popular unit with 009 modellers who have been able to obtain them. Phil Farr-Cox built this attractive little industrial IC loco on his example Ian Turner and Graham Lindley (on the right) of the Wessex NG Modellers brought Graham's 009 Lyddbridge to the event. Graham Lyndley's Lyddbridge is a freelance town located in North Devon that also enjoys having a transport museum. Graham has designed his own working trolley system using Sommerfeldt and Faller components in order to provide additional colour and movement to supplement the railway.

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]]> Wed Jan 14 2009 Charlie Insley's 009 Trains 1998 to 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1630236.html In a recent 009 News, fellow 009 Society member and modelling colleague, Dr Charles Insley, described me as "Society basher-in-chief" in an article describing how he had evolved my own railcar kitbashing style to produce his own articulated railcar based on a Dapol Park Royal 00 scale railbus kit. Whilst I take this as a great compliment, I regard being described thus by Charles as being akin to a comparison between the Dorset Amateur (me) and the European Champions (Charles) leagues, so in order to give a correct perspective to the very prolific, imaginative and skilled output of what must be one of the, if not the, most active modelmakers in the world of 009 narrow gauge modelling I have put together a collection of photos that I have taken at model railway exhibitions over the years of just some of Charles' many items of 009 rolling stock. I first met Charles and Elizabeth Insley in 1998 at an 009 Society members day in St Helens and since then have accumulated a hefty collection of photographs of their several layouts that I have taken at various narrow gauge model railway events. This gallery acts as something of a tribute to Charlie's superb skill at model railway stock building from assembling and detailing kits through adapting kits and "kitbashes" to models that have totally scratchbuilt bodies. This gallery merely scratches the surface; I have generally only covered locomotives and railcars, and even then my photos do not come close to covering the whole of Charlie's collection. In addition to the 009 models featured here, there are also an impressive number of models of Irish 3ft gauge prototypes modelled in 3mm scale (TTn3). Generally I have attempted to provide just one photo of each model that I have managed to photograph, however there are some duplications which I have retained as they show different angles to a subject or may feature a locomotive with different rolling stock etc. I hope you enjoy this selection and if you are an 009 modeller that you may find more than a little in the area of good ideas and inspiration for your own modelling. Mick 28 December 2008 Sunday 28 December 2008: In a recent 009 News, fellow 009 Society member and modelling colleague, Dr Charles Insley, described me as "Society basher-in-chief" in an article describing how he had evolved my own railcar kitbashing style to produce his own articulated railcar based on a Dapol Park Royal 00 scale railbus kit. Whilst I take this as a great compliment, I regard being described thus by Charles as being akin to a comparison between the Dorset Amateur (me) and the European Champions (Charles) leagues, so in order to give a correct perspective to the very prolific, imaginative and skilled output of what must be one of the, if not the, most active modelmakers in the world of 009 narrow gauge modelling I have put together a collection of photos that I have taken at model railway exhibitions over the years of just some of Charles' many items of 009 rolling stock. I first met Charles and Elizabeth Insley in 1998 at an 009 Society members day in St Helens and since then have accumulated a hefty collection of photographs of their several layouts that I have taken at various narrow gauge model railway events. This gallery acts as something of a tribute to Charlie's superb skill at model railway stock building from assembling and detailing kits through adapting kits and "kitbashes" to models that have totally scratchbuilt bodies. This gallery merely scratches the surface; I have generally only covered locomotives and railcars, and even then my photos do not come close to covering the whole of Charlie's collection. In addition to the 009 models featured here, there are also an impressive number of models of Irish 3ft gauge prototypes modelled in 3mm scale (TTn3). Generally I have attempted to provide just one photo of each model that I have managed to photograph, however there are some duplications which I have retained as they show different angles to a subject or may feature a locomotive with different rolling stock etc. I hope you enjoy this selection and if you are an 009 modeller that you may find more than a little in the area of good ideas and inspiration for your own modelling. Mick 28 December 2008

1998 St Helens. My first viewing of Maesog, with my original mark 1 primitive low resolution digital camera. Note the outside framed chassis on the Hunslet loco. An impressive and exotic looking collection of Welsh narrow gauge 009 locomotives This orginal 1860 George England loco has a scratchbuilt body running on an Ibertren chassis An intermediate era England 0-4-0 with a scratchbuilt body in brass, again running on an Ibertren chassis. Chilterns Narrow Gauge Luton 2002 - and thankfully the final outing of my original lowres camera! In Railway Modeller in 1962, there was an article about an 8mm gauge 4mm scale Manning Wardle 0-4-4T called 009 Society 2003 AGM, Birmingham. Charlie's contribution to the display cabinet consisted of this attractive Corris loco and scratchbuilt rolling stock for his Vaenol Tramway. Charlie also displayed a tiny Simplex diesel built onto an Arnold kof chassis, and an impressive steam railcar built using components from the Meridian Ashover coach kit. A Drewry railcar at Maesog on the Vaenol Tramway. Although this railcar is commercially handmade by Paul Windle, I believe that this one was scratchbuilt by Charlie. A very attractive Glyn Valley inspired train at Maesog. The tiny coaches are absolutely outstanding. Taken during the NG Southwest Shepton Mallet 2003 - one of the well known and very popular Paul Windle Sharp Stewart tram locos, based on a 2/3 sized Clogher Valley design A small display of Charlie's Vaenol Tramway stock at NG Southwest 2003. The 2 railcars at the top were built using Dundas Eisteddford coach parts and are known throughout the 009 Society as Chilterns NG 2004 - a first sighting of Charlie and Elizabeth's new layout An 0-4-2 wing tank at Kinwardine Wharf An article appeared in Railway Modeller describing a proposed loco that the North Eastern Rly might have built for a North Holderness NG branch, if it had ever been built. Charlie promptly built a model of it using an old Brian Clarke chassis that he had available. We will see more of the blue loco later, in the foreground is a diesel that started as a Roco 6 wheeler, but now has just the chassis and the bonnet sides left of the original. A familiar diesel loco on 009 layouts is this 1960's vintage Minitrains Plymouth. Although the original was HO scale, it was a large prototype so fits into 009 without alteration quite well. An ex-Bowaters 0-4-2ST arrives at Kinwardine Wharf with a train of very attractive tram stock. The blue tram loco glimpsed earlier is a Golden Arrow Southwold body kit with tram skirts hiding the cheap but very reliable Kato 4wh tram chassis. Charlie turned up at Expong 2005 with 3 locomotive models for me to photograph to support an article he was preparing on loco construction for 009 News. The first one is this attractive little 4-4-0T based on a South African prototype and powered by a Bachman 0-4-0 dock tank chassis. This is about as basic as a loco can get. A relic of Victorian industrial power, this Neilson Box Tank locomotive is a simple but very effective rebuild of a Bachman 0-4-0 dock tank. Spotted at the 2005 Northampton MRX, this loco inspired by the Ballymena & Larne 2-6-0ST Northampton 2005 - another attractive train arrives at Kinwardine Wharf. I think the loco is a Chivers Most of these photos are of locomotives and railcars but I could not resist including this one showing an innovative use for the old Egger wild west coach. The Drewry railcar that we saw earlier at Maesog, seen at Kinwardine Wharf. This tiny Arnold kof powered Simplex has also been seen earlier, but warrants a second showing with this better quality photo. A more familiar locomotive for most is this ex-War Department Baldwin 4-6-0T beautifully detailed from a base of a Gem kit. The Southwold loco The result of the partly built loco seen earlier in photo 024. Charlie's essay named The North Holderness 0-6-0T seen earlier now completed in full LNER livery, along with a Manning Wardle that might have come directly from the old 3ft gauge Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Here's one that I have not seen since taking this photo! Spotted at Expong 2006, if my memory serves (it frequently doesn't!), this attractive little engine is a Sharp Stewart that saw service on the Indian narrow gauge. Expong 2006 also had the first sighting of Charlie's Dapol railbus kitbash. See photo 040 following for the final result. NG South 2006 and Charlie's contribution this time was an American train that he had built using Railway Recollections resin kit parts for Paul Towers The Railway Recollections resin prairie built for Paul Towers in close-up. The chassis is the well known Bachman 2-6-2. My first sighting of Charlie and Elizabeth's new layout: Winter Overcotes was at the 009 Society Northampton Group members day in 2007. This is a freelance ex-GWR layout in the 1950's that has a very definite Drewry railcar at Winter Overcotes. I do not know if this is the same Drewry that we saw earlier at Maesog and Kinwardine Wharf in crimson lake livery, but I must say that a faded GWR chocolate and cream does suit the design very well here! One of Charlie's The completed version of the Dapol kitbashed railbus seen earlier in photo 034. Graham Lindley, a member of the Wessex NG Modellers, built a Dapol railbus and lowered the height of the cantrail above the windows. I passed this tip on to Charlie and this is his result. I think it makes the unit look much more attractive. and in better proportion. A natural and more complex evolvement of the Dapol railbus kitbash idea is this articulated design that Charlie came up with. It runs on the popular and reliable Kato 4wh tram chassis. Another view of the articulated railbus, which I took for Charlie to support an article he has had published in 009 News describing how he made it. This very purposeful looking diesel at Winter Overcotes should be easily recognisable as a marriage of 2 Dapol Drewry shunter kits with what I think is a Liliput HOe 2091 1-B-1 (2-4-2) chassis, but I'd be happy to be corrected if I have got the chassis wrong!. Very effective, I must have one for my railway! (but mine won't be black!) The mainstay of the loco roster at Winter Overcotes is a class of (currently) 5 0-6-0T locos that originated with the Gem Bagnall No 721, unlike its sister 720 in the previous photo, has recently been overhauled at Swindon and sports a larger copper capped chimney and is resplendent in full British Railway lined green livery. No 722 has also visited Swindon since Nationalisation, but retained the original chimney and had to put up with an austerity unlined black paintjob. 723 has not yet been overhauled and still wears a Great Western unlined green livery. No 725 has lost the GW lettering but is otherwise also still in a recognisable Great Western livery. Note that no. 724 has not yet been used, and also the subtle variations to the Egger tram coaches behind the locos - adding to the Welshpool & Llanfair A very impressive line-up of all 5 of the Winter Overcotes 0-6-0 stud. I would be surprised if I am not the only one who sees this photo who is not inspired to try to emulate something along similar lines!...... A surprise visitor at NG South in April 2008 to Simon Coward's Isle of Mudd layout was this new loco for Winter Overcotes undergoing proving trials. This loco, a 2-6-2T was supplied by Nasmyth Wilson (courtesy of a Roxey Cyprus Government Railways kit and Grafar prairie chassis) is no,. 727 on the roster, so as well as 724, there is also a vacancy for a loco 726 sometime in the future! Another new loco by Charlie was also brought along to NG South 2008. This anglicised Liliput 0-6-2T is unlettered and has a different livery than the other Winter Overcotes stock, so I imagine it may be destined for another of Charlie's several ongoing projects. The loco conversion to English outline and to 4mm scale from the Liliput HOe original has been described by two other modellers in 009 News in the past year or so.

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]]> Sun Dec 28 2008 John Varley's Ghylldale Light Railway at the Leeds Model Railway Exhibition, 01 November 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1605923.html John Varley's Ghylldale has always been one of my favourite 009 exhibition layouts and I will not hesitate to grab an opportunity to see it if at all possible. Unfortunately however John's home in Leeds and my own in Dorset are some 280 miles apart, but the runes came together on the 1st of November as my wife and I had arranged to travel to Huddersfield to visit a family friend at just the same time that John was exhibiting Ghylldale at Leeds Grammar School - only some 25 miles away from where we were visiting. A lucky coincidence or a triumph of covert logistic planning? Who cares, I managed to get my camera in front of Ghylldale anyway and it was "only" a 17 hour round trip and 600 miles in foul weather to do it! Of course it was worth it, how else are you going to see photos of this attractive layout anyway....... Saturday 1 November 2008: John Varley's Ghylldale has always been one of my favourite 009 exhibition layouts and I will not hesitate to grab an opportunity to see it if at all possible. Unfortunately however John's home in Leeds and my own in Dorset are some 280 miles apart, but the runes came together on the 1st of November as my wife and I had arranged to travel to Huddersfield to visit a family friend at just the same time that John was exhibiting Ghylldale at Leeds Grammar School - only some 25 miles away from where we were visiting. A lucky coincidence or a triumph of covert logistic planning? Who cares, I managed to get my camera in front of Ghylldale anyway and it was "only" a 17 hour round trip and 600 miles in foul weather to do it! Of course it was worth it, how else are you going to see photos of this attractive layout anyway.......

An overall view of the layout from the public side. Left to right are: Garry Whiting, John Varley and Hugh Norwood - all members of the LAMPOONS (Leeds & Morley Provisional 009 Society) Group of the 009 Society. The operating team at the time of my visit - Garry Whiting, John Varley and Hugh Norwood A very simple. yet effective publicity display for the 009 Society had been set up by the team adjacent to the layout. It consisted of a vinyl pull-up banner, a laptop showing videos of narrow gauge layouts and a small display of 009 models by John, Garry and Hugh. Other Society Groups and exhibitors could learn from this effective example. A good variety of 009 models of various types on display. NG modelling is not exclusively Welsh slate and tourist railways! An aerial view of Ghylldaleside town and harbour from the south Ghylldaleside harbour. The stone setts modelled on the jetty are particularly effective This view of the whole layout shows the effective design for an exhibition layout and the proportion of scenic layout to hidden fiddle yards. The hill at the north end of the layout provides a very effective scenic break and gives the layout a sense of depth. Significantly, Ghylldale was the only narrow gauge layout at this prestigious show, and was amazingly one of only three layouts that contained any scenic features to speak of! In fact, the Aerial view of the layout from the north end, also showing the neat but effective hidden storage sidings Whilst Ghylldale often sports a variety of visiting locomotives, John Varley's own locomotive stock tends to concentrate on prototype designs that were manufactured in his home city of Leeds. Here a Hunslet 0-6-4ST brings a goods train through the station loop, whilst a small 0-4-0ST quarry Hunslet acts as the harbour shunter Another Hunslet design, this time a Sierra Leone (Later Welshpool) 2-6-2T built from a Parkside Dundas kit, pauses at Ghylldaleside with a goods train. A view of the goods train from the reverse angle. Note the bogie tanker, which utilised an old Triang TT tanker body picked up at cheaply at a swapmeet. Two Paul Windle-built Hunslet locos at the small stabling shed at Ghylldaleside. Another view of the stone jetty with its two sidings and transfer wagon turntables A Manning Wardle loco brings a passenger service into Ghylldaleside station Trains passing in the station loop have not distracted the morris dancing team from their concentration. Another lower angle view of goods and passenger trains passing at the station loop. A freelance 2-8-2T, owned by Garry Whiting. A close view of the stone jetty, showing the very neat and realistic stone setts. Sea level view of shipping in the harbour. An ancient Victorian-era coastal steamer leaves the jetty. All the ship models were scratchbuilt by Darryl Foxwell and have had some further work done by John Varley This steam coaster, as with the other ship models is actually very small for 4mm scale, but they all fit perfectly into the overall scene. Larger models would have simply overwhelmed the rest of the layout and distracted from the overall image. The attractive coastal steamer. Whilst a close-up view shows the very compressed nature of the model, it does nevertheless fit very well into the overall scene. A small vessel outside the protection of the harbour wall is temporarily stranded until the tide comes in. A sign that an 009 layout has

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]]> Sat Nov 1 2008 Expo NG - Swanley, Kent, 25 October 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1605544.html Expong is always a special event in the NG modelling calendar, but this year it was more so than usual - the 40th anniversary of the Greenwich & District NG Society, who organise the event, plus the 25th ExpoNG, and a particularly poignant event due to the recent tragic loss of long-term G&DNGS Chairman, Dave Brewer. Dave was a larger than life character who was at the forefront of both narrow gauge modelling and involvement with the full sized versions, in this country and in France. Everyone who has anything to do with the hobby will at least know of Dave even if they did not know him personally, his presence will be sadly missed. The show this year marked a special effort by all who participated to pay tribute to the memory of Dave and to support Hazel and Stuart, who courageously decided to continue fully in the organisation of this special show. I certainly thought that the event this year was a very good one, and everybody that I know who attended had the same feelings. If you didn't manage to be there, hopefully my selection of photos will provide a glimpse of the range of top quality modelling in a wide spread of scales that was present. Saturday 25 October 2008: Expong is always a special event in the NG modelling calendar, but this year it was more so than usual - the 40th anniversary of the Greenwich & District NG Society, who organise the event, plus the 25th ExpoNG, and a particularly poignant event due to the recent tragic loss of long-term G&DNGS Chairman, Dave Brewer. Dave was a larger than life character who was at the forefront of both narrow gauge modelling and involvement with the full sized versions, in this country and in France. Everyone who has anything to do with the hobby will at least know of Dave even if they did not know him personally, his presence will be sadly missed. The show this year marked a special effort by all who participated to pay tribute to the memory of Dave and to support Hazel and Stuart, who courageously decided to continue fully in the organisation of this special show. I certainly thought that the event this year was a very good one, and everybody that I know who attended had the same feelings. If you didn't manage to be there, hopefully my selection of photos will provide a glimpse of the range of top quality modelling in a wide spread of scales that was present.

A view across the main hall - narrow gauge models and people as far as the eye can see! The 009 Society Sales under Brian Guilmant made a welcome return to Expong after a gap of 4 years. The sales stock is so large that a complete squash court had to be taken into use. Here is Brian with his emporium shortly before opening time. The 009 Society was also represented in the main hall with a modelling demonstration by the Sussex Downs Group and their own display case and animated diorama The Sussex Downs Group of the 009 Society's display case and animated diorama/mini layout Those who follow my reports will know that the Roving Reporter travels between the best layouts in his own private Inspection Railcar. Here it has just arrived at the 009 Society display stand station The 7mm NGA always bring their full sales, publicity and publications stand to Expong, which always results in a very busy stand, as can be seen here! Chairman of the 7mm NGA, Howard Martin (seated, centre), has his own range of resin locomotive and rolling stock kits that he markets as Avalon Lines. His stand always features an attractive small demonstration layout The demonstration layout on the Avalon Lines stand set Howard Martin's attractive 7mm scale industrial locomotive and rolling stock kits off to advantage Malcolm Savage, secretary of the 5.5mm Association with his smart and very professionally presented society stand. I believe several new members joined on the day (I joined myself just a week earlier!) White Elephant Mine, a small 5.5mm scale animated diorama by Francis Stapleton, which shows off Francis' own range of resin wagon kits The main part of the 5.5mm Association display is the attractive Bronabar Sidings, which shows Malcolm Savage's models and Mike Chinery's chassis. An MSM Festiniog England 0-4-0ST kit at Bronabar Sidings, which originated as a 5.5mm scale Gem kit back in the early 1960's The late Dave Scott's final layout before his death in 2006 was Beccadale Haematite Mine, in 5.5mm scale and now owned by Francis Stapleton. An attractive scene at Francis Stapleton's Beccadale Haematite Mine, 5.5mm scale originally built by the late Dave Scott An industrial Sentinel locomotive on Francis Stapleton's 5.5mm scale Beccadal Haematite Mine, originally built by the late Dave Scott Beccadale Haematite Mine, the late Dave Scott's 5.5mm scale layout, now owned and being further developed by Francis Stapleton Narrow gauge modelling at the tiny end of the spectrum in the form of Mark Fielder's exquisite 6.5mm gauge 2mm scale Am Clair I took this snap for the benefit of all of those people who have heard of Paul Windle, but have never seen him - here is the great man himself! Andrew Hastie, of Parkside Dundas, berated me for Don & Val Sibley live in Belgium but have brought a layout to Expong every year since it began. This year they brought the HOe layout El Tortuga that Don showed at the very first Expong 25 years ago. Don & Val Sibley's El Tortuga was originally built to accomodate the Japanese HOe Joe Works range. Don's Joe Works stock went some years ago, so it was fortuitious that Garry Whiting was on hand with his collection of Japanese HOe models to stock the layout for the day El Tortuga, HOe by Don & Val Sibley with stock supplied by Garry Whiting Dave & Midge Grassing have regularly attended Expong with several animated American layouts. This year they brought their dual gauge HOn3/HOn30 Foss Landing Foss Landing, by Dave and Midge Grassing, in HOn3 & HOn30, is a scenic layout very much in the style of the famous American modellers, Haydn & Frary The Roving Reporter inspection railcar was not the only small John Wormington, with his West Midlands 009 Group assistant David Churchill, and the 009 layout Bachdale & Dibley Level A view across the station area at John Wormington's Bachdale & Dibley Level Bachdale & Dibley level, a very attractive 009 layout owned by John Wormington John Wormington received the Reinier Hendriksen Award from Chris O'Donoghue for his freelance Bachdale & Dibley Level Steve Green (left) and his Wimborne Railway Society assistant, Andrew Webb, with Steve's 09 Gideon Postlethwaite & Sons Gideon Postlethwaite & Sons, an industrial 09 layout by Steve Green Phil Davies showed his very attractive 1/24 scale 16.5mm gauge Aberfal Mining & Minerals Ltd, a Cornish mining layout. Newton Halt, an original and very smartly presented micro-009 layout by Andy McMahon and Sheila Perry A scene showing almost all of the attractive little Newton Halt, 009 by Andy McMahon and Sheila Perry The Roving Reporter gets away from Newton Halt in the inspection railcar after a successful photographic visit to Andy McMahon and Sheila Perry's layout In a side hall, a competition was set up for layouts with dimensions of 40 x 25 inches in recognition of the G&DNGS 40 anniversary and 25th Expong. Lee Bryant's imaginative and clever entry from the Wessex NGM's, Coil End Lane, featured triple 6.5, 9 and 12mm gauge trackwork. A converted Dapol Drewry diesel and Lee Bryant's award winning mail coach at his triple gauge 006.5/009/00n3 Coil End Lane Another 40/25 competition entry was Sunnyside Mine in Gn15 by Andy Jagger Les Coleman is a well known Neil Moss entered this wartime 009 layout Jersey 1942 into the 40/25 competition Le Chêne Blanc (French for And the winner is: Bernard Junk receives his 40/25 winning prize from NG World producer, Trevor Ridley. G&DNGS competition organiser Richard Glover supervises proceedings. A highly acclaimed layout that has been on the exhibition circuit for only a year is John de Fraysinnet's County Gate. I was lucky enough to see it at close quarters on its exhibition pre-debut at an 009 Society members day at Ashchurch in 2007 (see earlier report in this gallery), as the chances of getting near enough to take decent photos at Expong were An end-on view of John de Fraysinnet's freelance Lynton & Barnstaple extension railway County Gate. Approximately 30 feet of North Devon countryside in 1/76 scale - something in the order of 3000 trees and bushes were modelled! A view from the harbour end of County Gate by John de Fraysinnet. The crowds at the barrier illustrate the challenge posed for budding photographers to get anything like decent images John de Fraysinnet's scratchbuilt collier in Glenthorne Harbour at County Gate. It is a scale 180 ft long (nearly 3 feet in 4mm scale) and I personally thought it to be a super model. It was very nice to see a scale model ship in 4mm scale of substantial size and although this would probably overwhelm most model harbours, it suited the scene at Glenthorne Harbour very well. An innovative, imaginative, yet fully researched and credible art deco styled 1930's 3-unit railcar calls at Glenthorne Harbour on John de Fraysinnet's 009 County Gate As this long distance view was taken from about 12 feet away using full zoom on my camera, I was quite content that this aerial view of the station area at County Gate was the best I could achieve under the circumstances. Although we have already seen John de Fraysinnet's Glenthorne Harbour on his 009 County Gate, I have included this overhead view as it shows to advantage the very clever blending of the backscene into the modelled scenery. Superb modelling that is worth a long look Hollies End, an attractive freelance 0-16.5 layout by Brian Stubbles.

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]]> Sat Oct 25 2008 Small & Delightful Railway Group Open Day, Walton, 27 September 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1587697.html The Small & Delightful Railway Group are a group of friends interested in narrow gauge railways and railway modelling who organise the narrow gauge modelling extravaganza at Shepton Mallet every February which is variously known as "Narrow Gauge South West" (NGSW) and "The Small & Delightful Show". Because the team are fully tasked running what has become one of the largest narrow gauge shows that there is, they don't get time to enjoy showing their own layouts or merely chatting to like-minded visitors to the show, so once every two years, they get together to run their own layouts and those of invited friends. "Delightful" the day certainly is, and "small" is an accurate description of the location, at the village hall in Walton, near Street, in deepest Somerset; but "small" is not a word that can really be used for the show itself, which this year featured no less than 20 layouts in a wide variety of scales and gauges. A really splendid day, with all that is best about this type of informal, friendly "do" and I for one am very glad that I made the effort to attend and join the other 160 or so (plus around 40 participating) people who came from as far away as Yorkshire, Staffordshire and Essex to join in. Great stuff, great people, great refreshments provided by Glastonbury and Street Lions, and the only down side is that we have to wait another 2 years before we can do it again! Saturday 27 September 2008: The Small & Delightful Railway Group are a group of friends interested in narrow gauge railways and railway modelling who organise the narrow gauge modelling extravaganza at Shepton Mallet every February which is variously known as "Narrow Gauge South West" (NGSW) and "The Small & Delightful Show". Because the team are fully tasked running what has become one of the largest narrow gauge shows that there is, they don't get time to enjoy showing their own layouts or merely chatting to like-minded visitors to the show, so once every two years, they get together to run their own layouts and those of invited friends. "Delightful" the day certainly is, and "small" is an accurate description of the location, at the village hall in Walton, near Street, in deepest Somerset; but "small" is not a word that can really be used for the show itself, which this year featured no less than 20 layouts in a wide variety of scales and gauges. A really splendid day, with all that is best about this type of informal, friendly "do" and I for one am very glad that I made the effort to attend and join the other 160 or so (plus around 40 participating) people who came from as far away as Yorkshire, Staffordshire and Essex to join in. Great stuff, great people, great refreshments provided by Glastonbury and Street Lions, and the only down side is that we have to wait another 2 years before we can do it again!

Overall view early in the day - are you in the shot? Farleigh Down. An unusual 09 layout representing a 15 Farleigh Down, 09 Another view of Farleigh Down, a military 09 supply depot by Ellis and Paul of the Nailsea MRC Tim Tincknell's well known Specialist Mining Company in 09. Because it was difficult to fight my way to the front of the viewers with my camera and tripod I did not manage any close-up views this time, but there are plenty in the earlier NG SouthWest 2008 and MOMING 2007 collections In case you don't know what Brian Guilmant, the 009 Society Sales Officer looks like, there is no excuse now! Here he is in the apron, with his minder, Lee Bryant of the Wessex NG Modellers. Alan Eadle, a Small & Delightful Group member, showed his attractive SM32 layout, Ryan's Mill Simon Andrews' very attractive little 09 estate railway, Black Hall Sidings The goods yard at Black Hall Sidings in 09 by Simon Andrews Simon Andrews 09 Black Hall Sidings. The chunky little tank loco is built from an Avalon kit and runs on one of the excellent flywheel fitted Hallig 9mm gauge tram chassis. This tiny little 09 Speeder on Simon Andrews' 09 Black Hall Sidings, has a scratchbuilt body on a small 9mm gauge Japanese Caramel 4-wheel chassis that has been imported by 009 Society Archivist, Garry Whiting John Perrett, of the S&D Group and an 009 Society member with his Mendips coalmining layout, The Benter Railway in 009. This features a working incline which can be seen directly in front of John in this view. I have a baseboard crossing on my own layout that looks very similar......... The upper level on John Perrett's 009 Benter Railway A Barclay wing tank, constructed from a Backwoods kit, brings a short goods train into Lower Peak Wharf, John Bruce's award winning 009 layout Not a train in sight, but a scene that could have come from Pendon. A view down the village street on John Bruce's Lower Peak Wharf This view of the Barclay wing tank loco at Lower Peak Wharf is one that I was quite pleased with. Steve Bennett's well known and very attractive demonstration Gn15 layout, Big Cat Mine Another of prolific and skillful modeller Steve Bennett's micro layouts - the Gn15 industrial shunting scene Steve Bennett's second micro-layout on show was his attractive little Gn9 loading bay: Vanguard Works. Mike Brown, of the Nailsea MRC brought his G scale layout, Sabden Yard. Roy Parkes retired his award winning 0-16.5 layout Crackington Quay after Expong 2007, so it was a pleasant surprise to see that it is now in the very safe hands of 7mm NGA Chairman, Howard Martin, seen here (left) chatting to Christopher Lepper, who many will recognise for his marvellous 10mm scale Irish tram and railway models. A scene on Crackington Quay, originally built in 0-16.5 by Roy Parkes and now owned by Howard Martin Gordon and Maggie Gravett, accomplished modellers and S&D Group members set up a scenic modelling demonstration stand, which included this very attractive diorama featuring a scratchbuilt French Reseau Breton Billard 150D Autorail for their Pempoul layout, due to be shown at Expong on 25 October this year. The scale is 1:50, 18.2mm gauge, and I am grateful to Hans-Joachim Donner of Berlin, who emailed me these details. South West 009 Group (SWOONS) member, William Loyd with his superb little piece of the American Rockies in Sn3 scale (1/64 scale, 14.2mm gauge track), Oro Grande Railroad. William Loyd's Sn3 scale layout, Oro Grande Railroad may be small, but the modelling standard and scenery is absolutely outstanding. A Baldwin 0-6-0T wheezes its way across the bridge behind the loco shed on William Loyd's Sn3 Oro Grande Railroad Howard Coulson brought his African 009 layout Eitomo out for its 104th showing, and as far as Howard is concerned, its last one. Howard has decided to retire the layout after some 32 years on the exhibition circuit and has advertised it for sale. By the time you read this it might well be in new hands. A colourful scene looking across the station area at Eitomo, East Africa in 009 by Howard Coulson This view of Howard Coulson's 009 Eitomo shows an Otavi Railway steam railcar, from what is now known as Namibia, (German South West Africa), built from one of the original Backwoods kits A bit of 009 superpower in the form of this very exotic and powerful locomotive seen at Eitomo. It originated many years ago on Howard Coulson's worktop as a Rivarossi N gauge S&D Group member Richard Andrews with his popular Gn15 Moulding Lane An attractive little scene on Richard Andrews' Moulding Lane, Gn15. As well as Moulding Lane, Richard Andrews brought a new micro Gn15 layout called Edenbridge Farm. The water feature at the front of the board is excellent SWOONS member Phil Farr-Cox with his 009 Foxcombe Colliery. 009 Society Treasurer and SWOON founder-member Geoff Bowyer looks on. An attractive scene on Phil Farr-Cox's 009 Foxcombe Colliery. This familiar Peco Jeanette 009 kit has been totally transformed by fitting it to a superb Fleischman 0-6-0 chassis by Phil Farr-Cox. Phil Farr-Cox also brought this little 009 Performing on Phil Farr-Cox's 009 Ivor Knott's Timber Yard when I passed with the camera was this little diesel loco converted from an N gauge Ibertren kof diesel. Harvey Faulkner-Aston is well known on the exhibition circuit for his 0n30 layout A super view of a small Shay loco on Harvey Faulkner-Aston's 0n30 Darius Washington State One of my best snaps of the day, taken at Harvey Faulkner-Aston's 0n30 Darius Washington State Recently elected Chairman of the 009 Society, Simon Coward with his Isle of Mudd layout that gets bigger every time I see it. Simon Coward's Isle of Mudd is a freelance island somewhere in the Atlantic and is a mainline narrow gauge system, so mainline trains are called for, as can be seen here. The layout is one of the 009 pioneers to prove the capability of DCC in this scale. One of a class of 4 large American GM diesel locos that handle heavy traffic on Simon Coward's DCC operated 009 freelance layout, Isle of Mudd A glimpse along the impressive frontage of Simon Coward's Isle of Mudd - DCC mainline in 009 Here's one for the heritage modelling fans. This old (possibly 1960's) vintage 00n3 loco, built onto a Triang TT gauge Jinty chassis and with a body that is thought to have originated from a clockwork loco model of the period, has surfaced in the 009 Sales. It has already been discussed on the 00n3 Forum but its provenance still eludes. Can anybody identify who built this interesting model? Garry Whiting of the 009 Society has recently imported a batch of tiny Japanese Caramel N gauge 4 wheel cmotorised hassis which are ideal forms of motive power for small diesel locomotives as illustrated by these two that Garry commissioned Paul Windle to build for him. The leading one is a Hudson Hunslet, with a Planet following. The chassis are a similar size to the (now elusive and expensive) Arnold kofII. Here is Garry Whiting's latest piece of 009 exotica specially built by Paul Windle; a 2-6-6-2 Mallet on a Bachman chassis and a very handsome locomotive indeed in my opinion.

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]]> Sat Sep 27 2008 Moors Valley Narrow Gauge Model Weekend 13 - 14 Sep 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1580455.html The Wimborne Railway Society, who also have several Moors Valley volunteers amongst their members, laid on a Narrow Gauge Model weekend in the extended carriage shed, courtesy of Jim Haylock, and to supplement the 7 layouts on show, members of the Wessex Narrow Gauge brought 3 layouts along. A rare occasion in that the sun actually came out, which helped to boost the steady stream of visitors throughout the weekend and a spendid informal and friendly time was had by all who either attended or took part. The event was heralded as the final public showing of Tim Couling's 009 layout Port St George, and to mark the occasion, Port St George was joined to the Tarrant Valley, making a double-L or Z shaped layout well over 30ft long. However, I have photographed the "final" public appearance of Port St George on at least 3 previous occasions over the past 10 years, so don't be surprised if you see this very attractive layout again sometime in the future although Tim was adamant that this time he really meant it when he said the layout was being retired! Here's a short selection of photos taken on the Saturday. Saturday 13 September 2008: The Wimborne Railway Society, who also have several Moors Valley volunteers amongst their members, laid on a Narrow Gauge Model weekend in the extended carriage shed, courtesy of Jim Haylock, and to supplement the 7 layouts on show, members of the Wessex Narrow Gauge brought 3 layouts along. A rare occasion in that the sun actually came out, which helped to boost the steady stream of visitors throughout the weekend and a spendid informal and friendly time was had by all who either attended or took part. The event was heralded as the final public showing of Tim Couling's 009 layout Port St George, and to mark the occasion, Port St George was joined to the Tarrant Valley, making a double-L or Z shaped layout well over 30ft long. However, I have photographed the "final" public appearance of Port St George on at least 3 previous occasions over the past 10 years, so don't be surprised if you see this very attractive layout again sometime in the future although Tim was adamant that this time he really meant it when he said the layout was being retired! Here's a short selection of photos taken on the Saturday.

6 of the 24 locos on the Moors Valley Railway lined up ready for the day's activities, early on the Saturday Tim Couling's fabulous 2-8-0 Athelstan, one of the most powerful 7¼ Moors Valley 2-6-2 Zeus, finished in African style, complete with 12 wheel Vanderbilt tender. Moors Valley workhorse, loco number 2, Horace A large 8 wheel rod-coupled bogie diesel, a very powerful looking and impressive machine 0-4-2T Talos receives attention prior to working the shuttle train service Graham Lindley presides over the fiddle yard on his famous 12mm scale Hythe, a model of the 15 Jerry Oakey operates Hythe station, some 30ft from Graham in the distance, whilst Geoff Bowyer looks on. Geoff and Chris Bowyer with Jerry Oakey watch Patrick Collins despatching trains from Hythe towards Alan Rolfe operating the fiddle yard. I caught a couple of gremlins in my camera on this occasion and did not manage any acceptable close-ups of the very attractive stock on this layout, but they are featured in an earlier set in this gallery, taken at Weymouth in October 2007 Chairman of the Wessex NG Modellers, Ian Turner with his very well known 009 African layout Roestok Roestok acts as a setting for Ian to show off his fabulous mainly scratchbuilt large colonial motive power. Here with an NGG16 Garratt are two huge South African class 91 diesel locos. A close up of Ian's latest model, a South African class 91 diesel in modern livery. Difficult to believe that this started off as a Bemo chassis. A very expensive and skillful A view across the yard at Roestok, As well as the two class 91 diesels, there are 3 Garratt's and a scratchbuilt NG15 2-8-2 in the scene Ian has built no less than 3 class NGG16 Garratt locos. The red and blue ones in the foreground are superdetailed Backwoods kits, both fully authentic and with subtle detail differences, whilst the black loco in the background depicts an earlier version and is completely scratchbuilt. And you don't get many of these to the pound!! A scratchbuilt Sierra Leone 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt brings a passenger train into Roestok. Lee Bryant (in the grey shirt) poses with his assistant operator, Colin Finch and his imaginative little layout Thurtey - the quay scene has a track plan in the shape of a figure 3, whilst the fiddle yard at the rear is a figure 0 Lee Bryant's Thurtey - Lee built this layout to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Wessex NG Modeller's on a baseboard 30 inches square and to a budget of £30 (not including the stock!) Cruel commentators have been heard to say that Lee called the layout Thurtey because it took him 30 years to build and it cost less than 30 bob - but I could not possibly repeat such a scurrilous remark! Here's an attractive little scene looking across the jetties Thurtey might have been the smallest layout on show, but got the public vote for most popular - because Lee was brave enough to put the controller in the kiddie's hands and let them have a play - and you won't find that informal friendly approach at many layouts that you will see in a The Glyn Valley, a very attractive model of Glynceriog station on the GVT in 009 that was originally built by Tim Tincknell and has been further developed by its current owners, (left to right): Peter Binns, Nigel and Adam Smith A typical Glyn Valley Tramway train approaches Glynceriog station Glyn Valley - 009 by Peter Binns and Nigel Smith An overall view of the Glyn Valley 009 layout showing the simple yet very effective design. Another simple design, but very professionally and attractively presented is Steve Flay's 009 Tan-y-Coed, which has featured in many of the premier exhibitions over the past 10 years or so - as seen by the Steve Flay's 009 Tan-y-Coed A Festiniog Hunslet brings a goods train through the gorge after leaving Tan-y-Coed station Hunslet 0-4-2T no.3 Tim Couling with Port St George, which was set up as an end-on junction with Tarrant Valley One of Tim Couling's Clyre Valley Railway railcars waits for departure time at Port St George A view of Port St George from the top of the harbourmaster's office This superbly finished ex-War Dept Lt Rly Hunslet 4-6-0T spotted on the quay at Port St George was made from a Langley kit by Stephen Green Regular readers should have no difficulty in recognising the Roving Reporter's personal railcar at Port St George! Just half of the Tarrant Valley in its double-L configuration. John Webb operates Tarrant Gunville station with Stuart Webb and Stephen Green in the middle-distance The 2nd part of the double-L leading towards the junction with Port St George. This is one extremely large and impressive 009 layout! Tarrant Rushton RAF base was playing host to the world famous Red bArrows display team when we visited. Note the identification letters on the bArrows (spelling deliberate) A Clyre Valley train arrives at Tarrant Gunville all the way from Port St George Another train of Tim Couling's stock from Port St George calls in at Rawston & Rushton station on the Tarrant Valley Railway Whilst further down the valley, at Stonemere, Tim Couling's permanent way train pauses to allow scheduled services to pass. I thought that things needed brightening up a bit, so when nobody was looking, I introduced one of my Mull & Iona railcars into the traffic flow. It is a long way from the Inner Hebrides to Dorset, but I'm pleased to report that the railcar survived the journey! A Hunslet diesel, another of Tim Couling's Port St George roster, pauses at Stonemere station on the Tarrant Valley. And here is the proof that the Roving Reporter made it as far as Tarrant Gunville, upper terminus of the Tarrant Valley Railway, where my personal transport is spotted, waiting for a clear road to get me back down the valley, transfer the railcar onto a flat wagon at the junction with the Somerset & Dorset at Spetisbury and then back home in time for tea!

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]]> Sat Sep 13 2008 A Visit to John Thorne's Purbeck, 19 August 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1565899.html Whilst most of my narrow gauge model railway photos are quick snaps taken at shows, I always try to take up opportunities to capture some, hopefully, better quality and less rushed posed photos if I am invited to visit a layout "at home". I had previously photographed John Thorne's Scrubbs Lane/The Maltings layout successfully, the results supplementing an article he wrote for 009 News a couple of years ago, so I was very pleased to be invited to take another set of photos of his latest (and many think, best) layout - Purbeck, again to supplement a forthcoming article that John is preparing for 009 News. This is a really superb little layout, of the "freelance but totally credible" school, representing the clay mining industry in Dorset during a loosely defined period encompassing the 1950's and 60's. John has extensively researched the prototype and incorporated a huge amount of authentic detail in this highly imaginative, yet very credible layout - all created to the highest standards of modelling. The layout made its public debut at Narrow Gauge South, Sparsholt in March 2008 and some initial photos appear in my earlier report of that event in this gallery. Hopefully this little set will provide a further inducement to attract followers of the very best narrow gauge layouts. Purbeck is set to become one of the best known and most popular layouts on the exhibition scene - well worth a long and lingering look if you learn of it appearing at a show near you! Tuesday 19 August 2008: Whilst most of my narrow gauge model railway photos are quick snaps taken at shows, I always try to take up opportunities to capture some, hopefully, better quality and less rushed posed photos if I am invited to visit a layout "at home". I had previously photographed John Thorne's Scrubbs Lane/The Maltings layout successfully, the results supplementing an article he wrote for 009 News a couple of years ago, so I was very pleased to be invited to take another set of photos of his latest (and many think, best) layout - Purbeck, again to supplement a forthcoming article that John is preparing for 009 News. This is a really superb little layout, of the "freelance but totally credible" school, representing the clay mining industry in Dorset during a loosely defined period encompassing the 1950's and 60's. John has extensively researched the prototype and incorporated a huge amount of authentic detail in this highly imaginative, yet very credible layout - all created to the highest standards of modelling. The layout made its public debut at Narrow Gauge South, Sparsholt in March 2008 and some initial photos appear in my earlier report of that event in this gallery. Hopefully this little set will provide a further inducement to attract followers of the very best narrow gauge layouts. Purbeck is set to become one of the best known and most popular layouts on the exhibition scene - well worth a long and lingering look if you learn of it appearing at a show near you!

The layout set up in John's home (without skirts!). Note the very attractive drop-down display boards fronting the layout, featuring a potted history of the prototype along with some historic photos - which all add to the air of authenticity Another view of the whole layout set up for photos in John's home, looking from the station area towards the works The industrial end of the layout. A number of highly detailed little vignettes have been incorporated into the overall scene, giving the whole area a sense of vibrancy A closer look at the hopper loading area. The two diesel locos in this view were converted into simple but effective 009 locos by the addition of larger scratchbuilt cabs to the Ibertren N gauge kof shunting locomotive. A view looking up the layout towards the station. The line then disappears off-stage towards Corfe Castle, which can be seen in the background Passenger services are mainly provided for by this railbus, converted from the Peco/Merit Maudslay bus A train of loaded hoppers is ready to depart behind the ancient Manning Wardle locomotive The blacksmiths forge has been named in memory of the late Terry Baker, a modelling friend and past member of the Surrey NG Modellers A busy scene around the goods shed The loco shed with more interesting and original engines on show One of the kof-converted diesels shunts a short train of tank wagons onto the motorised wagon turntable where they will be received individually by the waiting Kerr Stuart loco The Kimmeridge Fisheries rail lorry approaches the station whilst the stone train seen earlier behind Tertius heads off down the valley. A closer look at the rail lorry. This is based on an actual vehicle that existed on a metre gauge railway in Portugal. John's model has used parts of the well-known Airfix RAF refuelling set, with a rear-wheel drive chassis converted to single axle drive from a small Japanese bogie that John obtained from 009 Society Sales A Purbeck workman's train - none of your girly Welsh covered quarrymen's coaches down here in Dorset! A close-up of the tiny and intricate Simplex loco seen in the previous photo. This is a Nigel Lawton kit and it runs superbly. Two Stephen Lewin locomotives, which were quite common forms of motive power in the industrial railways of the South West a century ago. John has made very attractive little 009 engines by using the significant features of the design. Ancient Manning Wardle Furzebrook Railway loco This tiny engine is a Bagnall This is a scratchbuilt model of a Belgian La Meuse loco built in 1923 for La Sucrerie Maizy and and was on the Tramway Pithiviers a Toury before moving to its current location at the CF de la Vallee de l'Ouche where it has recently been restored to steam.The loco uses an excellent Fleischman 2-6-0 chassis. A really excellent Baldwin gas-mechanical from the 1st World War era and made from a Meridian Models etched brass kit. This loco, running on a Minitrix chassis (the expensive detailed one, not the basic A French Crochat railcar, built from a rare resin kit, of which I understand only about 30 were ever produced This wagon is authentic and John has photos of the prototype on his display to prove it! It was known as the

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]]> Tue Aug 19 2008 Narrow Gauge Midlands & 009 Society EGM, Birmingham 16 August 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1565575.html After an absence of specialist ng modelling shows to attend for nearly 5 months, since the outstanding NGS at Sparsholt in March, at last here was an opportunity to "fill the gap" with a super selection of small scale layouts at an 009 Society members day, hosted by the West Midlands Group with stewarding assistance from the M5/M50 NG Modellers at Girl Guide HQ, Trefoil House, close to the centre of Birmingham. The reason for the event was to provide for an Extraordinary General Meeting called by the 009 Society in order to elect a new Chairman and Secretary - which is outside of the scope of this gallery and if you are a member of the Society, I'm sure you will know the outcome anyway! Suffice to say that, despite the formalities of an EGM, it was still very much an informal fun day which the 70 or so 009 Society members that attended all appeared to enjoy themselves immensely. I know I did! A good venue for this type of "do" and some splendid refreshments laid on by the Guide organisation, who benefitted from the legendary huge appetities of the train people to the tune of some £400 - everyone went home happy, and some went home very full of cake! Here is a selection of snaps that I took on the day, hopefully showing a good representation of the layouts that attended. Saturday 16 August 2008: After an absence of specialist ng modelling shows to attend for nearly 5 months, since the outstanding NGS at Sparsholt in March, at last here was an opportunity to "fill the gap" with a super selection of small scale layouts at an 009 Society members day, hosted by the West Midlands Group with stewarding assistance from the M5/M50 NG Modellers at Girl Guide HQ, Trefoil House, close to the centre of Birmingham. The reason for the event was to provide for an Extraordinary General Meeting called by the 009 Society in order to elect a new Chairman and Secretary - which is outside of the scope of this gallery and if you are a member of the Society, I'm sure you will know the outcome anyway! Suffice to say that, despite the formalities of an EGM, it was still very much an informal fun day which the 70 or so 009 Society members that attended all appeared to enjoy themselves immensely. I know I did! A good venue for this type of "do" and some splendid refreshments laid on by the Guide organisation, who benefitted from the legendary huge appetities of the train people to the tune of some _400 - everyone went home happy, and some went home very full of cake! Here is a selection of snaps that I took on the day, hopefully showing a good representation of the layouts that attended.

One of the reasons why small Members Days are so popular in the 009 Society is the attendance by Brian Guilmant with the superb 009 Sales Stand. Visitors who A first sighting for me of this attractive little circular Isle of Man layout in 00n3 by Peter Cullen, with the very apt title of Some of the excellent models to be seen at Peter Cullen's 00n3 Mannin Middle An unmistakeable Manx scene in 00n3 on Peter Cullen's Mannin Middle Mannin Middle, Peter Cullen, 00n3 Mannin Middle, Peter Cullen, 00n3 The motorbikes immediately give a clue that this is the Isle of Man in the 1950's/60's! Steve Penn from the South Yorkshire Group attended with his well known 009 layout Wood End. A scene on Steve Penn's double-sided 009 layout Wood End A simple little tram loco made up from a Peco Jeanette body on a Kato tram chassis at Steve Penn's Wood End Two very nice little items of rolling stock at Wood End, an 009 layout by Steve Penn Wood End is a two-sided U shaped layout with a station on either side of the backscene, thereby providing a Splendidly atmospheric scenic work at Steve Penn's 009 Wood End A popular feature of Member's Days is that members will often bring along models to show, in addition to the advertised layouts. On this occasion Roger Christian brought along a new prairie Hunslet tank engine scratchbuilt by Paul Windle, for Roger and Stan Williams' very well known exhibition layout Master of colonial large engine modelling, Ian Turner explains an aspect of his 009 South African terminus, Roestok, to admiring onlookers. Ian Turner's latest little masterpiece is this beautifully made model of a South African class 91 diesel loco, which uses a butchered and very expensive Bemo diesel chassis as the power source. This loco in modern livery is the second class 91 in Ian's collection The loco depot at Ian Turner's Roestok with Ian's new class 91 diesel and a scratchbuilt steam NG15 class 2-8-2 at the head of a cavalcade of large and impressive narrow gauge mainly scratchbuilt locomotives This scratchbuilt NG-G16 Garratt is one of 3 that Ian has in the Roestok stock roster. The other two were adapted and improved from Backwoods Kits, and each of the 3 NG-G16 locos displays different detail variations. An attractive railcar, built by Wessex NG Modeller, Graham Lindley, pauses in the loop at Roestok Another example of a member's model posed on somebody else's layout - this absolutely superb little Corris Railway loco and train visiting Roestok is the work of SWOONS member, Rod Allcock This intricately detailed little 0-4-0VB de Winton loco that visited Roestok and spent some time running up and down the station loop line was built by West Midlands Group member, Peter Smith. The tiny 009 model even has working valve gear actuated by cams and slip rings on the axles, which is no mean feat on a de Winton! Innovative Imagineering or Fevered Imagination? Dave Phillips is very well known by both 009 Society members and Paul Windle for the large collection of very original locomotive ideas that Dave keeps getting Paul to produce under special order arrangements. As Dave's 009 layout is a freelance Argentinian railway a wag (no names no pack drill...) decided that this narrow gauge 4-8-4 locomotive, clearly inspired by Bulleid's Southern Railway I loved the Corned Beef 4-8-4, but this ancient Prolific continental modeller Blair Hobson poses with his HOm (12mm gauge) German layout, Pferdweise Pferdweise, Blair Hobson's HOm German layout, was advertised for sale at the show, I hope it found a good home and that we all get an opportunity to see this attractive little layout again in the future. Pferdweise is another double sided layout, this diesel hauled train pausing at the station of Pferdhugel on one side of the layout. Pferdweise is a compact U shaped layout with the added feature of a T shaped fiddle yard at the Another overall shot of Blair Hobson's HOm Pferdweise, showing the compact nature of this attractive little layout. John Walker is a prolific modeller from the West Midlands Group and brought along a new 009 layout An attractive Double Fairlie locomotive on John Walker's 009 Castle House layout The reason for the unusual name of John Walker's new 009 layout. Castle House features a stone circular castle keep wall, a railway line entering the keep though a gate, and a private house built inside the stone circle of the castle keep. A view of Castle House from a different angle. Note the scratchbuilt railcar in the foreground. An overall view of John Walker's 009 layout: Castle House Geoff Harper, seen here talking to 009 Society founder member, Mike Higgins, is a regular attender at shows with Shirley and one of his several exhibition layouts. On this occastion he brought his HOe layout: Ziller Valley Unfortunately Geoff showed the layout with one of those annoying anti-photographer's perspex screens, so whilst the layout remained safe and protected from sticky fingers, it proved very difficult to obtain good quality photos. I can only say I tried my best in the limited time available to me..... A steam excursion rounds the bend on the station approaches in the Ziller Valley, HOe by Geoff & Shirley Harper Ziller Valley in HOe by Geoff & Shirley Harper Dave Lowe from the Northampton Group brought his very attractive Welsh layout, Porthladd. An early morning passenger train in the care of a large Hunslet Penrhyn style loco, pauses at Porthladd. Dave has some very interesting items of 009 stock on his attractive Welsh layout, Porthladd. This train is hauled by a fairly rare Joe Works 0-4-0ST An early cabless version of the well known Festiniog Welsh Pony type of England saddle tank loco on Dave Lowe's atrractive 009 layout, Porthladd. Finally, although the 009 Society do not run actual competitions at shows, retiring Chairman David Burleigh could not resist the opportunity to have just one

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]]> Sat Aug 16 2008 NG South - Sparsholt College, Winchester, 29 March 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1497704.html The 009 Society AGM and the biennial NG South, organised and hosted by the Wessex NG Modellers, was this year the biggest NGS ever and possibly the largest specialist one-day NG modelling event there has ever been (so far). With it being predominately an 009 event, naturally the smaller scales were in the majority, but there were still 9 larger scale layouts, mainly 7mm, not including the additional ones provided by traders. In the 3½ and 4mm scale families there were no less than 27 layouts! OK, "biggest" is not always "best", but the general feedback certainly indicated that the popular feeling was that Sparsholt this year was indeed "best" - many of the layouts were classics in their own right and have appeared at other shows individually as "the star layout" - to have so many coralled together at once was absolutely fantastic. In addition and to provide variety there were also many layouts on show for the first time, some of which such as John Thorne's new Purbeck are surely destined to become highly sought after by exhibition managers seeking crowd-pulling attractions in the future. A great day and special thanks to the Wessex NGM Committee, in particular the show organiser, Howard Coulson, for laying on such a marvellous opportunity to gather together some of the most popular NG layouts that exist, all under one roof at the same time. Obviously with a show this big and only a few hours available to get round, some compromises have to be taken and in my case it was one of abandoning the tripod and remote shutter cable and rushing around taking opportunistic snaps of as much as I could. Consequently some of the photos are not "my best results" but I decided that on this occasion, quantity would be better than attempts at quality, so here is my selection of over 100 snaps in a quest to try to show a selection of as many of the layouts that attended as possible. I hope you enjoy them! Saturday 29 March 2008: The 009 Society AGM and the biennial NG South, organised and hosted by the Wessex NG Modellers, was this year the biggest NGS ever and possibly the largest specialist one-day NG modelling event there has ever been (so far). With it being predominately an 009 event, naturally the smaller scales were in the majority, but there were still 9 larger scale layouts, mainly 7mm, not including the additional ones provided by traders. In the 3_ and 4mm scale families there were no less than 27 layouts! OK, "biggest" is not always "best", but the general feedback certainly indicated that the popular feeling was that Sparsholt this year was indeed "best" - many of the layouts were classics in their own right and have appeared at other shows individually as "the star layout" - to have so many coralled together at once was absolutely fantastic. In addition and to provide variety there were also many layouts on show for the first time, some of which such as John Thorne's new Purbeck are surely destined to become highly sought after by exhibition managers seeking crowd-pulling attractions in the future. A great day and special thanks to the Wessex NGM Committee, in particular the show organiser, Howard Coulson, for laying on such a marvellous opportunity to gather together some of the most popular NG layouts that exist, all under one roof at the same time. Obviously with a show this big and only a few hours available to get round, some compromises have to be taken and in my case it was one of abandoning the tripod and remote shutter cable and rushing around taking opportunistic snaps of as much as I could. Consequently some of the photos are not "my best results" but I decided that on this occasion, quantity would be better than attempts at quality, so here is my selection of over 100 snaps in a quest to try to show a selection of as many of the layouts that attended as possible. I hope you enjoy them!

Brian Guilmant's famous 009 Society Member's Sales filled one of the classrooms and was under siege all day. This view was taken just a few minutes after the show opened. The 7mm NGA attended Sparsholt in some strength for the first time and filled another classroom with a good selection of 7mm layouts and trade stands. This view shows the Association sales stand, which was just as busy as the 009 one when the show warmed up! A good variety of 009 models on show in the Society display cabinet. (I grabbed the top shelf for my own stock, but eagle-eyed viewers will be able to spot one of Charlie Insley's railcars amongst my own!) The North London (Buccabury) and Tyne-Tees Groups of the 009 Society have awarded a new trophy to be awarded annually in commemoration of the late Paul Morris, a member of both groups, who passed away last year. The popular recipient of the inaugral award was Phil Savage of the Sussex Downs 009 Group for his layout The Paul Morris Trophy, awarded jointly by the North London (Buccabury) and Tyne-Tees Groups of the 009 Society. And this is Tuppenny Handley by Phil Savage! The A more conventional award was the Certificate of Merit awarded to Charlie Insley for this very attractive Dr Alan Gee brought the very popular 00n3 Donegal for an outing to Hampshire all the way from its home in Halifax. A CDRJC class 5 2-6-4T on the turntable at Donegal. Phoenix shunts at Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal Railcar 10 backing onto a van at Donegal, Alan Gee's popular 00n3 layout. A view across the loco shed at Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal. A visiting loco from the Cork, Blackrock & Passage Rly sits in the bay platform. The Wimborne RS, who own the large modular 009 Tarrant Valley, showed their other large layout - the 0-16.5 Gretton & Wenlock The canal wharf, an atmospheric scene on the 0-16.5 Gretton & Wenlock, by the Wimborne Railway Society. Gretton & Wenlock, 0-16.5 layout by the Wimborne RS Trains cross on the Gretton & Wenlock layout by the Wimborne RS in 0-16.5 Simon Coward has built a new extended module of his Isle of Mudd 009 layout called Port Elizabeth. Simon Coward's Isle of Mudd features the larger end of the 009 spectrum with large colonial diesels providing the bulk of the motive power. This American GEC 36 tonner is a good example. Whoever told you that DCC means simple two-wire connection should be made to study this photo of the underside of one of Simon Coward's Isle of Mudd baseboards! Patrick Collins with his tiny but very professionally presented Wintoncester Waterworks A regrettably slightly blurred view of Patrick Collins' attractive 009 Wintoncester Waterworks 009 News Editor Mark Howe with his Austrian HOe Bad Heidrichstein A scene across Bad Heidrichstein station area. HOe in Austria by Mark Howe A very attractive modification of the Dapol Drewry diesel loco on Mark Howe's HOe Bad Heidrichstein. What a pleasant way to spend a summer afternoon in the Austrian Tyrol! Fresh air, bier steins kept full by the serving mades and a rousing oompah band! Bad Heidrichstein by Mark Howe in HOe John Reid's 009 Cornish mining scene in 009, Wheal Kate. Wheal Kate, Cornish mine in 009 by John Read Phil Savage of the Sussex Downs 009 Group discusses a point of detail with John Perret about his working incline on the 009 Mendips (Somerset) mining scene, the Benter Railway. The incline at Moorewood Colliery on John Perret's 009 Benter Railway. I have a baseboard joint on my own layout that looks similar! It was a pleasure to see Chris O'Donoghue's classic 009 layout Nottery Quay, a layout that has been exhibited for some 20 years, but does not come out so often nowadays Nottery Quay by Chris O'Donoghue is still a highly inspirational 009 layout after some 20 years of exhibition appearances. The Graham Ive and John Griffith of the Fareham MRC showed their very popular 09 Watt Estate, a Heywood style estate railway that many of us would have serving our mansions should we win the lottery! Well I would anyway! A very nice Ransom & Rapier vintage ic loco, based on a 2ft gauge example at Amberley, passes through the yard at Watt Estate. 09 by Graham Ive and Ian Griffith of Fareham MRC Mark Holland's 009 Temark Valley, representing the Sussex Downs 009 Group, was a very popular layout throughout the show. A busy and attractive scene at Mark Holland's 009 Temark Valley. Spotted at Nigel Lawton's 009 trade stand. Those that have been searching for tiny industrial stock in 009 for many years have had their prayers answered by Nigel with his brass kits featuring an innovative power and drive system. Willie Smith operates Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine, an 009 layout a long way from home, representing the Tyne-Tees Group of the 009 Society. Peter Hogarth's Gilderdale Mine is one of the most photogenic 009 layouts on the exhibition circuit, as can be seen in this view. An unusual method of presentation by Martin Moss with his 009 Threwntygetthyr. The Threwntgetthyr by Martin Moss represents the lighter hearted side of 009 modelling. This train, hauled by an attractive The North London Group brought their well known and popular 009 layout Buccabury Town A scene across the station yard at Buccabury Town, 009 by the North London Group. John Gilby and Andrew Hall operating Buccabury Town. P&L Spiegelhalter brought their G scale Brucksbahnen, drive it yourself shunting puzzle, which provided in innovative exhibit for those who like to Howard Martin with his Avalon Lines 7mm scale stand. Howard is Chairman of the 7mm NGA Howard Martin's 7mm scale Tor Farm is a triple gauge (16.5, 9 and 6.5mm) working diorama that shows his Avalon Lines range of resin kits to good effect. Always co-located with Howard Martin at shows is Steve Bennett with his 09 Black Dog and Gn15 (plus Gn9 Sidelines now!) Big Cat range of resin kits. Steve Bennett's very attractive Gn15 demonstration layout. Mike Reed with Hatch End, a good example of a small 0-16.5 layout.

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]]> Sat Mar 29 2008 Narrow Gauge South West, Shepton Mallet 16 February 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1466610.html The 15th Small & Delightful Group's super narrow gauge modelling event once again got the mainstream shows kick-started into another season with another huge variety of all that is best in narrow gauge modelling between 2 and 16mm scales, with something of nearly everything in between included. The usual successful recipe was followed - Flo and Maggie's famous bistro, nearly all the specialist traders in the narrow gauge sector of the hobby, full sales stands from both the 009 and the 7mm NGA and 26 top quality layouts in all the scales. The well-known and established friendly and informal atmosphere prevailed throughout the day as narrow gauge modellers came from all points of the compass to brush off the winter cobwebs, renew acquaintances and generally enjoy the day. Well over 500 through the door before lunch and I must admit, it was a bit crowded at times during the morning, and the infamous Shepton Mallet sunbeams came through the south facing main hall glass wall to provide the usual challenge to photography. A great day however and a superb way of getting us all prepared for an even bigger show this year, at NG South in late March - don't miss it! Saturday 16 February 2008: The 15th Small & Delightful Group's super narrow gauge modelling event once again got the mainstream shows kick-started into another season with another huge variety of all that is best in narrow gauge modelling between 2 and 16mm scales, with something of nearly everything in between included. The usual successful recipe was followed - Flo and Maggie's famous bistro, nearly all the specialist traders in the narrow gauge sector of the hobby, full sales stands from both the 009 and the 7mm NGA and 26 top quality layouts in all the scales. The well-known and established friendly and informal atmosphere prevailed throughout the day as narrow gauge modellers came from all points of the compass to brush off the winter cobwebs, renew acquaintances and generally enjoy the day. Well over 500 through the door before lunch and I must admit, it was a bit crowded at times during the morning, and the infamous Shepton Mallet sunbeams came through the south facing main hall glass wall to provide the usual challenge to photography. A great day however and a superb way of getting us all prepared for an even bigger show this year, at NG South in late March - don't miss it!

The main hall from the treacherous staircase leading down from the upper hall and dining area The crowded scene in the upper hall shortly after opening. Maggie and Flo's famous bistro is already under siege! The 7mm NGA was present at one end of the main hall with their publicity and sales stand Whilst at the other end of the hall the 009 Society Sales swung into full activity This little diorama by Francis Stapleton featured on the 5.5mm Scale Association stand The main display of the 5.5mm Scale Association was Bronaber Sidings, a dual gauge (12mm and 16.5mm) 2ft/3ft gauge diorama, hosted by well-known names in the hobby: Mike Chinery and Malcolm Savage Steve Bennett's well known Gn15 display layout: Big Cat Mine enjoys a rare moment without crowds in front of it (because this photo was taken an hour before opening to the public!) Howard Martin's triple-gauge 7mm scale demonstration layout: Tor Farm The G Scale Society exhibited their minimum space layout Entwhistle Green, to show that even in G scale, a tiny layout can be successfully built. At the other end of the spectrum was a truly tiny layout in Nn3 (6.5mm gauge, 2mm scale), The Exmoor Treacle Mining Company, by Charles Wright. A full layout complete with continuous run and a spiral in a briefcase! Graham Gatehouse showed his well known 0-16.5/0-14 layout: The Door with a A scene on Graham Gatehouse's 0-16.5 and 0-14 quarry layout: The Door The Door, 0-16.5/0-14 by Graham Gatehouse An original Wrightlines de Winton vertical boiler loco on Graham Gatehouse's 0-16.5/0-14 layout: The Door Bramble Bottom, a 10mm scale 16.5mm gauge narrow gauge fantasy in all its glory - this layout was very well patronised by the mums and kids throughout the day. A closer look at Bev Rawlins' 10mm scale Bramble Bottom Peter Leadley came down from Hull to show his very popular 009 layout on an ironing board: Briding Noora First sighting of this show of the Mull & Iona directors on their world record traversal of 009 layouts using my inspection railcar. Ian Drummond, from Leeds, has taken a temporary break from his 009 Waterhulme, to give his new 0n30 layout: Blackhawk House, still under construction, its first public showing. A very nice Denver & Rio Grande Blackhawk House, a Colorado 0n30 layout by Ian Drummond Nettlecombe, John & Jane Jacobs' fabulous piece of modelling in 009, before the doors opened to the public and the only time during the day that it did not have crowds in front of it And this is why Nettlecombe attracts the crowds. This little animated scene is typical of many others to be found throughout the layout. Although I took a bit of time tidying this photo up, I was really pleased with the result, and I am pleased to report that John also approved! The village church is a fitting tribute to Jane's scratchbuilding skills Past 009 News Editor Simon Coward (left) with his new Port Elizabeth module to the Isle of Mudd, chats to current 009 News Editor, Mark Howe (right) An atmospheric view of the station loop on Simon Coward's DCC-equipped 009 layout: Isle of Mudd Simon Coward's 009 Isle of Mudd is not exclusively large diesel-powered. Here is a Paul Windle-built Hunslet-Heisler. Tim Tincknell revealed his splendid little 0-9 layout: Specialist Mining Co. at the MOMING meeting at Pewsey in August 2007. It proved extremely popular and it was a pleasure to meet up with the layout again at NG SouthWest. A brief glimpse of Tim Tincknell's 0-9 Specialist Mining Co. showing that he has added a new yellow industrial diesel since we first met this attractive little layout in the earlier MOMING Pewsey photo collection in this gallery Bad Heidrechstein, Mark Howe's Austrian HOe tourist railway Mark Howe's Bad Heidrechstein, HOe A highly detailed and attractive Wismar railcar by Bemo on Mark Howe's HOe Bad Heidrechstein Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal, which has become one of the most popular layouts on the exhibition circuit over the past year or so. A Class 4 Baltic tank loco shunts on Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal CDR tractor Phoenix prepares a train at Donegal, by Alan Gee in 00n3 A comparison between two tiny railcars at Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal. On the left is the Tralee & Dingle inspection railcar and on the right is the pioneering County Donegal railcar number 1. Both were built with the aid of Worsley Works etched brass body components. A class 5A 2-6-4T arrives at Alan Gee's 00n3 Donegal station with a passenger service. A busy scene at Donegal, Alan Gee's popular 00n3 Irish layout. Andy Cundick has just completed this superb 4mm scale model of the very rare Castlederg & Victoria Bridge Tramway Fordson paraffin engine powered railcar. A passenger train hauled by a 2-8-2 Kitson locomotive at Stan Williams & Roger Christian's Rothampton. This layout was originally built by Paul Windle for his Roth Valley railway and featured in Railway Modeller in that guise. The same train as the previous photo has now arrived at Rothampton station. In the background is a Nasmyth Wilson 2-8-0 tender loco, built by Paul Windle Roger Christian's 009 Paul Windle A Backwoods Fowler diesel at Stan Williams and Roger Christian's 009 Rothampton There's the Mull & Iona directors on their world tour again! Another classic layout ticked off! Nancledre Harbour, an imaginative and attractive 0-16.5 layout by the Warley MRC A scene on the Warley MRC's 0-16.5 Nancledre Harbour The Warmington-on-Sea Home Guard Platoon have taken the train to Nancledre Harbour for their summer training camp in Cornwall. A busy scene at Nancledre Harbour, 0-16.5 by the Warley MRC Chris Perkins exhibited Threlkeld Quarry, an animated diorama with working features in 0-14. The Ruston-Bucyrus excavator at work at Chris Perkins' 0-14 Threlkeld Quarry

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]]> Sat Feb 16 2008 Beds & Bucks Area Group, 009 Society Open Day, Barton Le Clay, 20 January 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1464486.html The second area group narrow gauge event of the year, a week after the SWOONS event, and this one followed the same successful formula - an excellently equipped village hall, a splendid array of refreshments provided by the hard working support ladies, Brian Guilmant and his team with the 009 Society Sales and this time 7 excellent narrow gauge layouts which covered the full spectrum in 009 - vintage 009 with Varikits and Jouef Decauville locos with Talybont Junction, fully up-to-date DCC-equipped locos on the Isle of Mudd, heritage 009 in the form of Upton Dale which featured in Railway Modeller and the late lamented Model Railway Constructor in the 1980's, a current "celebrity" layout straight from a recent appearance in Railway Modeller in the form of the Whitsend Tramway, and exquisite little industrial locos on the Holbeach Estate Railway. All in all it was an outstanding day out, well worth the trouble taken to get there and all of the 90 or so narrow gauge enthusiasts who made the effort, some travelling considerable distances, (only 130 miles each way for me - almost a "home event"!), enjoyed yet another warm, friendly and informal narrow gauge modelling experience. Sunday 20 January 2008: The second area group narrow gauge event of the year, a week after the SWOONS event, and this one followed the same successful formula - an excellently equipped village hall, a splendid array of refreshments provided by the hard working support ladies, Brian Guilmant and his team with the 009 Society Sales and this time 7 excellent narrow gauge layouts which covered the full spectrum in 009 - vintage 009 with Varikits and Jouef Decauville locos with Talybont Junction, fully up-to-date DCC-equipped locos on the Isle of Mudd, heritage 009 in the form of Upton Dale which featured in Railway Modeller and the late lamented Model Railway Constructor in the 1980's, a current "celebrity" layout straight from a recent appearance in Railway Modeller in the form of the Whitsend Tramway, and exquisite little industrial locos on the Holbeach Estate Railway. All in all it was an outstanding day out, well worth the trouble taken to get there and all of the 90 or so narrow gauge enthusiasts who made the effort, some travelling considerable distances, (only 130 miles each way for me - almost a "home event"!), enjoyed yet another warm, friendly and informal narrow gauge modelling experience.

An essential for a small show of this type is a well-equipped and spacious venue. Barton Le Clay village hall met all the requirements! The world-famous 009 Sales Stand, as seen by those who arrive after the initial opening surge! A very neat display of WD Light Railway models in 4mm scale by Nick Percival Brian Key showed his under-construction Brinscott Viaduct, which when completed will form a very impressive addition to his Lynton & Barnstaple layout, Ilfracombe East. John Mudd of the Northampton NG Modellers looks on. And here is a close up of a typical L&BR passenger train on Brinscott Viaduct. It will be a winner when it is finished! Paul Windle, just in shot, admires Upton Dale, a classic L&BR layout that was built some years ago by the Chester MRC and featured in the model railway press in the 1980's. The passing loop in the station is longer than Paul's complete layout. Note the box of tissues ready in case Paul becomes overcome with emotion. Upton Dale, originally built by the Chester MRC and now owned by Eugene Thomas. Upton Dale. A nice photo of a very well made Great Western interloper on Southern metals! A Vale of Rheidol train hurries through Upton Dale before anyone can notice this dastardly trespass! Mike Higgins, a founder member of the 009 Society, with his latest small layout, Stanton Lacy. This is the third layout by Mike Higgins that I have seen exhibited within the past 9 months. A charming Beyer Peacock tram locomotive, ex-Clogher Valley, on shed at Mike Higgins' Stanton Lacy. Stanton Lacy, with an attractive little diesel built onto the economical and popular Bachman 6wh N gauge chassis Spot the origins of this train! The scratchbuilt loco body sits on a Bachman Prairie chassis, whilst the attractive bogie coach started off as two of the old, but fondly remembered Eggerbahn 4-wheel balcony coaches The Holbeach Estate Railway is Stephen Sullivan's first 009 layout for over 20 years and he has done remarkably well to have reached this state of completion in his limited spare time in only 5 months. The railway depicts an industrial system serving the Lincolnshire potato fields and features a large variety of exquisite and tiny internal combustion locos, some of which feature on following photos. This charming and unusual little internal combustion powered loco is a Japanese Joe Works inspection car. Note the very realistic scenic work showing the potato furrows. A tiny Orenstein & Koppel loco, by Nigel Lawton, passes lines of ex-WDLR stock The Chivers Pitkin freelance diesel passes some WD Light Railways stock. The superbly modelled potato fields are shown to advantage in this view. This tiny engine, just over an inch long, was built by Japanese 009 Society member: Yoshiya Kobayashi The O&K diesel loco pauses at a drainage culvert. Note the very realistically modelled grass in this photo. More very realistic Lincolnshire scenery When I first posted this photo, I did not know anything about the American style diesel loco. Stephen Sullivan, the builder of this layout, has now advised that it is made from a Chivers Pitkin freelance kit A Hunslet with an equally fascinating load of a bogie tanker From tiny industrial diesels to large mainline ones at Simon Coward's DCC-equipped Isle of Mudd Two impressively large trains cross at the main station on the Isle of Mudd, Port Elizabeth Another large diesel, this time by Bemo at Port Elizabeth station. This Isle of Mudd passenger train is headed by a 36-tonner American GEC diesel. The Isle of Mudd loco stock is not (quite) exclusively large mainline diesels, this Hunslet-Heisler provides a token steam presence on the system The Mull & Iona Directors, on an inspection tour of the Isle of Mudd using their own railcar, will not be too pleased to be held in the station loop whilst the Drewry-hauled freight train is given the right of way. Garry Whiting has recently bought this strange and exotic little Japanese loco and is hoping somebody can identify both the model and the prototype. Any takers? Note the strange spindly chimney (or is it the exhaust?) that is offset from the centre-line A rather different loco displayed by Garry Whiting is his latest Paul Windle handbuilt special order loco. this Kitson-Meyer uses two Fleischman 0-4-0 N gauge chassis. Talybont Junction by the Amersham & Chorleywood MRS was a refreshing journey back in time to the fun days of the dawn of 009 modelling, with a very nice layout full of Jouef/Playcraft Decauville locos, Gem Varikits, Eggerbahn and Liliput. Oh happy days! A vintage Jouef/Playcraft Decauville loco at Talybont Junction. Vintage 009! A Minitrix dock tank powered Gem Varikit loco hauls a train of Eggerbahn tram coaches. Talybont Junction, exhibited by the Amersham and Chorleywood MRS. A Roco diesel in the quarry at Talybont Junction. A charming Egger More vintage 009 stock on show at the Amersham & Chorleywood MRS's Talybont Junction Talybont Junction Talybont Junction. A journey back to the 1970's modelling style of 009 and very attractive and refreshing it was too! A stripped down Jouef Decauville in the quarry at Talybont Junction. Before scale kits came into the 009 market, this was about as close as one could get to a Quarry Hunslet unless you scratchbuilt one (see the late David Mander's model at Treacle Bolly in the previous SWOONS report) Another Jouef Decauville loco, this time with some modifications to partically Anglicise it, at Talybont Junction, with a train of Egger Bavarian clerestory coaches. Graham and Caroline Watling with their highly attractive and very detailed Whitsend, featured recently in Railway Modeller magazine. Whilst Whitsend is quite a large layout, the railway is but a part of the overall scene and passes unobtrusively along the front of the town. Here is the tiny passing station. The station has been built from the well-known Wills corrugated iron chapel. It has produced a very effective looking light railway structure. This view shows the rear, not normally seen by the viewing public The Whitsend engine shed, with a very busy road garage in the background. The waterfront at Whitsend Fishing vessels moored in the basin at Whitsend Tram loco Lorna crossing a very muddy looking stream at Whitsend. Graham Watling converted the coach from an old 4 wheel HO scale Kleinbahn model

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]]> Sun Jan 20 2008 SWOONS Members Open Day, Ilton, Somerset, 12 January 2008 http://mickthornton.fotopic.net/c1462860.html The South West Area Group of the 009 Society (SWOONS) held their 2nd Members Open Day at a new venue, Ilton Village Hall and what a splendid way this was to brush off the winter blues and meet up with the 80 or so like-minded narrow gauge modelling fraternity who braved the floods to visit this ideal location for another of the small informal and friendly events that are rapidly becoming a hallmark of the 009 Society. 8 layouts provided by SWOONS members and friends, a splendid buffet service run by the SWOONS chapter of the Train Widows Society and the world famous travelling 009 Society Sales courtesy of Brian Guilmant. What more could a narrow gauge modeller want on a damp winter Saturday........ A very successful day, courtesy of the well organised and hard-working Group and my roving reporter radar has picked up that the hall has already been booked for "same time, same place" in 2009. Hope to meet lots of you there! Saturday 12 January 2008: The South West Area Group of the 009 Society (SWOONS) held their 2nd Members Open Day at a new venue, Ilton Village Hall and what a splendid way this was to brush off the winter blues and meet up with the 80 or so like-minded narrow gauge modelling fraternity who braved the floods to visit this ideal location for another of the small informal and friendly events that are rapidly becoming a hallmark of the 009 Society. 8 layouts provided by SWOONS members and friends, a splendid buffet service run by the SWOONS chapter of the Train Widows Society and the world famous travelling 009 Society Sales courtesy of Brian Guilmant. What more could a narrow gauge modeller want on a damp winter Saturday........ A very successful day, courtesy of the well organised and hard-working Group and my roving reporter radar has picked up that the hall has already been booked for "same time, same place" in 2009. Hope to meet lots of you there!

The aladdin's cave that is the 009 Society Sales took up the whole of one side of the hall and goods were exchanged for coinage of the realm throughout the day! Andrew Burnham, Editor of Continental Modeller, comes out of the closet and reveals his BRITISH 009 layout, Treacle Bolly! A very nice Chivers Tralee & Dingle Hunslet body kit that has been successfully joined to a Grafar 4MT chassis, which suits it very well. Although the Chivers Hunslet kit is actually HO scale, it matches the Lynton & Barnstaple style 009 rolling stock of Treacle Bolly without clashing. Andrew Burnham's shortened Lynton & Barnstaple Manning Wardle, converted from a Stenning kit, at Treacle Bolly The The A piece of genuine 009 history. This Hunslet quarry loco was scratchbuilt by the late David Mander, years before any kits of locomotives as small as this could be obtained. Foxcombe Colliery, a small 009 layout by Phil Farr-Cox Motive power variety at Foxcombe Colliery This Peco Jeanette, spotted at Phil Farr-Cox's Foxcombe Colliery, stands out because of the exquisite quality of the modern Minitrix chassis that it uses. An innovative little rail-lorry at Foxcombe Colliery, economically built using a cut-down Kato tram chassis and parts from an Airfix Austin K6 (RAF Emergency Set) Brian Golding, who moved to the area a year previously, showed his under-construction L&B layout, Woody Bay, which will be DCC equipped when completed. Photography of Brian Golding's Woody Bay was difficult due to the strong sunlight coming through the window that the layout was next to, but I persevered and obtained this reasonable shot of a typical L&B train. Another shot that would have benefitted from a little less natural sunlight contrast, but nevertheless, a very attractive little NG train. A beautifully scratchbuilt model of Woody Bay station that is the centrepiece of Brian Golding's developing layout. Chas May showed his very attractive little Cornish 00 layout Trevellyn Bridge. Not narrow gauge? Well it is 4ft 1½in gauge, that's narrow isn't it? And Chas did join in the spirit of the day by including a Roco diesel flat wagon load Geoff Broadhurst with his brewery 009 layout, Waine's Yard An attractive little diesel, from the Mocalova resin kit on a Bachman chassis, at Waine's Yard An impressive brewery has been constructed at Waine's Yard by Geoff Broadhurst, utilising the well-known and popular Metcalfe card kits. An attractive diesel loco that has been constructed very simply from the (overscale) N Gauge Lima 4wh diesel and a heightened cab. This N gauge loco, from the 1970's era, still turns up frequently on the 009 Sales Stand and can provide a very effective and economical 009 locomotive. An up to date approach to 009 industrial diesel stock has been taken by Rod Allcock, who brought this exquisite little loco manufactured by Nigel Lawton Keith Dyer discusses his 009 Ottermouth Wharf with Wessex NGM member, Graham Lindley Keith Dyer's Ottermouth Wharf is a simple, yet effective terminus to fiddle yard layout that was actually posted as being for sale on the day. I hope it went to a good home! Ottermouth Wharf - Keith Dyer, 009 Another view of Ottermouth Wharf - 009 by Keith Dyer Mike and Barbara Hutchinson travelled from Exeter to show their original and unusual little layout, Myndseye - 009 again. Myndseye is an unusual layout as it features a Mike Hutchinson's 009 Myndseye is notable as a platform to display his large and imaginative collection of railcars, many of them being quite exotic, such as this very unusual conversion from the well known KeilKraft London B type bus kit. Another unusual railcar from Mike Hutchinson, this one uses a An effectively produced NG railcar using about three quarters of the easily obtainable Dapol 00 Park Royal railbus body. This subject is becoming very popular recently and several 009 layouts on the exhibition circuit sport versions of this. A very unusual and continental styled unit made up from an Airfix Thorneycroft RAF crane tender (RAF Recovery Set) and a trailer from an unknown tram kit. This railcar, bashed from a Dundas Welsh Highland coach and front-end parts from an Airfix Austin K2 ambulance was an entrant in the 009 Society AGM A very Gallic powered van pauses at Myndseye station. I'm not sure what chassis this one runs on, perhaps Mike Hutchinson could write up a description for 009 News? More conventional 009 stock at Mike Hutchinson's Myndseye in the form of this neat conversion of the Knightwing plastic diesel kit. Just to show that not all his stock consists of diesels and railcars, Mike Hutchinson ran this little vintage steam train up the bank above Myndseye. I don't think anyone will disagree that the best presented and exquisitely made layout at the show was William Loyd's new Sn3 layout Oro Grande Railroad. Sn3 equals 1/64 scale on 14.2mm gauge track. If you insist on making things difficult for yourself then this seems to be the ideal scale, although I understand that there is a reasonable trade support in the USA. This view shows virtually the whole of the Oro Grande Railroad, Sn3 by William Loyd. A saddle tank loco (Baldwin?) at Oro Grande. William Loyd's superb little Sn3 animated diorama. A really exotic vertical boiler locomotive at Oro Grande. The wooden engine house (if I have the transatlantic terminology correct?) provides a splendid centrepiece at William Loyd's Sn3 Oro Grande A tiny Porter saddle tank loco at Oro Grande The station (or is it The Depot (Deepo)) at Oro Grande. A little layout such as this in S scale provides a very good platform to show off some1/64 scale vehicles. Main feature at William Loyd's Sn3 Oro Grande was this working model grabline - again I apologise if I have got the terminology wrong, I am sure someone will put me right! I understand that it was made from a Backwoods brass kit.

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