Narrow Gauge South, Barton Peverill College Eastleigh, 27 April 2024

Once again it is time for the biennial Narrow Gauge South, The Wessex Narrow Gauge Modeller’s biennial event which originated with a show in Southampton in 1976 and has been held regularly ever since. By 1982 it had evolved into the large event that it has become and is now one of just two of the surviving big specialist shows in the UK, along with Narrow Gauge North, in Leeds, that are held regularly, since the demise of Expo NG and NG Southwest. This year’s event is the third time that it has been held in Eastleigh, in Barton Peveril College and the 100 or so enthusiasts who participated as layout exhibitors, traders, society/association publicity stands or in the host “team”, were joined by over 400 visitors. 

To quote part of Exhibition Manager Tim Couling’s welcome in the very comprehensive illustrated 21 page complimentary show guide (other exhibition and open day managers please note!): 

“A warm “Welcome Back!” and thank you once again for joining Wessex Narrow Gauge Modellers at this year’s Narrow Gauge South model railway exhibition.”

“Narrow Gauge South is the largest and longest running specialist narrow gauge railway exhibition in the UK and we are pleased to offer this showcase of “all things Narrow Gauge”once again here at Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh.”

At the time of writing this introduction, mid June 2024, the superb show guide is still accessible as a PDF document and can be found in the Wessex NGM and NG South website by clicking  HERE

A number of viewers of my reports have commented that reading through the captions and seeing the photos are likened to having an online visit to what an event was like, so in this report I have tried to keep this in mind by taking at least one photo of every one of the 50 stands that were present, so that all trade and society publicity stands have been included as well as all the layouts. Additionally I have kept them into their stand number sequence, from stand 1 through to 50 for the benefit of anyone who would like to follow the report in harness with the show guide. 

I apologise in advance to the culinary enthusiasts and critics that I haven’t included any photos of the breakfast or lunch that were available from the College restaurant – check out my NG South report for 2022 for images of both of these. Nothing has changed except the price has gone up and the plastic knife and fork has changed to a wooden knife (good) and a compressed paper type of fork (very, very bad – try sticking that into a rasher of bacon!). 

So, that’s enough of all that I think, let’s get on with the show and I do hope that you enjoy the visit to Narrow Gauge South 2024!

PART 1 features stands 1 to 19, including the following layouts

Stand:

5          Lynton & Barnstaple Modules 016.5                        Paul Steedman

10        Bryn y Felin 009                                                       Matthew Kean

12        Andeer H0m                                                             Julia & Derek Boswell

13        Green End 009                                                         David Gander

14        Newton Heath Works 0/016.2                                  Mike Baker

16        Surrey & Sussex Black Sheep Modules 0n30         Simon Cox

17        Ryedown Lane 009                                                  Patrick Collins

19        Kaninchenbau  H0e                                                 Iain Morrison

Click HERE to View the Photo Album for Part 1 of this Report

PART 2 features stands 20 to 30, including the following layouts:

Stand:

20        Little Himalayan Railwy 009                                       Giles Perkins

22        Kurseong  009                                                            John Crane

23        Tarrant Valley Railway 009                                         Stuart Webb

24        Wickhambreux Road 009                                           David Marshall

25        Portpyn  1:34                                                              Christopher Payne

27        Clearwater Harbor  0n30                                            Stephen Waterfield

28        Dinas Mawddwy  EM                                                  Andy Cundick

29        Tan y Llyn  009                                                           Steve Flay

Click HERE to View the Photo Album for Part 2 of this Report

PART 3 features Stands 31 to 50, including the following layouts:

Stand:

31        Sandy Shores  009                                                    Jamie Warne

33        Isle of Morella - 5.5mm Modular Group                     Steve Jones

34        Bowcombe Bridge 009                                               Nic Arthur

35        Tansey Bank & Hobbs Row Halt                                Bob Vaughan

37        Crossways Wagon Works 0 & 09                               John Cavell

38        Hawkridge 009                                                            Chris Mould

40        Castle Careinion 009                                                   Martyn Harrison

43        Gweithdy Dyffryn  014                                                 Derek Harris

45        East Quay  009                                                            John Niblett

46        Fintonagh  0n3 (21mm gauge)                                    David Holman

48        Cezanne  HOm                                                            Ian Pollock

49        Gemtø:  Ikkehavn  H0e                                               Richard Williams

Click HERE to View the Photo Album for Part 3 of this Report

That's it for this report - 200 photos this time, I hope you have enjoyed the visit to Narrow Gauge South, lots more reports to hopefully come before the next NGS in 2026!