Once again Brian Guilmant rounded off a full programme of
narrow gauge modelling events in the year by organising a special little event
on behalf of both the Wessex NG Modellers and members of the 009 Society who
live within easy reach of the community hall near his home in Colehill, near
Wimborne in Dorset and who would like to bring their layouts along – as well as
some who came from further out including Bob Vaughan from Watford, Tom and Lyn Snook from Mere, and Jim and Lyn Owers who came over from the Isle of Wight. Around
100 enthusiasts arrived from all points including as far away as Yorkshire and
a sizeable contingent from the West Midlands .
A great day in an informal and friendly atmosphere for all who participated or
visited to enjoy with the added bonus of free guided tours to Brian’s fantastic
home layout thrown in as well!
Welcome!
COPYRIGHT: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH BEFORE CONTINUING!
All photos in this Blogspot and those accessed in Google Images via the links in each report are my Copyright and may be saved for personal use only. They may not be republished elsewhere without the written permission of the Copyright holder.
Hello and welcome to my twice reinstated and updated photo reports of visits to narrow gauge model railway layouts and events! Following the sudden and untimely cessation of Fotopic in March 2011 and with it the loss of my photo galleries, I started this blog in order to try to keep my "Roving Reports" available to those who enjoy viewing them. I have linked this blogsite to the old galleries which I originally rebuilt and posted in albums in Picasaweb. Once all the old reports had been rebuilt, I have continued to add completely new ones to cover my visits to events from April 2011 onwards.
All photos in this Blogspot and those accessed in Google Images via the links in each report are my Copyright and may be saved for personal use only. They may not be republished elsewhere without the written permission of the Copyright holder.
Hello and welcome to my twice reinstated and updated photo reports of visits to narrow gauge model railway layouts and events! Following the sudden and untimely cessation of Fotopic in March 2011 and with it the loss of my photo galleries, I started this blog in order to try to keep my "Roving Reports" available to those who enjoy viewing them. I have linked this blogsite to the old galleries which I originally rebuilt and posted in albums in Picasaweb. Once all the old reports had been rebuilt, I have continued to add completely new ones to cover my visits to events from April 2011 onwards.
In August 2016 Google blocked access to Picasaweb in order to force everyone to use their "much better" Google Images, so I had to do the whole exercise again. Thanks! .
Meanwhile......Because of the way this Blogspot works, the most recent postings appear first and the oldest ones last. Each report contains a link to the Google photo album plus captions for that report. The link will take you to the front page of the Google Album for this report. Left click on the first photo and it will open into a manually operated slideshow. A panel should open alongside the image on the right showing the number of the photo and the caption text. If it does not appear, click on the small white disk top right of the photo panel and it will open. Move forward or backwards by clicking the right or left arrows on your keyboard. When you have finished viewing, click the back arrow showing top left of the photo panel and this will take you back to the album opening page.
Meanwhile......Because of the way this Blogspot works, the most recent postings appear first and the oldest ones last. Each report contains a link to the Google photo album plus captions for that report. The link will take you to the front page of the Google Album for this report. Left click on the first photo and it will open into a manually operated slideshow. A panel should open alongside the image on the right showing the number of the photo and the caption text. If it does not appear, click on the small white disk top right of the photo panel and it will open. Move forward or backwards by clicking the right or left arrows on your keyboard. When you have finished viewing, click the back arrow showing top left of the photo panel and this will take you back to the album opening page.
Close it in the normal way by clicking on the "X" top right or click the return arrow top left of the Windows screen to return to the blog, depending on which browser you use. Once back in the blog, any report can be accessed sequentially from the blog by scrolling downwards and if required, click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of the list, or simply go to the Blog Archive on the right of the window and select any report by simply clicking on the title.
Monday 21 December 2015
22 November 2015, Northampton & District NG Modellers Open Day, Weedon Bec
As family matters precluded me being able to attend the 2013
Open Day, I was particularly looking forward to being able to get myself to
Weedon Bec, near Northampton ,
this year for the 6th Group Open Day and was certainly not
disappointed! Over 100 people paid at the door and there were no less than 17
layouts in various sizes and scales, excellent refreshments available all day
from the hard working team behind the counter and as ever, a very friendly,
informal and enjoyable day out amongst friends old and new from the narrow
gauge railway modelling world. This biennial event has certainly come a long
way since I attended the first one, on a very wet and miserable Friday evening
in a small scout hut in Northampton
10 years ago. Keep up the good work guys, looking forward to the 2017 event
with eager anticipation already!
Sunday 29 November 2015
31 October 2015, Expo Narrow Gauge, Swanley, Kent
The last weekend in October again, and this time
literally the last day and everyone who has Narrow Gauge railway modelling in
their blood who is able to is, or should be, on their way to Swanley in Kent
for the annual fest of all that is best in the hobby. ExpoNG is thought by some
to be a NG modelling trade show with a few layouts scattered between the
traders; well I counted 23 layouts and this didn’t include some that were on
trade stands, so I don’t think that charge holds any water nowadays, not this
year certainly! Once again, it was a fantastic day out amongst about 700 like
minded people and as far as I know everyone enjoyed themselves immensely, I
certainly did. Long distance award this year went to Yoshiya Kobayashi and
friends, who came all the way from Japan just to be there.
There was so much to see that I have had to split this report into 2 parts, as I did in both 2013 and 2014. More splendid layouts to see, in a variety of scales and a variety of sizes, plus an extended collection of photos of the largest layout at the show. The Sussex Downs Group Evaleight Light Railway was assembled in its entirety for what we have been told was positively the last appearance in this form. Modules of this layout will be seen at shows again, but not the whole railway as it takes such a lot of manpower, time and transport to get it from A to B, so I thought it totally appropriate to take a larger than usual number of photos to give a tour of the system as a souvenir of appreciation to the Sussex Downs Group for a layout that has entertained for many years.
There was so much to see that I have had to split this report into 2 parts, as I did in both 2013 and 2014. More splendid layouts to see, in a variety of scales and a variety of sizes, plus an extended collection of photos of the largest layout at the show. The Sussex Downs Group Evaleight Light Railway was assembled in its entirety for what we have been told was positively the last appearance in this form. Modules of this layout will be seen at shows again, but not the whole railway as it takes such a lot of manpower, time and transport to get it from A to B, so I thought it totally appropriate to take a larger than usual number of photos to give a tour of the system as a souvenir of appreciation to the Sussex Downs Group for a layout that has entertained for many years.
Saturday 24 October 2015
10 October 2015, M5/M50 NG Modellers Open Day, Corse & Staunton, Gloucestershire
I was especially pleased to be
able to get to the M5/M50 NG Modellers open day this year as I realised
checking my archives that it was back in 2012 since I last made it to this attractive
part of Gloucestershire. The group, with support from a large contingent from
the West Midlands Group, once again laid on an excellent show, with layouts in
a variety of scales, 009 Society Sales, Secondhand Sales and Modelling Goods
from the 7mm NGA, several traders, Shirley Harper’s craft stall for the ladies
and the Webb Family Catering Corps providing 5 star refreshments throughout the
day. In addition of course there was the friendly fellowship of like minded
enthusiasts, both exhibiting and visiting which make these events so good. A
very enjoyable day out and well worth the 200 mile round trip for me. Here’s my
selection of photos as a record of the event.
Tuesday 20 October 2015
12 September 2015 - Welsh Highland Great & Small II, Dinas
After 4 months of immobility as a result of breaking my
ankle, I was at last able to drive the car again, so to celebrate the return of
at least some mobility, my son and I headed up for a weekend in North Wales,
which coincidently was at the same time as the 2nd Welsh Highland
Great and Small weekend based on Dinas station. Outdoors there were all sorts
of attractions including footplate rides, slate wagon shunts and Victorian
train rides; whilst on the main line there were shuttle services between Dinas,
Caernarfon and Waunfawr as well as the Welsh Highland service trains. In the
goods shed and hidden around various other small rooms were 14 narrow gauge
layouts, mostly Ffestiniog or Welsh Highland themed, with 12 of the 14 being in
4mm scale. Great stuff and a great event! I made the journey home with
indelible memories and will certainly return to North
Wales sometime soon!
Tuesday 13 October 2015
06 June 2015 - A Visit to Statfold Barn
“Prepare to be amazed” warned fellow Wessex NG Modellers
member Patrick Collins, when he organised a group visit to Statfold Barn.
Understatement? I’ll say! Statfold Barn is literally a huge 1:1 scale narrow
gauge train set, put together and of course owned by Graham Lee near Tamworth in Staffordshire. Privately owned and only open
to the public on 3 special open day events in March, June and September each
year, I can honestly report that if you haven’t yet been, it is something that
you should put on your “bucket list” right now, and get yourself ready to not
only be amazed, but if you have any narrow gauge juices flowing at all, a visit
will, literally, blow you away! As I’ve been out of camera action and “absent” from
the blog for 4 months now, I thought this was as good an opportunity as any, to
celebrate my return to roving reporting!
Friday 5 June 2015
17 May 2015, Beds & Bucks NG Modellers Members Open Day, Barton Le Clay
For the 10th annual Beds & Bucks
NG Modellers Open Day. Mark Howe and his stalwart colleagues pulled out all the
stops and took the risk of moving the event from its traditional January date
to mid May. Did the gamble pay off? Well nearly 200 visitors plus around 50 or
so who participated in one way or another certainly thought so and as we have
all come to expect from this members day, it firmly re-established itself as
one of the premier events of its type and is most definitely one that is “not
to be missed”. I spotted modellers from as far away as Cumbria amongst the visiting enthusiasts (as
well as Keith Fainges and partner who planned their holiday from Australia to
coincide with the event). A great day out – superbly organised, great layouts,
outstanding 5 star refreshments service and Very Friendly. I’m looking forward
to next year already!
Monday 25 May 2015
18 April 2015, 009 Society AGM and NG Show, Rainford, St Helens
This year, Stan Williams and his team pulled out all the
stops! The unfortunate demise of Narrow Gauge North has resulted in the North
being left a little thin on the ground at the moment for specialist narrow
gauge modelling events, so Stan duly arranged for the use of the local Scout
hall, in addition to the Guide hall procured last time, to supplement the two
halls and corridor available in the original parish hall venue! Competing for space
with a bicycle racing event and a wedding on the same day certainly made for
interesting and colourful encounters on the short journey between the two sets
of halls, which added to the carnival atmosphere of a really great day out (an
18 hour day and 500 mile round trip in my own case) and another super narrow
gauge model event. Many thanks to all who were involved in organising the show.
Saturday 4 April 2015
28 March 2015, Sussex Downs 009 Group Open Day, Lancing
The Sussex Downs Group laid on their 5th biennial open day
in the 5th different location since the first in 2007 - and this year moved
away from the Haywards Heath area down to the coast at Lancing, to the very
well appointed and suitable for this type of event in Lancing Parish Hall. As
always, it was a very well organised event indeed on all counts including a 5
star refreshment service, with 9 layouts, mainly in 009 and 2 in 0-16.5 plus
trade support from Narrow Planet, Meridian Models, and the 009 Society Sales,
Star of the show was undoubtedly Ted Polet’s small layout Nixnie which he
brought all the way to Lancing from his home in Leiden in the Netherlands. I
had a splendidly enjoyable day in Sussex as did everyone present that
I spoke to. Very well done to the SDG team and see you in 2017 hopefully!
Sunday 25 January 2015
17 January 2015, SWOONS Members Open Day – Ilton, Somerset
2015 got itself off to the
now traditional great narrow gauge start to the year with the 9th
annual South West 009 Society’s (SWOONS) members open day in the Merryfield
Hall at Ilton, between Yeovil and Taunton in Somerset . If it ain’t
broke don’t fix it is the watchword and once again, Geoff Bowyer and his team
laid on a super friendly day and managed to shoehorn 10 layouts, 3 traders plus
the full 009 Society sales roadshow as well as Matthew and Maria Cicquel’s 5
star refreshments into a small village hall without somehow making it seem
cramped! Those who do travel from far and wide in some cases to be at Ilton in
January know that it is well worth the effort to get there and enjoy the
special non-elitist fellowship of narrow gauge modelling in a relaxed informal
and friendly environment. Kick yourself now if you didn’t go!
Friday 9 January 2015
08 January 2015 - New Year Roundup – 3 that nearly slipped through the net in 2014
Starting a new year, or finishing
off an old one, depending which angle you look at it from, a couple of layouts
and a visit to help launch a ready to run 009 loco that I didn’t manage to fit
into any of my 2014 reports, but too good to simply let them fade away. First
is a small selection of photos I took on a visit to Rod Allcock’s home in Devon
to take some photos of his newly released ready to run 009 diesel loco “Dirty Doris”,
which I can personally highly recommend as a super little model, then a flying
visit to the Fareham MRC exhibition on the 5 October where members of the host
club were exhibiting the splendid 09 estate railway Watt Estate and Patrick
Collins with a couple of fellow members of the Wessex NG Modellers had brought
Ryedown Lane to the show.
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