Report on Beckenham Vintage April 14^th 2012

 Our third Beckenham Vintage show truly was a Premier Vintage Toy Train event, with eight layouts all different and eight well known traders, plus the Clubs Shop and good quality catering the scene was set for success. Unlike last year when the bright weather was against us and there was a drop in the local family support, it was cold and thus more locals joined us.

The main layout attraction this year was Margate Mainline a large tinplate O-Gauge layout run by under the supervision of David Embling. This is four track ‘main line’ with continual running of both vintage Hornby, but also modern ‘tinplate’ ACE and Darstead products running on Middleton and repro Hornby Steel Track.

The oldest trains running were Mark Carne’s Bing Table Top which dates back to the immediate post World War One period and are the first proprietary HO trains.  This is a remarkable achievement on Mark’s part, firstly to have such a comprehensive collection and to have them running at all after 90 years. The accessories and buildings were not only comprehensive but all were present showing the different versions. For those interested in Railway Modelling history will recognise that much of Edward Beal’s early efforts were based (and dependant) on Bing Table Top and feature strongly in his books. Naturally at such age they have some ‘issues’ and Mark also kept things going with early Trix locos as well.

Hornby Dublo three rail and for the first time at Beckenham, Hornby Acho self standing layouts from the Chiltern Hills Group of the HRCA. Lead as usual by Derek Smith these layouts were as entertaining as ever and featured many of Derek’s Dublo Style creations built up from Hornby Dublo parts, incomplete and tatty items to create ‘Neverwazzas’ .  Fans of TV’s ‘Ello ‘Ello would feel at home with the Acho as it features ‘Nouvion’ complete with Rene’s Cafe, although Gruber’s ‘Little Tank’ had obviously been on the steroids and bloated somewhat looking remarkably like a Tiger Tank....

Paul Gumbrell brought his ‘Tinplate Line’ running everything in electric O-Gauge except Hornbym, well apart from Metropolitans with alternative mechs fitted. The smoke equipped MTH Duchess is always a great hit with the kids, but a strange product for a USA manufacture to have produced. I strongly suspect many are over here now via hand luggage..... The layout features a London Transport theme like the Met / GCR lines which goes some way to utilise the third rail track more prototypically. A great layout with a lot to see and four rains running.

Les Martin put together on his own an impressive and complex multilevel Triang Trans Continental layout chiefly utilised items and stock from the late ‘60’s  and ‘70’s. This is all the most remarkable for being a loose lay layout and built up on the tables in the hours before the exhibition opened to the public.

James Day ably assisted by Malcolm Pugh and Terry Penn, put together another of his fascinating loose lay layouts featuring both British outline HO trains and slot cars. There are a lot of complex electronics by John Rogers involved in this to manage the level crossings and stop (most) of the accidents between cars and trains. Again a remarkable effort as they only started building the layout on the morning of the show having travelled down from Midlands. James also provides controls so that the children can play trains, stopping and restarting under signal control at the stations. Consequently there is always a crowd around this layout as it is such a crowd pleaser. Although I understand that problem fixing can be a bit of a challenge, you ‘fix ‘something, but then it immediately stops again,  not because its wrong, but because the kid’s are controlling it!!

Andy Hyelman again brought a touch of continental trains with his East German manufactured TT trains including the ready to run scenic layout  built in the nationalised Stein furniture factory in Leipzig in May 1985 to a design dating back to the 1960s. It was bought from a shop in Dresden by a British army officer whose role was to count Russian tanks being transported out of East Germany; he bought it for his children together with one loco and a number of flat cars and toy tanks. Sadly his children weren't interested so it was sold on via various TCS nobilities until it came into my possession. The layout is in nearly original condition; although one of the houses has been replaced and there are some knocks and minor damage picked up over the years; the only real change is a second electric feed was added towards the rear to resolve a voltage drop. The original Piko GDR controller is still in use.

David Holmes from the Sussex Vintage Group brought his Bakelite era Trix layout, which always looks good and runs well. I particularly liked his Streamline Coronation. David makes plenty of changes in trains and every time I looked there was a different Trix combination running.

I will continue as far as possible to have at least eight very different layouts each year and definitely there will be a quirky one amongst them. Already I have promises of five layouts for 2013 including for the first time Gauge One. A Hornby M-Series, a HO Continental Roundhouse for overhead electrics. A 1950’s and 60’s Triang layout is a must, but this time from the earlier range as is a Dublo 3-Rail and The Chiltern hills Mob claim they have another one that I haven’t booked before!!.

The two Society Stands (HRCA and TCS) again were again popular and there always seemed to be people around them chatting. Although no new recruits were signed up this year they both distributed much information and are hopeful that new members will result.

Tony Penn

Video by Malcolm Pugh

Photos Tony Penn

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