Sandy TCS Exhibition 7^th July 2012

 Report and Photos by Bob Leggett
please click on images for larger photos

I arrived Friday evening via Kings Lynn (visiting an old Aunt in hospital!) and was a little late to set up completely. By the time I arrived at 8pm several layouts and traders were fully set up.

The show is always a popular event with collectors and I will describe the layouts and exhibits as a visitor would come to the show.

Outside George and Doreen Coles had set up a short length of track to run their excellent Minic Narrow Gauge Railway. They had on show a locomotive and Pullman coach.

picture by Ray Jones

At the entrance and it seem to me all day long was camera shy Amalia Ramsey and Claire, greeting new arrivals with a big smile

As one enters the foyer the Bachmann Collectors Club who kindly sponsor the show had a layout staff by members of Milton Keynes MRC running new Bachmann stock. Dennis Lovatt also had on display the prototypes of the new Blue Pullmans and the SR Parcels van. They are both splendid models and I am sure will do well when released.

Tony Stanford and Rod Hannah took turns to man the TCS stand.

Entering Hall1 The Chiltern Hills Vintage group were well represented with three excellent layouts.

Derek Smith was running the lovely Hornby Acho ‘Nouvion’ layout. The station really is a delightful building and as usual Derek had a few ‘strange‘ locos on the scene. An 8f had been converted to a continental pacific. A 2-car Railcar was weaving its way round when I was passing.

Dave Jarvis was organising the Hornby Dublo 2-rail ‘Oakley Park’ layout  with several Wrenn interlopers. With added scenery from Merit  and Crescent this had the feel of a 1958-1964 layout.

The third layout from the group was a Hornby Dublo 3-rail ‘Kings End’ layout  operated by John Brooker. This had stock from 1938-1964 and also included some interesting adaptations  in the very full engine scene. I think I spotted a Wrenn 3-rail Coronation

Thanks also to other members of the group who were helping with the layouts.

Along the side wall David Embling had a nice Hornby O gauge layout to promote the HRCA and as I was there an ‘Eton’ was operating, A lovely small farm scene was also a nice touch.

The TCS’s youngest member is Callum Ankerman . Callum had built a scenic end to end layout called ‘Arkwright Mill Junction’ and was proudly running his 0-6-0 tank engine when I was viewing. At only 7 years old Callum has built a lovely layout, well done.

Next to Callum was another 7 year old-well no quite but Nick Gillman has the enthusiasm of  that age and had his ‘Windmill Hill’ layout which I have not seen before. As Nick expected I loved it. It is what many of us would have aspired to in the early to mid 60’s. Airfix buildings, Railcars by Airfix and Anbrico and motorised Diesels and Steam Engine by Airfix and Kitmaster. Wonderful scenery and always something happening including a working windmill.

Pat Hammond took over all the tables on the far wall and showed just how much info is required when researching our hobby. Pat had examples of over 25 sources of information. It was a superb display and showed how much research one must do so not to miss out on anything when writing about a particular subject.

This hall is also the refreshment area and excellent meals were produced by the school caterers.

Dave Peacock who last year launched his book on the history of  The  Leeds Model Company was celebrating with the Steadman Trust the Leeds Centenary with a large display of Leeds models and a layout running Leeds stock on Maldon steel track. Whilst chatting away a lovely LNER 0-6-2 tank was pulling a goods train of Leeds wagons.

We now pass back through the foyer to Hall 2 . Here Ivor Walton had a display of Meccano Models including Motor cars from 1919 –present and Hornby O gauge . I was particularly taken by a model of a Harley Davidson.

Bryan Pentland  the show organiser had a magnificent display of the only O gauge system produced by Russia during the Stalin and Khrushchev eras. They are really quite stunning and well made models and were very expensive in their day, hence quite rare today.

Paul Williams had a fantastic colourful display of floor trains, too many to count! I liked the UBILDA tanks and the 1960’s Rockets. Models range from 1896-2000 and from over ten different countries. A collection from a well travelled man!

Steve Knight had his fine Kitmaster display  and was as usual trading with a good choice of stock.

Les Martin and Paul Rees set up Les’s Tri-ang Super 4 layout with a Canadian theme.

A two level display I was impressed with the double headed CN switchers trains and Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 locos. With lots of scenery including Model Land and Britains trees this was a much admired layout.

Steve Smith with camera shy Ali was operating Tri-ang Big Big. Steve had spent a lot of time perfecting his layout and had a circuit which allowed two trips to the station on different tracks, with box displays of the later issue Red Rocket this was another excellent display.

In Hall 3 Dave Lyon had his ever popular Tri-ang Minic Motorway layout. As usual the cars , lorries and buses were running excellently. Dave also showed me his latest project . A motorised Car Ferry. Dave is hoping to perfect the operation so he can incorporate it into the layout. Watch out in the near future.

Opposite Richard Bingham was operating the large Lionel Standard gauge trains. Richard was very keen for me to see the excellent oil wells with the ‘blow out’. A 2-402 loco was pulling a rake of fully lighted coaching stock.

While I was there Alan Parkes was running his American Flyer Standard gauge 4644 Electric loco circa 1928-1933. Alan an avid American collector had only just acquired this model and was unaware of it’s existence until recently. It does look a bit like a toaster on wheels!

Alongside Peter Berry was operating Graham Farish oo gauge . I had a good look at the Signal Cabin which was issued by GF in the 50’s. It’s a shame it was not available more recently as it is still a fine model.. Peter also showed me a letter confirming stock including a merchant Navy loco was still available from Hutchinson Roe a  trading shop in Bromley for Christmas 1958.

In the Sports Hal (Hall 4) the first layout on the left is Trix and Liliput Trains from 1959-1974 by David Holt. The buildings were made from Trix card kits and I was impressed by the stock including a blue ‘Prince Palatine’.

The Trix association stand was next and gave information on the society which caters for all Trix collectors.

Brian Arnold with help from his son Martin were running Trix Twin and very kindly showed me their American outline loco and US Pullman cars. Covering both DC and AC models this layout catered for all the Trix fans.

  Andrew Jones and Colin Barton had a neat Fleischmann Magic Train layout ‘Steinor Tor’. It is a narrow gauge railway using Fleischmann OO gauge track and is based on an imaginary line on the Austrian German border.

Mike Flye and Neil Trump were flying the Stars and Stripes with their American Flyer S gauge layout. The majority of stock is original however I was impressed with a Lionel Big Boy steaming away and a Silver Burlington Northern diesel. by American Models.

Dave Coddington came down from Scotland to show off his superb collection of Playcraft. I was fascinated by the ‘Wild West ‘ loco which was very similar to the Tri-ang clockwork model. Several box sets and other accessories with two double tracks running stock and a nice ‘Shop Display’ board made this a very interesting display.

Alongside Eric Large was operating his excellent Tri-ang TT layout. This is probably the best on the circuit and  really shows how much can be set up in a small area with a user friendly size. To me I wish OO had been TT!

In the corner John and Pauline Foreman had another excellent scenic Hornby O gauge layout running stock he remembers seeing as a boy in the 1940’s. Hidden amongst the trees was a rare Tin church produced by Victory V lozenges.

Next  was a Tomy Thomas treat by Bertie and Phil Goater. Most of the hard work is done by Bertie and I just love the accessories. There is an airport with moving planes and even a log flume where I captured an engine hurtling down the slope. I was also taken by a a very cute Q1.

Dave Peasant had set up his O gauge scenic layout running trains by various makers including ACE, Hornby Darstead and Bassett Lowke. However the real treat for me is the lovely scenery using Tri-ang Minic buildings  and vehicles and other makers accessories. The Church scene is just brilliant with the Salvation Army band and Church visitors leaving after the service. While I was passing a new B/L 0-6-0 was hauling a selection of Millbro teaks.

Steve Guest was operating the ACE layout with the new Schools loco ‘Charterhouse’ pulling the new 40cm coaches. I was also impressed with the new Water Tower which sold out on the day.

Amongst the traders Simon Goodyear had set up an excellent display from his own collection to commemorate the centenary of the Leeds MC. Simon as usual had a treasure trove of items for sale.

The Locomotive Club of Great Britain who meet in Bedford was promoting itself with a well stocked club stand

Reg Harmon flew the flag for early Tri-ang and had a superb display of pre 1956 items including Trackmaster and Rovex models. A small layout included the red station buildings protected by a Rocket launcher (perhaps they were worried about the Russians next door, after all they were built around the time of the Suez crisis!)

Traders in general had a fair days trading however it is obvious that the economy is hitting and buyers seemed  a little more hesitant than in previous years.

Over the four halls were around 50 sales tables with a huge variety of toy and model trains for sale

 Well done to Bryan Pentland and his main helpers David Ramsey and Eric Large and everyone else who also helped to make this such a good show.