The 14^th Train Collectors Society Annual Show did not disappoint. Despite the hottest day of the year so far and The Wimbledon Ladies Final, a healthy number enjoyed over 30 layouts and the sales tables of over 25 traders.

My tour of the show starts with the lovely ladies Amalia Ramsey and Jan Carpenter who were manning the doors when I started the report.

In the foyer the Bachmann Collectors Club who were sponsoring the show for the last time had a display of new items including a prototype L&Y 2-4-2T and a heavily weathered Dukedog. Running on their layout operated by Milton Keynes MRC was the impressive 5-car Blue Pullman.

Rod Hannah and Tony Stanford did sterling work running the Club Stand.

As we enter Hall 1, the first layout is also the oldest set on display. Jeff Carpenter with help from Michael Vowes and Manual Pipo were running  Jeff’s Bing Table Top layout with overhead track and a very distinguished Distler over ground station.

 Alongside was probably the most modern layout, Pat Hammond had the complete Bachmann Underground Ernie System including three concourses and various stations and accessories. A real delight for the young and not so young visitors.

The Chiltern Hills Vintage Group had the next two layouts. Nouvion, a Hornby AcHo layout based on the Allo Allo TV Series. A rather sweet railcar was doing it’s duty when I was passing. The other layout was Hornby Dublo 3-rail and I was rather pleased to see a Southern tank with a rake of suburban coaches.

In the corner and with an excellent view for those taking refreshments were James Day and Malcolm Pugh running a fully automated G-Scale layout using LGB, Playmobil stock. James showed me the magic box which operated the Double Diamond crossing and I have to say it worked wonders for the visitors!. Children were able to operate the trains and a willing band of helpers were there all day long.

Andrew Woodfield and volunteers from the Brighton Toy Museum ran their New Bashford Great Central O gauge layout loosely based on Nottinghamshire with very impressive town scenes.

In Hall 2 Les Martin  and Neil Bowsher had set up Les’s excellent Tri-ang Super 4 layout. A Model land town scene had been created over one corner and Les was running mainly BR Stock.

      
Les and Neil decided to award themselves the Trophy for the best dressed exhibitors!

William and Rachel Wyse had a Hornby and other Makers O Gauge layout and while passing the glorious sight of a Hornby Eton was passing.

Exhibition manager Bryan Pentland was also able to set up his excellent display of low-cost British O Gauge trains sold in Woolworths.  A fantastic collection of cheap trains that have survived.

Bryan also had an excellent display of early British 1960's Transistor Radios

Alongside Paul Williams had his modular O gauge layout depicting USA, France  and Great Britain with trains from the 1920’s and 30’s. I loved the USA Marx Tower.

Steve Knight with help from Marcus had the excellent Kitmaster range on display.

Ivor Walton had on display a wonderful collection of Meccano including several cars and the full range of Dublo Dinky with various

Steve Smith set up his excellent Tri-ang Big Big layout and I spotted the rare Hong Kong Red Hymek’ as well as the Novo Russian version working hard.

Moving on to Hall 3  we find Peter Berry with his Graham Farish and other early UK models including Kirdon. I was rather impressed with a repainted Spamcan  and the original card station and buildings.

Richard Bingham with friends had his grand Lionel Standard Gauge layout. Always a popular layout I was impressed with the various accessories and rather crowded station.

David Lyon was showing his wonderful Minic Motorway layout. Always a delight to watch, I am looking forward to Dave’s plans for incorporating a  motorised car ferry.

In the large Hall 4 the first layout is David Holt with his lesser known trains of the 50’s display. I was particularly excited to see a Hamblings 4-Cor Coach set and I also took a liking to the stylish Art Deco style scratch-built station.

The TTRCA club stand was next with  Brian Arnold’s Trix layout alongside. Brian as usual had a variety of stock however was running a Trix Express Pacific when I was passing. It’s worth taking a few moments to admire the Manyways Station which still looks good today.

Paul Brookes was running the uncommon Ever Ready underground trains. He had adapted the bogies and was running two sets on original track. Two sets were also on display. These really are a delight to watch.

Paul Draycott had a display of lesser known early 00 Gauge locomotives and stock.

He was also connecting the manufacture of Kirdon bodies with the change in the use of Shellac to vinyl for 78rpm records. A record factory was only 200yds from the Kirdon site and there does seem to be a change in the type of moulding.

Paul also had on display the Astral locomotive that had been the subject of a recent regroup discussion.

Nick Gillman with help from Yvonne and Albyn Austin were running Nick’s lovely scenic Tri-ang Standard track layout. In the three weeks since the Alresford Show Nick has added more scenic touches . Stock is mainly Jinty’s including derivatives as I spotted a conversion from a 0-6-0 to a 0-4-4 , Using and adapting Tri-ang Rubber buildings this was a lovely layout.

Rob Hampton had on display a collection of British TT Gauge including stock and literature produced from 1957-1970. Tri-ang is one of the main features however I spotted a superb Q1

The Sandy Transport Society had a continuous slide show of transport related photographs running all day.

Dave Coddington popped down from Scotland to show most of the Tri-ang items available from the 12^th edition catalogue.

I was pleased to see a rare Railway /Minic Motorway boxed set  and a Dave also showed me his uncommon brown Royal Mail Coach. A great set up for Tri-ang fans,

Peter Wills had a neat traditional Dublo 3-rail using the aluminium buildings and 1950’s BR stock.

David and Monica Emblem as well as promoting the HRCA had their lovely scenic O gauge layout using on 0-4-0  locomotives including some rare electric ones.

The Bassett-Lowke Society had a wonderful 0 Gauge 3-rail layout . I was very impressed with the Standard Tank and Oliver Cromwell with a Deltic brightening up the loco yard

Phil and Bertie Goater had a Tri-ang Big Big layout. I was quite taken back when I saw a rake of ten flat  trucks with the Traction Engine load.

TCS’s youngest active member is Callum Ankerman. Callum and his Dad have recently acquired a large Noch pre-formed plastic layout looking like the Alps with several tunnels. Updated with Hornby buildings this was an attractive layout.

The final layout at the show was Tri-ang Transcontinental by Reg Harman  and friends.

Stock included UK and overseas production. A blue VR switcher with three blue coaches looked particularly impressive.

David Peacock who last year launched his book on Leeds Model Railways was displaying items on behalf of the Leeds Steadman Trust.

Most of the traders were in the main hall. As usual fortunes were mixed however several traders had their best ever Sandy. Some items I spotted included a very early Bing Station on Mike Delaney’s stall, An Ever Ready set was snapped up by Paul Brookes for £75  Simon Goodyear had a lovely Bing Sir Sam Fay

Finally a huge thank you to Exhibition Manager Bryan Pentland, Chairman David Ramsey who worked tirelessly setting up and down and Eric Large for his plans and help with the show.

Well done to anyone else who assisted during the day and thank you also to the School caterers who also presented us with good food and refreshments all day

Bob Leggett

Malcolm Pugh's video of the TTE/LGB/Playmobile layout can be found HERE Beware, includes uncensored shots of James Day's knees and Malcolm's sandals!!