The Train Collectors Society

 ‘Any make, Any gauge, Any age’

TCS AGM Biggleswade

Saturday March 29th 2008

Report by Bob Leggett

Photos by Keith Bone


Although called the AGM this really is an excellent show, organised by
Chairman David Ramsey and members with no less than 10 layouts/displays and
25 traders.

TCS Chairman, David Ramsey

It is probably the friendliest of all the TCS events and members travel from
far and wide to be their, praise must go to Dave Coddington who left
Scotland at 9pm Friday and arrived at Noon Saturday (delayed due to
essential works!)

Dave Coddington, on the right, with Malcolm Pugh

None of this was necessary at the show as all the layouts performed well and
I will take you round the room from the entrance. Actually the entrance hall
includes the first stop which is the club “bring and buy” stall ably manned
by Malcolm Pugh with assistance from Tony Penn. Several bargains were on
offer and I noticed a Tri-ang Hornby Polly Goods set sell for £35 and a
Timpo Rocket set for £11, A Book of Bassett Lowke by Fuller sold for £20, in
total nearly £300 was sold which meant £30 was added to club funds.

Please click on images for larger photos

Opposite was the club stand and the theme was Tankers. This is probably the
best and most colourful display there has been with over 200 tankers on
display from Z gauge to Gauge 2. Shell was by far the most popular with Andy
and Elaine Hyelman and Bob Leggett both bringing along a rake each of Shell
Tankers.
             


As we enter the main hall, the layouts and displays are on the outside and I
will take you round clockwise.

Paul Brookes was selling Master Models and similar items and also had a
lovely static display of all the Master Models and appropriate stations. The
range is just enormous and showed the huge variety available in the late 50s
early 60s.
      

Eric Large was displaying a superb colourful collection of TT from around
the world and included stock from the following manufacturers WESA, Tri-ang,
Rokal, Klein Bahn and Berlinerbahn.
      

Chris Smith had the most unusual display of the day. He replicated E.Beal’s
1930s 00 gauge 2 rail track with a third outside rail electrical pick up.
Beal has devised the outside rail pick up to show more realism by avoiding
the centre rail. With some scratch built locos this was a very interesting
display.
      

A fascinating collection of Die-cast trains by Reg Harman was next to Chris.
Crescent, Dinky, Moko, Benbros and Budgie were amongst this excellent
display which also included a collection of Crescent Signals.
      

Brian Peters was running Hornby and Len Mill’s ACE trains on his three track
O gauge layout. While I passed by a Hornby GWR No 1 special was pulling 13
tankers (as per club theme) While an ACE A4 was running around the outside
with a rake of ACE Coaches.
      

Next was Paul and Adam Draycott’s Lionel O gauge layout. To show we are up
to date a Lionel Hogwarts Express pulling three coaches with lights was
doing its duty while I was there. I also notice a Big Boy on show in the
sidings as well as Lionel Battlespace wagons.


Peter Berry was running OO gauge Graham Farish with a pannier tank running
on the outer circuit, on the inside track parked in an original GF Brookvale
card station was Sir Eustace Missenden with a rake of Pullmans. Peter was
also selling a variety of stock.
      

Peter Hilton was also showing a collection of his replica 00 Gauge tankers


A super Hornby Dublo three rail layout with several neverwazzas was operated
by Roger White with help from Colin Barton. A thick matting made this a
surprisingly quiet layout.
      

Next to Roger, Bob Leggett was operating his Tri-ang TT Layout which has
been constructed on an original Tri-ang built board. To add colour Bob had
placed Graham Farish trees made by Britains around the layout. Bob was also
selling a variety of stock from 50s Tri-ang to more recent Bachmann.
      

Pat Hammond had brought along a mouth-watering collection of 200 Tankers
from the Rovex/Hornby stable. Several prototypes which never went in
production were in the display. I also noted no less than 16 different
Tri-ang Hornby UD Tankers. Pat also had all the latest Hornby six wheel
tankers.

Pat Hammond with Tony Stanford

                           


The larger premises allow more traders (25 in total) I therefore give an
idea of some of the items I saw that interested me.

      



John Neale had a streamline 0-4-0 electric O gauge loco and two coaches by
Kraus for around £150. John Foreman was again thinning his stock and I saw a
nice UBILDA loco for £35. There were at least three French Hornby autorail
sets from three different traders, Richard Elkan had a very rare Electric
Betal train set for £120 and a Hornby O gauge Percy Set for £60.


The TCS AGM commenced at 1.50pm and finished at 2.35pm. The minutes will
appear in the next Train Collector Magazine.

The day would not complete without the superb refreshments organised by
wives and girlfriends of members. Many thanks Amalia Ramsey, Janice
Carpenter, Clare Lahiffe, Jackie Hall and Margaret Fitch.

Thanks to all those who came, the organisers including the setting up team,
exhibitors and traders for contributing to such an excellent show.

The Club Stand, the theme was Tankers.

‘Any make, Any gauge, Any age’

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