TCS AGM and Spring Event Biggleswade Sat March 28^th  2009

A personal report of the TCS meet by Bob Leggett.

Another splendid day at the TCS AGM started 100 miles away in Alresford where Marcus Leckie (over from New Zealand for a month to visit his Dad) and I set off at 7am.

An easy journey and as usual a friendly greeting at the Waverley Centre set the day off well.

Before I set up my sales table (and informed by David Ramsey that he was also expecting my TT layout!) I charged around the sales tables that were already ready for business and picked up some lovely tinplate trains from John Foreman’s stall.

I eventually got back to my tables and set up with help from Marcus.

The AGM is really a super exhibition with only 45mins of business at 2pm so everyone could make the most of playing, talking, buying and selling toy trains.

As I was in the back corner I will start my report of the exhibitors from there.

Paul Draycott had a new layout using buildings  made by Hamblings for Standard Telephones to use on their layout when they visited trade fairs showing off their Signalling equipment used in real signal boxes. The station was a lovely Art Deco SR design.

There were also some interesting blue coaches also believed to be built by Hamblings. Paul hopes to expand the layout next time. He also had a fantastic display of early Ratio and CCW EMU’s, a selection of Kirdon 10000 engines (2 and 3 rail, Scale and coarse models) also a Kirdon 0-4-0 diesel shunter and railcar.

Alongside John Hardy had set up a nice Bing O gauge layout complete with Bing accessories including a rather nice Water Tower.

Running as I passed was a 4-4-0 No 2163 George V type with five bogie coaches and an 0-4-0 tank loco with a goods train.

Peter Berry had another excellent display of Graham Farish

with a station yard full of Merchant Navy’s, Castles, Black Fives, Prairies and panniers plus a complete Brookdale (card) station.

In the corner Andy and Elaine Hyelman had a display of Red Star Trains (Eastern Bloc made toy trains before the wall came down) Included were examples from Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland. USSR and East Germany. Gauges included N, TT, HO, S and O. I was particularly taken with a Piko Saxonia 1839 set made in 1989 to commemorate 150 years of railways.

Dave White had set up a neat Hornby Dublo two track layout that was his first ever loose lay 2 rail Dublo display. Dave was particularly happy with a class 20 running beautifully all day. With several neverwazzas this was a popular layout. Also on display was a Hornby Dublo late issue 2 rail track pack No3 that Dave picked up early from the club bring and buy stall.

Alongside Bill and Rachel Vsye were running Marklin from the early 50’s to the the present day on 3 rail and stud contact track. Running as I passed were a 2-6-2 prairie tender lococ1957 with eight coaches and a tank loco with a train of Aral tankers. This was the first time out at a TCS event and Bill will be adding to the layout in the future.

Mike Wiseman had a very popular layout for both young and old. With seven trains running and two roadways his Tomy layout made you dizzy just looking at it. I was very impressed with the Victorian suspension bridge, a smoking Thomas and a road rail crossing. This layout should encourage some young blood into the club!

Reg Harman had another interesting display of die-cast trains by Benbros, Budgie, Morestone, Dinky, Crescent and Gaiety.

I was particularly taken with a couple of boxed Benbros Stephenson’s Rockets from the early 50’s. I have never seen the boxes and was amazed at how lovely the artwork was.

Reg was also showing off his skills with two Perspex display cases he had made for the show. Reg was assisted by Guy Brigdon who had brought along a 100 year old dribbler.

As we move across the entrance to this hall we come across Richard Bingham’s Lionel Standard Gauge display complete with fully wired pylons and  lit station yard lamps. A 2-4-0 No 383E was heading the goods train in the display.

Alongside was an Edward Beal style layout with a very insistent Chris Smith wanting to ensure I say outside 3^rd rail –not 3 rail display. Chris is a modeller and has made a display layout in OO gauge using items available from smaller Model Railway manufacturers from the 30’s – 50’s.

To coincide with the day’s theme Chris had also on display a few LNER locos by Jameson.

Eric Large was running his lovely Lone Star 000-lectric layout with electric and push along  running and on display, with a complete set of Gulliver buildings, people, cars trees etc this was a very colourful layout.

From the Rovex, Tri-ang Hornby, and Hornby stable Pat Hammond had set up a mouth-watering display of LNER engines from the first Tri-ang Hornby Scotsman in 1969 to present day Hornby China productions. There were too many engines to count  however of particular interest were three pre-production models that never went into production. An 0-6-0 J class, a V3 2-6-2T and Green Arrow 4771.

The centre of the hall was filled with several traders and manufacturers, too numerous to mention however there was some brisk trade and I was impressed with the new Bassett Lowe Flying Fox on Michael Foster’s stand, the latest offerings from ACE, Bruce Palmer showing the latest Leeds  replica models including a 1927 London Underground stock. Mike King was as usual stacked high, Clive Maddocks stall looked busy all day, Simon Goodyear had a nice Bowman SR 4-4-0 for £425, John Neale had a pair of Basset Lowke Duchess’s

In the lobby was the Club Stand which was full, David Ramsey had chosen LNER due to our location and the members responded. I was impressed with a boxed Sunningdale Shunting set plus a mass of Hornby Locos .It was one of the best club displays ever.

Malcolm Pugh and Tony Penn had the busiest day ever running the Club bring and buy stand,

with several members bringing a lot of stock plus some charity lots there was something for everyone Even before 10am they had taken a few hundred pounds, and by lunchtime much more. And by the end of the day a record amount. Is there a toy train credit crunch exclaimed Malcolm! Memorable items sold included a nice Trix 040 starter set with it's wooden packing pieces for £50, a quantity of quality Hornby Dublo The most expensive single item being a Barmstaple at £85.. There was a good selection of recent books in as new condition at around two thirds of new price which attracted buyers, also a bundle of pre World War 1 railway magazines for £2 each. Other OO makes sold included plenty of Tri-ang and Playcraft, with oddments of many makes from the two 'junk boxes'. In O gauge there was a large tunnel for £30, some signals for £1 each, a box of clockwork track for £4, and a pair of Williams US outline coach kits for £20. The show attendance was higher than previous years, so this may account for the high sales volumes. At the end of the event over twelve hundred pounds worth of stock was sold with 10% of that going to TCS funds.

As usual, an item to be sold wasn't collected, so the gentleman who had the Paya O gauge set for sale, we have part of your item! Please get in touch with Malcolm!

The ladies and gentlemen from the kitchen Buffet Bar did a fantastic job and thanks go to Amalia Ramsey, Janice Carpenter, Jackie Hall and Margaret Fitch who were able to produce a wonderful meal including a sweet for £2.50p.

Thanks to David Ramsey for organizing the event and to all those who helped David before, during and after the show.

I believe we had a record attendance.

A full report of the AGM will follow in the next Train Collector

however hot news is that Bernard Ridgely will be producing an O gauge wagon to commemorate 30 years of the TCS and Bachmann will do the same in OO using a Dapol wagon. Full details in the next Train Collector.

Sorry if I missed anyone out, it was a great day out and it was good to meet fellow clubs members.

 Bob Leggett

 More Photos HERE