Another warm and friendly event organised by Chairman David Ramsey with help from members, wives, partners and friends.

I arrived at 8.30 am with many displays and sales tables already set up, so before I could even think about setting up my sales table and competition I had to have a hunt around for any bargains, more later.

I will described the event as a visitor would hopefully find the displays when they enter the building.

Everyone is greeted by Tony Stanford who was manning the door and club exhibition stand.

Paul Chapman was organising the Club display stand and this year the theme was Black Engines, I believe everyone who came must have brought along an engine to display. The stand was full by 10am with larger engines on adjoining tables. A total of 91 engines were displayed, a Society record!

I was particularly taken with a Michael Fosters pair of black Hornby O Gauge No 40 tank engines converted to a  'Beyer Garrett'!!!!

A Trix Meteor three car set in BR black

and a Graham Farish OO gauge Hudson with original wooden box also took my eye.

Opposite the stand Malcolm Pugh and Tony Penn manned the club bring and buy sales table.

One of the best items was a Tri-ang Rich Uncle set which sold for £150 and very soon appeared on one of the displays, see later. a boxed Trix double tender Flying Scotsman which had been re-motored and re-wheeled was at an attractive £75. The next highest price sale was a Fleischmann 060 tank loco, with rack climbing gear wheel at £30. The club take 10% of the sale price for club funds, which goes to purchase electrical power at the giant Warley/NEC show, and repair/restock the shuttle layout. One member had brought a large box containing mainly empty Tri-ang boxes, and another containing controllers, both were marked for donations rather than sale, and several other members also donated items, or wished that their sales money was all to be donated. With their generosity Malcolm and Tony managed to raise around £75.

As we enter the main hall the first exhibit on the left is by Chris Smith with a display of 00 gauge 1930-50s locos and rolling stock including Jamiesons Jubilee and a Royal Scot, a hand built Black 5 and Hamblings Tank wagons. Chris was also selling a variety of OO gauge items.

On the left John and Pauline Forman had a wonderful fully scenic Hornby O gauge 6' x 6' layout . This was one of my favourite layouts with a countryside series road down the middle, nine cuttings and the Tri-ang Spot-On Cotswold buildings and lots of figures, vehicles and animals (and of course Hornby trains running!).

Alongside was Peter Berry with help from  Jeffrey Robertson, Dixon Upcott and David Wood had  a Trix Twin layout with British and Continental stock. While I was there they kindly demonstrated the excellent properties of Trix Twin by running a Hunslet Shunter and -0-6-2T on the same track.

Next we have Reg Harman with help from Guy Bridgen with a 1957-59 Tri-ang TT layout using original brown A track.

I was particularly impressed with Guy's repainted blue Spamcan and Reg's Brittania pulling a rake of blue and grey coaches. I also saw running earlier some transcontinental stock. Reg also had a display showing the comparison between 00 and TT gauge.

In front of the far wall Brain Peters had an O gauge layout using non-proprirety, converted and handbuilt stock.

Early on I noticed a Middleton 3 car SR EMU,I was also impressed with a scratch built blue Coronation with Bassett-Lowke blood and custard coaches remodelled to blue Coronation coaches.Another engine which also attracted a lot of attention was Cock of the North built by Keith Murray.

Next door was Richard Bingham with his excellent Lionel Standard gauge layout.

Richard had reconfigured the track to ensure extra-long trains and was able to run a train of eight goods trucks, the longest he has run at an exhibition. Buildings included a nice Lionel City station.

In the corner Dave White with help from Eric Large, Steve Smith and others was running  five Tri-ang Old Smokey locos and other items including a rare blue AIA with a large display of  set and accessory boxes

including a Rich Uncle Set (where did he get that from?) and a Kay's catalogue station set. The artwork on the Tri-ang boxes is just wonderful.

On the left side Roger White with his family had a scenic Dublo layout with some neverwazzas. As a Southern fan I was taken by a Graham Farish spamcan on a modified Dublo Duchess chassis. In addition to Dublo Bill Vyse was running some Marklin while I was passing. Roger's two grandchildren were a great help with the Raffle tickets.

HRCA Chairman David Embling  with his wife Monica had a lovely compact double track O gauge layout  titled ' Hornby for the Young Boy' and was running UK and French MO,  20 and 30 stock, mainly clockwork although some electric locos were running on the outside track.

Les Martin had a neat Tri-ang layout with double track super 4 and a high level Standard track circuit with a superb high level station which I want to call Crystal Palace, unfortunately he had to do with Plymouth. The centre of the layout was filled with Model Land and accessories. Running stock included Australian and Canadian models.

The last layout was by Paul Williams and Bryan Pentland who had French O gauge layout using stock from several manufacturers including Rossignol, Joustra and French Hornby

I was particularly taken with a small train consisting of a Diesel, Car Transporter and Crane Truck, Bryan informed me it was by La Hotte du St Nicholas, (English 'The Sack of Santa')

As we come to expect from these two it was a very colourful and comphrehensive layout.

There was an unusual, to see, display of Lima Sets by Bill Bourne many of which I had not seen before.

Especially a Double Set and an Orient Express Set

Amongst the traders Bob Leggett had an OO gauge completion. Bob had set up a station scene using a number of manufacturers, entrants had to guess the number.

I will let readers have a look at the photos before I disclosed the answer. Tony Penn won the competition.

Paul Draycott had a display of scratch built models which were very well made and painted, but had perhaps, seen better days!

I had the chance to question several traders who in the main had a good day, sales included an Ever Ready set sold by Paul Draycott for £80.

Cliff Maddock mentioned that general stock sold well however his spares did not.

Colin Totem had for sale the latest Raylo Series Metropolitan Goods set in grey and a maroon 'Sherlock Holmes'. There will only be a run of 100 and I'm sure they will sell out quickly at just under £500  per loco. Also the latest release, the Met-Cam box cab locomotive

I was surprised to see a Darstaed Brighton Belle or sale until I was informed  by Colin they had sold out last year and he took this one in today.

Michael Foster had a  good day selling ETS mechanism

and Len Mills representing ACE sold well including five Bulldogs @ £495 each and three coach sets.

I was delighted to pick up a Ubilda Tower Bridge in it's original box. Elaine's Trains had a good day selling a variety of stock

while Mike King had some Tri-ang and Dublo on his stall!. Overall considering the economic climate trade was very good.

As usual the 'Brighton Belles' did a fantastic job supplying a three course lunch

for just over four pounds as well as other refreshments, including having available the TCS Tarts!!

A big thank you  to Janice Carpenter, Jackie Hall, Amalia Ramsey and Claire Lahiffe with a special thanks to Martha McCarthy and Pat Frowen who came all the way from Wales to help.

The club AGM was held at 2pm and was longer than usual with a considerable amount spent on club finances and subscription rates particularly in view of the recent post increases.

The AGM was followed by the traditional raffle with a great range of prizes, thanks to all who contributed.

So my final thank you to David and his team for another superb event which was enjoyed by all.