Can it really be another year on the road to Leicester? A beautiful morning with the sun rising as I left Hampshire and shafts of light shining through the autumnal glow of the trees lining the A34. A clear blue sky with the cris-crossing of numerous vapour trails over Oxford it really was an enjoyable trip.

Well enough of that and here we are in the Trinity Church Hall, Leicester. As usual we are greeted by members of the Church who man the door every year.

Even at 8.50am several layouts were up and running and a general buzz and meeting and greeting was under way.

In the lobby Elaine and Andy Hyleman had set up the club stand letting non members who came for the day know all about the delights of joining the TCS

They were also busy running a compact (6' x 5') Faller E train layout as well as selling a variety of stock including a Dublo pre-war Gresley. When James Day arrived a special Faller Pink train was seen running for Isobel.

                                                          

A motley trio of Malcolm Pugh, Ian Ramsey -Connell and Tony Penn were running the bring and buy stall, some bargains included a Dublo 8F goods set which sold for £80 and several items of Minic Motorway. A pre-war Dublo 0-6-2 was also on sale but did not sell.

Also in the Lobby John Foreman was selling some lovely O gauge, John had to leave early and Adam Draycott slipped in and set up a small Marklin Z gauge layout with a Kruckenberg's Schiene Zeppelin rail car with a working propeller! , Peter Corley was
selling unusual OO items including three Champion Flyer sets (c1951) and accessories. Also in the lobby Graham Dudley was selling Dublo and Albert Chaplin a variety of items.

As we enter the main hall Brian Hollingworth and Steve from the 16mm Society were displaying their Live steam models with a working model on a rolling road.

                                                          

Along the wall was a rogue's gallery or traders,

John Ridley

Peter Berry

and Peter Gurd

John had a large lot of LGB including a starter set for £295 and also mentioned that in his opinion this show was up there with the best. Both Peters had a good day and I noticed a nice Eheim Trolley bus set on Peter Gurd's stall for £70.

In between these traders was Michael Foster with assistance from Bernard Ridgeley promoting ETS and Bassett Lowke. On display were the latest Bassett Lowke mineral wagons (£33each) and three plank wagons (£30 each) as well as the J39 0-6-0 tender loco in black which will sell for £499.

                                                          

In the centre traders Bob Leggett (sorry about the untidy table!) Ray Brookes, Andrew Kwasniewski and Steve Knight, Kevin Garrett and Alan Orton were busy all day.

Andrew was selling some choice Tri-ang items including three TT Blue /grey coaches at £90 each

Kevin also had on display a small clockwork Chinese train set by Meritus which was very similar to the Magic Roundabout set. He also sold an early Hornby O gauge 4-4-0 Maroon tender for £95. I noticed a nice Hornby Great Western 0-4-0 O gauge clockwork loco which sold for £85. Tri-ang Pullmans were obviously in demand as Bob sold four coaches and a Pullman set.

Alan was selling some of his resprayed Dublo coaches and is also an artist and had a superb watercolour of a Class 47 for sale at £175.

On the stage Mick and Jan Mobley with helpers had set up a wonderful American Standard Gauge (wide gauge ) layout. As I passed a Lionel Empire State Express was running on the outer track. This is a brass 4-4-0 loco in the style of the old Wild West engines, in the middle circuit was a Lionel 2-4-0 with an eight wheel tender and seven stock cars and in the inside track was an American Flyer 4-4-2. Several large tin buildings complemented the set plus I noticed a Statue of Liberty.

                                                          

In front of the stage Mark Carne had set up a two track Live steam layout in O gauge. A variety of stock was used from a 1902 Bing 4-4-0 to an Arcangel loco from the 1970's which was running when I passed with a rake of eleven ACE tankers. All the locos were meths fired and their running on one fill ranged from 15 to 30 mins.

                                                           

On the far wall were three excellent layouts.

Dave Peasant had his scenic O gauge layout. This really is a delight with a huge selection of country side scenes including a Britains Hunt in full cry, several farm displays and the High Street with Tri-ang Minic tinplate vehicles on display. Stock running when I visited included recent Basset Lowke and ACE trains.

                                                           

Paul Williams and Bryan Pentland were flying the flag for American Flyer. The oldest loco running was and Electric Outline loco from 1925 although the star was probably a Burlington Zephyr streamline set which was made in die cast aluminium just like the real one

                                                            

Completing the layouts in the main hall was Dave White with his excellent Tri-ang Railways -Minic Motorways OO gauge layout. Despite early electrical problems Dave got the layout running beautifully by the time the public arrived and as I passed I noticed a double header with A1A A1A diesels in two early Blue liveries and a nice Austin A40 avoiding the trains as is crossed the track on the Minic motorway..

                                                            

As we go towards the smaller hall we pass the club display stand. This year's theme was Private Owners Wagons.

unfortunately the stand was not filled but yours truly did contribute with a set of Shell trucks that came from America and were issued free with petrol coupons!

The stand was managed by David Ramsey

who also had a nice selection of Hornby O gauge for sale

                                                           

As we enter the final hall we meet Len Mills who was promoting ACE Trains. On sale were the latest celebration class locos at £245. The prototype Castle was also there and had been running. These will be sold at £750 and will no doubt sell well as it is a superb looking loco.

                                                           

ACE will shortly be selling a Caledonian LNWR set with three coaches for £400 so get that on your Christmas list!

Alongside Len were the Trix mob with Brian and Gill Arnold ably assisted by John Brown and Brian Johnston. I caused mayhem as I arrived and insisted that Brian runs his Southern EMU with resprayed Pullman coaches (he had four coaches made up with the names of his grandchildren). After a runaway train had crashed into the back of some loose trucks the five car EMU with two Pullmans moved gracefully around the circuit. Brian also showed me a very rare LNER post war 4-4-0 number 2750 which had been running earlier.

Paul Brookes with assistance from Martin Doubleday won the prize for the WOW factor. For the first time in many years a working Hugar Southern EMU was running on Hugar track. According to Paul only eight sets are known to exist and four were at Leicester. The layout was completed with a huge selection of wooden buildings and accessories and it really was a delight to see this layout. Alongside Paul had also set up a rare Hugar village.

                                                           

Completing the layouts in this hall was George Beardsmore who was running ACE trains, as I passed a Silver Fox with smoke was on the inner circuit and a celebration Great Western 4-4-0 was pulling a goods train, also on show was an ACE Station.

Finally in this hall Pat Hammond had on display over 150 Private Owner Wagons from the Tri-ang Hornby range including several prototypes that did not make it to production, Pat also had several Private Owner book for visitors to read.

                                                          

As many of you know this show is also famous for its Christmas lunch and for only £5 over 100 were treated to a lovely three course lunch including a main course with all the trimmings and Christmas pudding to finish with.

                                                          

This really is a wonderful show and huge thanks must go to Paul Draycott and his family and helpers for organising the show, Dave McCarthy and Keith Bone for the excellent photos and all the exhibitors and traders who came.

Many thanks to Irene Witty, Margaret Lunn, Margaret Walter, Brenda D'Arcy, Janet Mobley, Karen Clements, Ian Draycott, Adam Draycott and Marilyn Draycott who cooked and served the wonderful Christmas lunch.

As usual, sorry to go on so long and sincere apologies if I missed anyone out.

Bob Leggett