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Today, I’ll just show the NCI layout. This was all controlled by the iTrain software, leaving most of us just to entertain visitors. We did have some good conversations with visitors, who were very interested in the format of the layout. Here’s the nerve centre of things. It was on safety mode, leaving two blocks between trains to avoid crashes….. except for the time when the system didn’t do what it was meant to!

The Germans also contributed this neat fiddle yard, including train cassettes in the form of a transparent tube. Certainly an easy way to get your trains to an exhibition.

Let’s work around the rest of the layout, module by module. Most of my modules were at one end, with end loops, the tunnel mini-joker, road bridge and the now venerable clubhouse.

The baton is then passed to Nick, with his lovely DB loco shed and museum. Der Alder and the Rocket made regular trips up and down the yard.

Then Nick’s funicular module, with the little mountain railway happily working for two days.

The first corner from Stefan….

And then Allan’s ‘temporary bridge.’ The only legless module!

My aerodrome seems to go down well, and the drones get some interest. However, I am building a few new aircraft to ring the changes.

The German junction to the fiddle yard has the branch hidden by scenery.

Richard’s airfield….

Stefan’s corner, with a very realistic weir structure on the river.

Richard’s distribution depot, demolition site, and the iron bridge. The chimney under demolition has a tasteful cameo. The steeplejack is surrounded by ambulances at the base of the structure, but his boots are still glued to the platform at the top of the chimney……

Another corner, then Stefan’s end loop, with a small festival in progress (and loud music.)

At one point I was convinced that there was a bug on the layout – cockroach type not electrical. But it was Stefan’s working sit-on lawnmower. All in N…..

Next time, I’ll look at a few of the other layouts present.

My weekend was spent at TINGS (The International N Gauge Show), exhibiting an N-Club layout with some of our Stuttgart German friends. They provided a few modules, the digital control, and the fiddle yard, but the rest of the layout came from four English friends.

Allan drove up Thursday afternoon, ready for a full day setting up on Friday. Saturday and Sunday was the show, and we took it all down in an hour and a half on Sunday evening. We came home Monday morning.

Setting up is always the hard bit, but all the modules generally went together well, and even the computer control was working. It always fascinates me to see an empty hall gradually fill up with trains and traders.

I thought that the show was very good this year. There was a very good selection of layouts, with no ‘fillers.’ Plenty of trade and some good bargains (unfortunately), but a shortage of small traders – they are being priced out of a lot of shows now.

Not least, there is the fun of hunting a bargain at Anoraks Anonymous…..

And seeing future releases in the flesh. The Dapol West Country/BoB should with us by Christmas….

And the EFE Baby Deltic is getting there….

I took a few short videos this time, so I’ll start with them today, and return with the show photos. My road bridge module was a good place to watch trains go by….

Nick’s DB loco shed and museum was running some interesting trains…..

And just a couple of videos from the rest of the show. Photos follow!

And every day finished with a very tasty meal (Sunday roast here) at the hotel down the road from our hotel….