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So to the rest of the show. These dioramas were exhibited by, I think, a professional model maker, but they are excellent. All in O gauge, they included a SECR terminus, a Metropolitan Railway tank engine, and the famous cutting in ?Bath? with some early GWR stock.

I was most impressed by Clarendon in P4. Pre-grouping, LNWR and GWR, with a lovely full station forecourt modelled. You think that’s the whole railway, but round the corner we pass the engine shed, and our train runs through carriage and coal sidings. And even better, the hidden sidings are not hidden. A transparent front allow one to watch the train cassettes being changed, and examine the models currently not in use.

In contrast Leatown is a small OO cameo layout, set somewhere in East London during blue diesel days. A lockdown project later completed for the owner by James Hilton, it catches the character of decaying urban railways, and offers a lot of operation in a small space.

Caldershaw is a large P4 layout that just grew! It has a lot of interesting scenic detail.

I rather liked the On16.5 layout of Bowaters paper mill, especially the evening lighting and the full, and lit, building interiors.

And, as usual, a few other pictures to finish. An excellent show, and I shall try and go next year.

Whilst some of the club went south to Brockenhurst, Simon and I opted for Railex 2026, held by the Risborough & District MRC at Stoke Mandeville Stadium near Aylesbury. This is billed as a ‘fine scale’ show, and it lives up to its name.

I suppose that I’d better start in N gauge with James Street. It’s an amazing layout, full of fine modelling, but I have to confess that I’d prefer a branch line. Size isn’t everything, so I’m told. I took some pictures of the harbour area, a newly completed section with some excelling shipping on view.

Jerry Clifford’s Bath Queen Square engine sheds (2mm finescale) is a work in progress. All scratch build, including the locomotives. Perhaps its last showing before being built into his larger S&D layout.

Also on show in 2mm was Burnham-on-Sea. A classic 2mm layout being updated and renovated, it features the Burnham signature item – a working lifeboat that moves from its station along the branch tracks to the end of the pier and launching.

Some of the best modelling was on the S scale layouts, of which there were several, celebrating the S gauge Society’s 80th anniversary. The late Trevor Nunn’s East Lynn and Quayside layout is recognisable as North Norfolk – says he who had many childhood holidays there.

As Trevor Nunn got older, he built the smaller Trowland to take to shows. A charming little layout, just 8ft long. And including one of my all time favourite locos, the M&GN 4-4-0T.

Going even smaller, try Arcadia – about 4ft long in its visible section. Based on the KESR, but with a Bembridge style turntable at the end of the line to save space. And to further save space goods and carriage sheds are accessed from the off-stage sector plate.

Finally for S scale, there was Blakey Rigg, a North Eastern Railway station somewhere up on the North Yorkshire moors. A real station, close to scale.

What next? LLawryglyn (EM) is a favourite I’ve seen several times before. A Cambrian Railway twig off a branch somewhere in deepest mid-Wales. My highlight on this little line is the excellent rolling stock, in all their pre-grouping finery.

We’ll finish today with another personal favourite – Rossiter Rise. Just the one photo, as I’ve posted lots of photos of this lovely little OO line before.

It was a hot day, though not as sweltering as the following few. The cafe had wisely put iced coffee on the menu, that was very welcome to wash down a cornish pasty. I did make one major purchase – a Tim Horn baseboard kit, for my next project. But if you consider that this is about the same cost of an analogue N gauge locomotive, it doesn’t seem too unreasonable – and I don’t really need more locos!

More photos from the show next time.

Whilst Simon and I went to Railex in Ayelsbury (pictures to come) the Allan club bus went to Brockenhurst (via Alton for breakfast and the model shop and ending with an ice cream by the seaside. The New Forest MRS show makes a good day out, and usually has some good layouts.

This year was no different, starting with Ropley (OO) modelling the preserved Mid-Hants line.

Hells Glen (N) is always entertaining (and usually set up with different modules.)

Interesting people you meet at model railway shows…..

I rather liked the look of Crosscombe (O) – I do sometimes like GWR layouts!

And a few others that caught my eye in Allan’s photos….

Last weekend I went across to Dorking for a model railway exhibition at Denbies Wine Estate, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Roxley Models. Lovely location, and a pleasant show. I was very good and didn’t come home with any trains – or any wine!

Just a few photos of things that caught my eye. As always Drws y Nant gets my best in show award. Lovely 2mm scale modelling.

In contrast, the urban and large O gauge Smithfield.

I like the minimalistic Vale Quarry (OO9).

An impressive river in Japan. Johanji River in N.

And a few pictures from the rest….