How did the show match up with last year?  There was a lot more ‘N’ and 2mm modelling on show, but overall I felt that there were less ‘inspirational’ layouts than last year.  But this is of course a subjective and personal view, and the show was well worth a visit.  The only annoying bit was the long wait for a parking space, as the car parks were operating on a ‘one out, one in’ basis.

So to the layouts. Mers Les Bains in 1:32 scale is a regular on the circuit, but always worth another look.  There are more scenic details on show every time I see the layout.

Aerial & Pickles – US narrow gauge in 1:48 – had this amazing working transporter bridge.

The third and fourth rail department….  Addison Park is unusual, both in modelling in 3mm scale, and also modelling the London Underground…..

Readham has some impressive Southern Electric kit on show….

The bucolic branch department, all with a watery theme.  I loved the cormorant (and DUWK) on Lower Exbury (P4)…..

Arun Quay (O) is a delightful piece of modelling….

And the location of Lakebank (again 3mm) is again obvious by the Swallows and Amazons sailing around next to the quay…..

Gauge 3 seems to be in fashion, as there was a long layout in this large scale.

Kepier Colliery (OO) showed the attraction of industrial scenery and rows of grimy coal wagons pulled by small tank engines.

There was even some broad gauge GWR on show….

Scenic win – no bus on the bridge, just a flock of sheep!

Finally the politically (in)correct department.  Modelu make excellently realistic 3D scanned railway figures (and can do personalised figures at a price).  But I am not sure how you can spot the orientation of an ‘N’ gauge railway employee…. (Sorry, couldn’t resist this one!)