We’ll start the post on the beach at Lancing.  A grey day, but bracing rather than unpleasant.  But why was I there – and what’s this doing in a railway blog?

Well, the beach car park was recommended for the Wealden Railway Group exhibition.  A pleasant little show, concentrating on their tag line – “Railways you can live with” – small and micro layouts to the fore.  Here are just a few of the exhibits that caught my eye….

Greenford Broadway modelled the London Underground in 3′, with a fiddle yard at either end.  I liked the authentic 4-rail track, the LUT steam locos, and at the extreme right is a neat model of an old wooden escalator.

This little ‘O’ gauge switching layout is almost pointless – just the one point and a sector plate to reach the other tracks.  Another neat design, allowing a large scale in a small space.

This was a trader’s stand, but I liked the scenic work….

And there was lots of narrow gauge.  Three layouts are shown below.  Can you spot the coffin wagon in the third photo?

In case you missed it!

I then drove a mile up the road from Lancing to Sompting, to drop in on the West Sussex N Gauge group open day.  Lots of modular layouts and lots of old friends to talk to – and a very respectable sausage bap, rivalling the Wealden bacon roll….

This looks like an interesting layout in the making….

And plenty of completed layouts on show….

Overall, a pleasant morning!