As always, a few layouts stood out from the (very good) rest.  Of course, the layouts that I especially liked reflect my strange view of our wonderful hobby….

So we’ll start with Arcadia, a minimum spaced ‘S’ gauge model of the Kent & East Sussex Railway.  An imaginary twig off the branch, with a loco run-round turntable like Bembridge, the track plan also makes clever use of the fiddle yard to feed the bay and engine shed.  The stock is mainly original KESR, but LBSCR and GER tank engines make an appearance.

I rather liked Cessy-en-Bois (HO).  A cameo layout again, but set in some obscure corner of France.  The pictures below show the most effective night time lighting, complete with stars.

Next we have Ewe (OO).  Another cameo, based on the Wisbech & Upwell, and with motive power of J70 tram engines.  Not much to do, but push wagons around, yet it captures the atmosphere of the fens really well.  The few buildings are also typical East Anglian structures.

Prize for the best layout name goes to Shwt (EM).  This is, believe it or not, a real place near Tewksbury, but I think that I will adopt it as what to say after losing small parts on the floor.  If I knew how to pronounce it, of course.  It’s modelled at the end of its working life, with the line single tracked and just the quarries and a little goods providing traffic.  (By the way, SHWT can also stand for Seasonal High Water Table, Safety and Health Working Team, and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, to say nothing of the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail.)

Honourable mentions go to the American based Kamiack Falls (HO)…..

And Moretonhampstead in 2mm finescale.

Only honourable mentions, as I had seen them before – both are excellent.  The rest of the layouts – including even more good ones – will be the next post.