We’ll carry on our visit to Tolworth with a look at the UK based prototypes.  The first layout might have been included in my favourites.  I have seen Fawley (OO) a number of times, and it is an interesting prototype.  Modelling the oil terminal in its early, Southern Railway days, there is a limited passenger service, and lots of small oil tankers to shunt around.  All this predates the later, massive, oil terminal that Fawley later became.

Redbridge Wharf (OO) is another Southern layout, based on the old sleeper works on Southampton Water.  Another layout that I have seen a number of times, and I think that it has grown on me!  First impressions were not so good, but I think that they have added scenic detail and improved the whole scene to preserve an image of a rather interesting part of the railways – where do sleepers come from – they don’t just find them on trees, you know….

Completing the Southampton theme is Canute Road Quay (OO), a little dock based shunting layout.  Well conceived and home to some interesting rolling stock and locomotives.

And continuing the dockside theme, I really liked East Dock (EM).  Much as I like ‘staged’ cameo layouts, with built in lighting, I really liked this way this little line was presented.  It gave an openness to the scene that gave the impression of a larger dockyard than actually modelled.

Roshven (OO) was easily located somewhere on the north-west Scottish coast, somewhere near Mallaig.  This must be the ultimate test of any railway – can you locate it without any train in the station.  We didn’t need the added club of the kilt-wearing operator….

To finish off the day, Hazel End (O) was a light railway shunting layout……

And finally, modern image Collingwood….

The last part of this review will feature the overseas and narrow gauge layouts.