[Whoops, title corrected!]

I had the offer of a lift to the Shoeburyness (nearly Southend) MRC layout, but turned it down.  I let Messrs Dawes and Atfield go, and Allan sent me some photos of some of the layouts.  I stayed at home and spent the best part of four hours demolishing a buddleia tree that had given up the ghost.  Cutting things down is really the only gardening that I enjoy – probably the civil engineer in me!

Anyway, back to the layouts (in alphabetical order.)  Elbow Lane (OO) was one layout that I would have gone to see again.  Elbow Lane is a small yard with a short semi-dilapidated platform for shuttle trains – and plenty of interesting Southern Region and 3rd rail stock to see.

Fenwick TMD (OO) follows the trend of modelling modern, yellow, stock.  I wonder sometimes whether the model shops will run out of yellow paint.  I think that I preferred the old red and blue departmental colours.

First of two American layouts was Geeksville (HO.)

Also HO was Goutièrres.  Gouttières was the junction of the Lapeyrouse and Neris-les-Bains line.  A simple little module, and Allan must have missed one of those delightful French railcars that must have been due to run through in a minute.  I do like these simple, immersive, scenes.

Modular American with Los Tanimals (N).  Allan keeps taking these pictures of the end loops.  Must be a hint for me to build some!

Put your teeth in for this one!  Rheilffordd Di-bwyntiau (OO9).  Love the concept!

Ruffles Road (OO).

Upperton (N).

And last, but most definitely not least Ray Taylor and Anna Bass’ White Meadow Quarry (N).  I really like the curved bits to the baseboard that is far more interesting than the usual oblong.