Another Saturday morning, and a slightly different five ESNG members again filled Allan’s van.  This time we headed south for the Southampton exhibition.  This is one of the larger club-run shows, and this year was as good as the last two that I attended.  Worth the longer journey – though it was an easy run down the M3 and a lovely sunny morning.

The layouts this time are presented in the order that I looked at them!  We start with “Hills of the North – the Spirit of Shap” (OO).  A very long (35′) but very simple bit main line across Shap summit in the Cumbrian fells, makes a backdrop for some very good, well weathered, models.  All appropriate for the location, trains from LMS to BR blue and grey days can be seen.  I enjoyed trainspotting, as the operators kept a procession of trains passing by.

Stedham Mill, Southern region in TT scale.

Express Daisy Sidings (EM) was built during lockdown to show how easy it is to build a small layout in a minority scale such as EM.  It’s just a little shunting layout, but the result is very pleasing to the eye (and a favourite of our ex-milkman Cha(i)rman.)

Tintagel Road (OO) models the Southern Railway on the ‘Withered Arm’ near Bodmin Moor.  The station is based on Camelford.  The layout has some very realistic operating semaphores.

Devils Bridge (OO9) is a scale model of the terminus of the Vale of Rheidol Railway.  Again, a little layout that shows the best of narrow gauge modelling.

Possil Road Canal Basin (O) is set in Glasgow, at the end of the Forth and Clyde Canal.  Apart from the railways, the ‘puffer’ and canal scenes are notable….  And the lovely Glasgow trams on the bridge – slightly more original than the usual ‘bus on a bridge.’

Quay Street (N) is an interesting mix of Southern EMU’s and London Underground.  It’s an interesting layout, and I was impressed by the small radius return loops on the end of the layout – they must carefully test all the stock on display!

Last for today, the most excellent Modbury (2mm finescale.)  Modelling the GWR in the interesting, just post-broad gauge days.  The running looked very reliable, and I’m fascinated by their train turntable!