esngblog

The Black Diamonds group had a large modular US layout on display.  There was some criticism of this layout on N Gauge Forum, saying that the scenery was disappointing, there were too few trains that were too long, and that the trains went too slow.

The first criticism was probably fair enough, as some modules were works in progress.  But the others were not fair.  American goods trains are often long and often slow as well.  It was refreshing to see a goods train move at scale speed.  There seemed to be plenty of movement on the layout when I was watching, but they were operating under dispatcher control, so trains would be at realistic intervals, and not tail chasing.

The coal mine was impressive on size alone….

And the end loops gave some ideas for fiddle yards for ESNG in the future.  I liked the second one shown, where a double track main line widens out to a six track loop, but the throat of the loop forms part of the station.

Now for the interesting scenery section….

Langston Bridge was a full length scale model of the bridge connecting Hayling Island with the mainland.  The Terrier and one coach was totally prototypical.

Webber Heights featured this USAF airfield.  One of my companions was severely critical of the air traffic control (or lack of it) portrayed, but I thought it an excellent chance to show off some model aircraft.

And St. Niklaus had some excellent German alpine scenery during the ski season…

For continental modellers, there were three layouts from France, including one with a working dragon in a cave half way up the helix.  I failed to get a photo of this….

Best name of the day was the German layout Bad Teiming.  Plenty to look at with a busy timetable (or should it be teimtable) in operation.

Arley modelled the Severn Valley Station of that name.  There’s an interesting editorial in this months Model Railway Journal asking why we don’t model preserved railways.  So here’s one that models a station on such a railway, but winds back the clock to the 1950’s when there was a BR service on the line.

And the last layout is Molinnis, based around operations on the Newquay branch in Cornwall after privatisation.  Yes, there is an elephant in the field in the second photograph.  And no, I don’t know why – they aren’t native to Cornwall.

So that’s TINGS for another year.  Apologies to those layouts that I haven’t included, mainly due to the incompetence of the photographer.

The journey home was not a good one.  We stopped for a late lunch on the way home, and held an ESNG committee meeting over lunch.  Then the M25 decided to come to a halt, so we had to drop off it and get back to Redhill through the back streets of South London.  We got home about 7pm, a bit later than expected.

To add insult to injury, the motorway fish and chips did something to my insides, and I spent a certain amount of Monday in the smallest room.  Still, it was an excellent day, and I hope to return next year.

So to some more TINGS layouts….

It was good to see some UK overhead electric layouts.  An interesting, but under-modelled subject.  Perhaps we’ll see more layouts now economical overhead masts are available.  I won’t insist on the ‘N-cat’ route with live overhead lines.

Hatch End is based on the UK west coast main line in the 1980’s, just out of Euston.  This simplest of track plans consists of four parallel British Rail overhead electric main lines plus two London Underground Bakerloo lines.  Very satisfying to watch…..

Lumpton Bank is set on the electrified east coast main line in 2000.  Only double track this time, but once again the aim is to watch the trains go by.

City Basin Goods should have appeared on the first post of favourite layouts.  A western region city freight yard shunting layout, with lots of large urban warehouses and non-passenger rolling stock.  All shunting is (usually) hands-free.  Ticks all my boxes!

Millfield Yard does much the same for the Southern Region in the post-privatisation era.  Any layout with Class 73’s gets my vote.

Meacham is a large club layout that was for sale.  Too big for my loft!  I liked the 1oo terraced houses, firmly placing it in the north of England, and even more the busy steam loco depot.

The Vale of Oxbury models the Western Region in the 1960’s.  Meacham has all the grime.  This layout is how us aged trainspotters remember railways – everything spotless and the sun always shining – NOT!  However, both approaches are equally valid and satisfying to look at.  And to be fair, those Hymek’s in the second picture are well weathered.

Ludlow is based on the Shropshire station and has a similar feel to the last layout.

Finally for today, one shot of Burton Parva, set in the Midlands.  I liked the bridges and quay scene shown below.

And as for the shopping, I managed to spend quite a bit, despite there being few bargains left on the Sunday.  A couple of coaches, some bits from BH Enterprises, and one or two odds and ends soon filled my (very small) bag.  I couldn’t take a large rucksack after the N Gauge Forum thread suggesting that there were a number of punters at TINGS who didn’t change their clothes for a month before the show, ate raw onions and carried an army pack for a rucksack.  I didn’t spot any, but I know what they mean…..

I was more concerned the previous weekend at Gaugemaster by the more corpulent punters who had difficulty seeing our layout due to the stomach overhanging the rails.

Final pictures will appear in the next post….

Another road trip for ESNG last weekend, as we visited The International N Gauge Show (generally known as TINGS.)  A fair number of ESNG members visited on the Saturday – some arriving at 10am sharp to join the battle for bargains (with varying degrees of success, I understand.)  Allan, Derek, Derek and I made a more leisurely trip on the Sunday.  Less bargains, but less people and a chance to see things better.

After an easy drive up to the Leamington Spa area, including a stop for breakfast, we arrived at the show before 10am, and when we wandered down to the doors at 5 to 10 or so, we found that the show had already opened, a little early.  Not a bad idea this – if you have people queueing to get in, let them in, providing they understand that not every exhibit will be up and running till the opening time.

As the photo below shows, there’s plenty of space in the exhibition hall, all filled with N gauge layouts and traders, including some specialist N gauge ones.

Today I’ll describe three layouts that caught my eye.  First off, is Edison Court, a close representation of a real station on the North Shore interurban railway, at Waukegan, 40 miles north of Chicago.

It’s rare to see interurban or traction layouts at UK shows, and N gauge ones are as rare as hens’ teeth, even in the USA.  All the interurban cars and box cab locomotives have been made from 3D printed models to accurately model these rarely modelled prototypes.

And best of all, there’s a lovely ‘Electroliner’, surely the most amazing interurban to run under the wires.  The articulated 4-car set could weave its way through the streets of urban Chicago, then hit 80-90 mph out in the countryside.  All with trolley poles!

Perhaps the character of Edison Court is that it models an unusual USA prototype using UK modelling techniques.  The result is delightful.  When is someone going to make some Pacific Electric stock?

The second layout is Embankment Road, a diesel depot reminiscent of Plymouth Laira.  A small, shunting plank, layout and fiddle yard, it’s well detailed and gives an opportunity for a procession of DMU’s and HST’s coming in for maintenance and locos refuelling.  It’s interesting that the First Great Western purple and pink livery looks so good on a model, whilst looking pretty disgusting on the real thing.

Third layout today is South Walton, based on a station in New South Wales.  It’s unusual to see an Australian prototype modelled here in the UK.  The show guide tells me that all the stock and buildings were imported from Australia.  Australian trains seem to be an interesting mixture of UK and USA practice.

Although action was a little slow at times, there was a steady flow of trains – certainly far more than on the prototype.  However, there was plenty to look at in the scenery, and to compare the details with UK countryside.

I’m afraid I missed the two kangaroos that are lurking on the layout!

More layouts next post.