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Our final visit to Tolworth looks at the narrow gauge and overseas layouts.  We’ll start with Blackmoor (OO9).  A close to scale model of  Lynton and Barnstable station.  What isn’t there to like?  And it’s all excellent modelling, as well.

Albula Valley (N) models – in compressed form – the spirals and tunnels of a real Swiss Alpine crossing.  Many moons ago, I’d turn my nose up at OO9 ‘rabbit warren layouts’ where trains kept disappearing and popping out where you didn’t expect them.  (I recall Mr Atfield built a module like this, that could hijack your train off the main line…)  But this is the real life version, and Most excellent it is too.

Another brewery.  Sewel in On2.5.  Set in deepest Sussex, the railway is freelance, but the brewery is based on Harvey’s Brewery in Lewes.  No free samples, though….

A string of pictures, now of Pine Bluffs (HO).  A modular US layout, that has been renovated and extended since I last saw it.  And the facia features amusing snippings from the local paper.

More US stock on Johnburg (HO).

And finally, the charming ‘Japan in Bloom’ (N).  It shows what you can do with a theme in small space.

So endeth the pictures from a very good show.  Looking back, I realise that I had seen quite a few of the layouts before, but they were all worth another look.  We were tickets 1,2 and 3 into the show, and it seemed quieter at the beginning than previous years, but I’m sure it picked up through the weekend.  I also have to mention the very good bacon roll from the centre cafe that we sat and ate before the show opened, and also the impeccable 2 minutes silence observed at 11am for Remembrance Day.

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.

Last Saturday morning was spent with Messrs Dawes and Atfield visiting the Tolworth Showtrain exhibition.  It’s usually a good show, and this one was no exception.  I took pictures of most of the layouts and as with Uckfield a few weeks ago, I’ll start with a few favourites from the day.

I’ll start with Kensington Addison Road (O).  I’ve seen this lovely layout lots of times, but it is always worth another look.  Rather like the 2mm Copenhagen Fields layout, there’s always something new to look at and admire.  I love the LNWR electric sets that can be seen in old and new liveries, and the station building seems to be more detailed than last time I saw it (or I may just have missed it.)  I suppose the cliched ‘bus on a bridge’ can be forgiven when it is an open-topped B class?

Next, Old Elm Park (also O), is inspired by Didcot and Old Oak Common (surprise!)  I don’t always like shed layouts (especially those with a dozen sound fitted diesels turned up to full volume) but this is a very nice model with some fine locos (albeit mainly GWR.)  I especially liked the roundhouse interior, set in darkness so all those diesels with lighting showed up really well.

The North Cornwall Brewery (OO) was one of two brewery layouts on show.  Lots of excellent scratch built buildings, and I especially liked the house under construction and building site.

And finally for today, Wickwar (N), another layout with impeccable scenery, and though I have seen it many times, continues to develop.

Simon sent me these better pictures of Wickwar….

More Tolworth layouts to come.