Just for a change, Shepton Mallet

Posted on August 4, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

Maxine and I managed a few days at the ‘New Wine’ church conference, that has returned to Shepton Mallet.  There were over 15,000 people camping on the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet, Somerset, in the south-west of the UK.  Amazingly, it was lovely weather, and all Thursday’s thunderstorms missed us.

We stayed in Glastonbury, and dropped into the abbey to catch up with our nephew, who manages the café there.  A peaceful spot in the middle of Glastonbury’s eccentricity!

I took the usual pictures of the miniature railway that is on the Showground, run by the East Somerset Society of Model & Experimental Engineers.  Most of the main line is dual gauge 5″ and 7¼” gauges (just a little larger than ‘N’ gauge).  Each year at New Wine, ESSMEE open up the railway for several afternoons and offers rides for all and sundry.  Read more about this little railway at http://www.essmee.org.uk/ 

Most of the engines are the same as previous years, but they seem to have built an new turntable and loco sidings.  Sort of large scale fiddle yard!!

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Sevenoaks show 2025

Posted on August 2, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

Just a few pictures from the new Sevenoaks show, on a Sunday.

Once again, the very attractive Royal Albert Bridge (N).

In contrast, Gilly North’s Ribblehead.

St Mawes Jetty and Hoopers Hill (N).

Essex Brick (OO).  Freelanced and rather eccentric and all 3D printed.

Dinsdale 1830.  Note the track!

And a range of micro-layouts.

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Bluebell 200

Posted on July 30, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

Michael spent Sunday on the Bluebell railway for their 200 year celebrations – but as a punter not a volunteer.

Had a trip to Bluebell Railway to check out the inspiration train, the 3 coach museum, with interactive parts which is parked at Horsted Keynes, they also had their Terrier & 33108 diesel there for people to step onto and have a look, there is a bus “Karen, the train simulator bus” but it wasn’t working.

I had got the train pulled by the 200th Anniversary GB Railfrieght & Bluebell Electro-Diesel from East Grinstead to Horsted Keynes, then got the train pulled by Sir Archibald Sinclair (Battle of Britain Pacific) to Sheffield Park Station (which had an interesting Vehicle parked outside the station), and back to East Grinstead.

Will be back in Horsted Keynes tomorrow to help with Stewarding the Inspiration train, but was nice to have a ride on the trains, and a walk round and not be doing the volunteer work at the same time.

On loan from the London Transport museum.

Inspiration.

And a couple of videos….

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ESNG meeting – 27 July

Posted on July 28, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

Just a few pictures today.  I had to do some house clearing for my youngest, but slipped down to the club for an hour or so.  I then slipped away ready to watch the England ladies win the Euros – again!  But here are a few.  Neil’s container train.

Two generations of mail trains (one slightly blurred.)

A brake van special.

Modern material transport….

And Brian’s view.  The club members all seem to have had their injection of monkey glands.  I’ve never seen them move so fast……

Back at home, I’ve been having a mega-sort out in the railway room, before I returned all the NCI modules upstairs.  I put my lockdown micro-layouts back on the shelf together, and trains are running on the American one.

I also corrected the minor fault on Cazenovia, that the traffic on the bridge was all on the wrong side of the road for the USA.   Some wise guy told me this when I first exhibited it!  So I prised the cars off the bridge and stuck them down the other way around.

Next job will be to finish the loops.

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ESNG Open Day and exhibition 2025

Posted on July 26, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

After a years break, were back with the friendly ESNG open day. Our open day this year will feature both modular systems the club uses – the UK 4-Track n-Mod and the European 2-Track N club International system. We’ll also have a number of other layouts from club members. There will also be some new and pre-loved items for sale and the usual real coffee and cake.

The hall is our usual meeting place and is walking distance from Earlswood station, a little further from Redhill, and on a bus route. There is parking at the church and in the local streets.

Layouts

  • N-Mod Modular (22’x6′) UK Trains
  • N-Club Modular (22’x14′) Continental
  • Dav-Tree (16’x3′) UK (Contemporary)
  • Oakley Lane (4’x1′) UK Northern Trains
  • Forrestone (5’x1′) UK Southern (Contemporary)
  • Windermere (4’x2′) N-Mod Module
  • Kuritu II (3’x2′) Japanese Trams
  • Stocktondorf (10’x4′) German (Contemporary)

Trade

  • ESNG shop
  • Neil’s Emporium

I hope that a few local readers will get to the show….

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Chatham show 2025

Posted on July 24, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

Saturday, I chose not to go to the Chatham show.  Just too much going on, and I had a useful morning doing jobs at home.  Allan sent me a few photos – not many, as the main problem with the otherwise excellent venue in the dockyard is the poor lighting.  It’s always difficult to see layouts without their own illuminations.

And despite the torrential rain overnight, the venue only leaked in three locations, and only one hit an exhibit!

The excellent Kings Park (N).

And the busy Upperton (N).

Vertical scenery on Obermatt!

And also on Hells Glen.

Looks like dusk on Ospringe St Peter and Waterlane.

And finally, the very attractive Royal Albert Bridge (N).  A great place to watch the trains go by.

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Watching the trains go by

Posted on July 22, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

A busy weekend for the Cha(i)rman.  Sunday was spent sitting on a dark, damp, Northiam station watching the trains go by for the Kent & East Sussex Railway diesel gala.

Class 14 diesel hydraulic.

Class 50.

Class 73.

And the ‘Thumper’ DEMU.

That tub of flowers must be some of the most photographed flowers in Kent!  A report on Saturday will follow next time.

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Talyllyn narrow gauge

Posted on July 20, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

Dave’s next visit was to the Talyllyn railway.  A short but lovely little line, and having staggered through WWII and remained open, it became the first heritage line in the UK.  And it makes an appearance in the Thomas the Tank Engine books! 

Along the line…

Rolling stock….

More comfortable carriages than before preservation!

A fine museum…

And the Cambrian Railways interchange.

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ESNG meeting – 16 July

Posted on July 18, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

No ESNG pictures today, as Wednesday was the dreaded ESNG AGM.  It was good to see 11 members there – over half the membership.

Nothing too drastic happened.  A few good ideas for the year ahead.  No nominations for any committee post, so we carry on as we are!

The usual discussion as to the best way to join modular boards together.  A number of ideas, but in the end, I suspect it all depends whether the builder can use a ruler.

Plus the usual range of red herrings (not minuted!)

Dave has been holidaying in Wales.  Some Talyllyn pictures next time, but today, a few bucolic shots from the remains of the Croesor tramway.  This line was horse drawn and quite long lived, the last little section remaining till the 1950’s.  It delivered slate from the quarries to Porthmadog.  Two section have been brought in to use, by the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railways.

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Godstone running day

Posted on July 16, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

Between ESNG sessions, Allan visited Godstone to take in a few buses.  Mostly modern things.

Godstone Green…

South Godstone….

Hence the expression, looks like the back of a bus….

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