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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ESNG meeting – 12 & 13 July

Posted on July 14, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

We had a rather different weekend playing trains.  Saturday was spent setting up a N-club layout as we hope to take to the Erith show next year.  We filled the hall with modules!

After a certain amount of fettling and rewiring (!) trains moved!

Highlights were the first train over Allan’s ‘temporary bridge.’

And being joined by Nick Falconer with his lovely funicular module.  At least the funicular railway worked, even when the rest was playing up.

By the time Sunday afternoon arrived, eight members, plus our junior and our auditor turned up to play on the layout.  Not perfect running, but it was settling down as time went on.  Members were also having a little difficulty with a different mode of operation – control a section of track and pass trains along, rather than run your own train on a its own continuous circuit!

The weekend was completed by the usual curry.  And Brian captured both days.

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A little R&R

Posted on July 10, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

Here’s Richard’s display at the Bournemouth Bus Rally.  Set up out of the back of Allan’s van.  The gentleman on the left appears to have eaten all the pies!

And a look at some of his lovely Bournemouth buses.

Meanwhile, Ron didn’t want to be left out!

Having found out that on 1st Sunday of each month there were preserved bus trip from Alresford came down to have a look. Travelled from Alton beghind a Class 20 and back behind Merchant Navy class Canadian Pacific. Whilst at Alresford took a regular 20 minute journey on preserved bus, which was running a half hourly service.

The Watercress Line…

And the preserved bus at Alresford…

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Bournemouth Bus Rally

Posted on July 8, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

And so to the Bournemouth Bus Rally….

Lots of big yellow buses….

A few old timers.  The old Royal Blue coaches were just so elegant!

A few London escapees….

Big blue buses…..

And the rest, glorious technicolour! 

Richard had some of his bus models on display, but that’s for next time.

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Westward-ho!

Posted on July 6, 2025 by snitchthebudgie

Allan and Richard have headed off in a generally westerly direction, ending up, I think at a Bournemouth bus rally.  But on the way (on the way being not strictly accurate, as none of these places were on the way) they paid a few visits…

To the Swanage Railway.

A little modelling challenge for you all…..

To the Seaton Tramway….

And Beer and Pecorama.  

Richard is proudly wearing his luminous NCI shirt (commemorating vast numbers of N gauge modules connected together.)

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