Despite some heavy showers during the whole day nearly 600 visitors enjoyed the 21st Alresford Show.

Exhibitors really excelled this year and we start the report in the Main Assembly Hall.

The door is manned by members of the Alresford branch of Save the Children Society who receive a donation. Just inside was Rod Hannah and Chaz manning the TCS Stand. Rod reported keen interest in the Society.

The first layout down the left had side of the hall was first timer at the show  Peter Ingleton’s neat Wrenn and Minitrix scenic N gauge layout  which showed the quality of these early N gauge models.

Next was another first timer Queenie Ridgway with her wonderful Tri-ang TT layout. A super layout full of some lovely scenic touches including some repro Bilteezi reproduction card buildings. I was also treated to a Southern train as I passed by. Queenie was supported by her husband Rob who helped set up the layout.

 Richard Upton and his family had a lovely ‘purist’ Hornby Dublo 3-rail layout. Running well all day long this had many admirers who remember their Dublo sets in the late 50’s.

      

Another first timer was Richard Banks with his son and their  colourful Tomy layout. A very busy layout with spirals, rickety track and other accessories. With at least ten locos moving at any one time and visitors able to ‘assist’ there was carnage on many occasions when derailed engines  were placed on the track the wrong way round and several ended up on the floor!

In front of the stage was Steve Knight and Marcus  with their excellent Kitmaster Display and Steve’s sales table.

Alongside, Martin Evans brought along his very nice short scenic Dublo 3-rail layout , only 4’ x 10’’ it was highly detailed and Martin let the public operate the trains.

The rest of the hall was dominated by three large layouts;

Peter Corish and members of the Brickish Society had set up a  42’ long layout including  a table height to floor viaduct between two tables and above some of the trains ingenious LEGO contraptions including a Rubik’s Cube  ...... and a conveyor belt system moving coloured balls from one end of a station to the other with  a train picking up the loads. Visitors were mesmerised  with the complexity of the models. My favourite loco was a Southern  Q1.

The Chiltern Vintage Group had their superb Hornby Dublo, Wrenn and neverwazzas  2-rail layout with the recently extended section giving a length of 26’. This allows some excellent running with a variety of long goods trains. The Dublo Canopy station is one of my favourites and it was great to get a bird’s eye view of the trains going through the station.

Les Martin with help from fellow Tri-ang enthusiasts had  set up a brilliant loose lay 30’ x 6’ 9’’ Tri-ang Super 4 layout with Minic motorway added by Neil Bowsher , The theme was Transcontinental with incredibly long trains  supplied by Neil Smith and Les, help with scenic detail by Paul Rees and David Lyon made this a much admired layout. Thanks to others who helped early Saturday  to get the track completed.

The Stage area was full to overflowing. Four Marks Scouts had a Hornby OO Railways factory built layout with a variety of running stock.

A Brio set was in demand with the many young children who attended the show.

Dave and Karen  White were running his newly acquired Tri-ang  00 Gauge with Minic Motorway shop display layout. Only 6’ x3’6’’ this is a lovely layout with plenty of action including a car loading ramp.

On the front of the stage Nick Gilman and John Bruce had Nick’s delightful Tri-ang Standard track layout with full scenic detail including Fogg and Young Countryside buildings. Nick decided to make this a Jinty layout and a whole variety of Tri-ang Jinty’s including very early and  newer varieties were on show.

Eric Large who I believe has been to all the Alresford Shows was this year displaying his wonderful Lone-Star Treble-000-Electic layout with a variety of American Stock running and had plenty of sets on display with a lovely original Shop Display stand.

The centre of the stage was dominated by a very impressive Tri-ang Big Big layout by Steve Smith. I was intrigued by the track layout which allowed three trains running using several Y points.