|
Perfect English weather
was the setting for the 25th ‘Silver Jubilee ‘ Alresford
Festival of Toy Trains held at Perins School on 17th
June 2017.
Over 600 visitors enjoyed 23
layouts and nearly 90 sales tables, together with BBQ,
Real ale and Ice Cream on the concourse with some sales
tables and
trains also outside.
As we enter
the Assembly Hall
where most of the smaller gauge layouts are
The TCS
Society stand was first on view with Rod Hannah, Tony
Stanford and Malcolm Pugh actively promoting the society
and encouraging new members and renewing subscriptions.
In the corner Marcus Lecky was
running Bob Leggett’s Tri-ang TT Shop display layout and
taking pride of place was a Merchant Navy pulling a rake
of repainted blood and custard coaches with a Railcar
also on duty.
Alongside Rob Hampton was selling TT items
and was also publicising his new book on Tri-ang TT
which will be launched shortly.
Moving round we have David Lyon’s
new slightly smaller Tri-ang 00 Gauge and Minic Motorway
layouts, with almost as many features as the previous
layout this really shows off how well the motorway can
be incorporated with railways. Visitors are always
fascinated by the cars stopping at junctions and level
crossings.
One of the much awaited displays at
the show was David and Jan Nevett’s
Gamages
00 Gauge London
Terminus Station. This was built for Gamages in 1953
possibly by Bertram Otto and David has spent hours
cleaning and restoring it and had set it on a board
within a London scene using
Hornby Emu’s running in and out of the station. David
was overwhelmed with the response and also with the
interest in his excellent Wilson Lorry display and met
three other Wilson collectors !
In front of the stage Steve Knight
, Marcus Archer and Terry from the Kitmaster Club were
running Airfix RTR 00 Gauge Trains including the Dr X
set and Wild West Set.
Roger and Barbara Burnish were
running Hornby Dublo 3-Rail on their neat scenic layout
which as usual had some lovely alternative items such as
Thomas and Toby the tram engine. The Station and Goods
Yard were full of detail including many Master models.
Alongside Any Heyelman set up
Italian HO Gauge and had several circuits with trains by
Lima, Ingap and Rivarossi and various Italian models by
other manufacturers. Andy also had an excellent display
of sets. I was particularly taken with Lima SR green
4-wheel coaches which appear to be cut down Tri-ang
stock!
Alton Model Railway group were on
the look out for new members and Steve Cook , Roger Joel
and other members came along with a couple of their N
Gauge layouts to try and woo some new members.
The centre of the hall was filled
by two large layouts, Les Martin with help from Dave
White, Neil Smith and Paul Rees has set up a mammoth 24’
Tri-ang Transcontinental Layout including Australian and
New Zealand Models. Les had prepared well and they had
seven tracks running all day long. A high level area had
also been created in the middle where the trains left
the boards to go through the Rockies (Airfix Monte Carlo
boards). I even spotted a Tri-ang Cable Car set. A much
admired layout.
The Chiltern group had their large
Hornby Dublo Wrenn 2-Rail layout and as usual were
running full length Trains all day. To coincide with the
Silver Jubilee a ‘Wrenn’ Quicksilver was on duty with a
rake of Silver Jubilee Coaches. Again a popular layout
with visitors who love seeing the long trains.
The stage was full. In the middle
Neil Bowsher was running a Hornby Acho layout with a
large high level circuit and two low levels with a full
street of Jouef buildings. In the centre was Neil’s
latest pride and joy. An Airfix Bristol Freighter
in Sabena colours
with a Kibri ‘ Airport Tower’ both with lights place by
the small runway.
In front Nick Gillman and John
Bruce were enjoying running Nick’s ‘Historic 00 Gauge ‘
layout. Including a Tri-ang Rocket and several kit built
Locos and coaches with Tri-ang Countryside buildings
this looked every part a mid 19th Century
layout, such was it’s appeal; Nick was invited to attend
three other shows!
Four Marks Scouts were running
their modern Hornby 00 Gauge layout and a Brio set was
on the floor for the very young and a Table for Lone
Star 000 was available for visitors to play with.
In the extension Peter Corish and
Members of the Bricikish Association took one whole side
of the building and several other tables with a large
Lego railway, Lego displays and Duplo Trains, A large
table full of bricks and a seek and find game as well as
a separate Train layout with a special truck created by
Peter to celebrate 25 years.
Moving outside to the Sports Hall,
we pass ABC
Models and Richard Panes Trading outside, Graham Bilbe
with help from Harriet Mustard were running 100 year old
Gauge 1 Live Steam and Clockwork as well as LGB Trains
with Trolley Buses and Trams making an appearance.
Moving round to the Sports Hall,
the first thing everyone notices is the Bowman Groups
live steam with O Gauge and
Gauge 1 circuits, a variety of stock ran very well all
day and well done to all the group in such warm
conditions. A Cable Car set had also been set up using
Meccano, Hornby Trains and a cable Car kit which has
just been featured in the Train Collector
On the wall Bryan Pentland had set
up a wonder triple level layout and was running Japanese
Tinplate with a collection of German buildings. One of
the most colourful
layouts at the show which always had something
running.
In the corner Andrew Smart with the
Mountbatten School Model Railway Club had two layouts.
One was a clockwork O gauge layout with a host of
interesting wooden buildings and homemade scenery
together with several dioramas such as the village
cricket team. Running was mainly Hornby post war stock.
The other layout was a Tri-ang Standard Track/Series
three track layout that the Club has been restoring over
the last two years and featured Tri-ang stock from the
late 1950’s.
On the far wall the Mortimer HRCA
Group led by Howard Star-Keddle were running pre-war
Electric Hornby O Gauge
and modern
Ace and Darstead Locos. Joining in with the 25th
Anniversary I spotted Silver Fox with a full rake of
Jubilee Coaches, there was also a Bayko Village with
early Dinky vehicles. A very popular layout with three
running tracks and plenty of scenery to admire .
In the middle John and Briony
Hollands were running Hornby clockwork MO Series Trains
and had a lovely tinplate village and
canal display. John and Briony kept running all
day long with the occasional help from some battery
operated locos.
Adam Heely with help from Bob
Boorman had
a superb continental O gauge layout mainly running
French and German
trains with scenery by several manufacturers. A
very impressive French Hornby Marseille Station was
centre piece. Trains by Jep, LR and Marklin kept
visitors happy all day.
In amongst the traders Clive Parker
was running Trix on his very compact layout. Fitting in
as much as you possibly can this layout is always a
delight to watch.
The rest of the hall was devoted to
80 sales tables. Most traders reported excellent sales,
two regulars had their best ever Alresford.
Thanks to Four Marks Scouts who
organised the Car Parking and refreshments including
Bacon Butties in the morning
and tea all day
long, Cheriton and Alresford Scouts who ran the BBQ and
sold Real Ale and a big thank you again to the Alresford
branch of Save the Children who manned both entrances.
Over £2000 was raised for and by
the Scouts and Save the Children.
The 26th show will be on
Sat June 16th 2018
Bob Leggett
|
