THE GROUPS 10th ANNIVERSARY

Norfolk & Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers

And so it was, on a Monday evening 3rd March 2014 in Barsham & Shipmeadow Village Hall, that 11 of us came together to have a chat about model narrow gauge railways and to find out what we were all making, what layouts we had amongst us, if it was feasible to form a multi-scale Group and how often to meet, and what we were going to call ourselves. The ultimate aim was to promote narrow gauge modelling in our Norfolk/Suffolk area. 

Richard Doe our founder member had put announcements in several narrow gauge newsletters that he was to hold that initial meeting and I think we are all really glad that he did, for it has been a constructive and friendly bunch of friends over the years.  I remember he thought that it should be called the “Suffolk & Norfolk Narrow Gauge Modellers”…Suffolk before Norfolk? really, the audacity of it!… but most of us thought that transposing Suffolk & Norfolk sounded right and rolled-off-the-tongue better, and so it was named.

Quite a lot happened that first year. Richard built a multi-gauge test track so that we could try out and display our models at Group meetings. After a few months we looked at the feasibility of putting on an exhibition the following March to mark our first anniversary as we realised we had enough layouts amongst us to fill a small hall. Richard looked into hiring (what was then) the St John’s Ambulance Hall in Blyburgate, Beccles, which has remained our annual exhibition venue, now called Blyburgate Hall. Someone also had the bright idea of suggesting we do a Group Challenge, and this involved some of us building a small layout “Two Foot Square” or 288 sq. inches also that year. We would give the visitors (if they came along!) a slip to vote for their favourite layout. A Trophy was arranged for the winner, and it was hard to believe (that with such a small group, and many of us operating layouts that day) it was a success.

Also that year, I suggested we start a website for the Group in a bid to reach more local (and country-wide) modellers. I suggested a format, and everyone seemed to be in agreement, so with the help of my son, that appeared in 2015.

Unfortunately I have no photos from that first year as we didn’t decide to report regularly using a new NSNGM website until January 2015. I was attempting to find the first group photo I took, and it appears below, Bertie’s Corris No.4…..and the sad bit of this article.

A superb 009 Corris loco No.4 built by Bertie Hirst. In any Group such as ours people come and go, but sometimes our members get ill, and then even worse, we lose them. And last year (2023) we lost this lovely, sincere, genteel chap.
Respect for another member we have lost: James Corsi, an always enthusiastic continental O-16.5 modeller. This was his “2 Square Foot Challenge” layout “Arendt Spitze” displayed at our first exhibition. He would convert many HO/OO locos, toy coaches and wagons to suit his fictitious Central European railway. 
 
Two members who have branched-off into other things were Alan Harper-Bourne and his son Alex. This was Alans On30 “La Garita Hills Railroad” at our first exhibition. His son Alex also modelled in 009 scale, often bringing his small layouts to meetings.
Also, Phil Porter has moved on to other things. This was his 009 “Glenister Valley Railway”.

Our first Group Challenge for our first Exhibition “2 Foot square Challenge”

There were seven entries, quite a good achievement I think.

Here’s the bright shiny Challenge Trophy.
My Challenge “Raven Gill” (009) a lucky winner.
“The Heronry – Southwold Railway” (Nn3)
“Old Chapel End” (009)
“Upton End” (009)
“Ashfield Green” (009)
“Trial & Error Manufacturing” (SM32)
An early photo of Richard’s 009 layout “Shipmeadow”, which was developed as a wartime scene imagined around the area in which he lives, the railway is called “The Beccles & Bungay Railway”.

From 2015 we also decided to put-on another small event each year in the Autumn. Originally called a “Running Day” or “Open Day” held at Barsham Village Hall, it was a chance for us to enjoy a relaxed day running our layouts whilst also encouraging visitors to come along and see what we do.

A photo of Neville Doe’s HOn30 U.S. layout “Placerville” at our first Running Day/Open Day.
Another layout at the Open Day was “Hubbards Halt” (009) by one of our senior members Jim Bamber, his first model railway.
A small 009 micro layout by Alex Harper-Bourne, our youngest member at the time.
“Watt’s Yawzes Mine”, owned by Barry Weston.
Another photo of Neville’s HOn30 “Placerville” featuring the trestle bridge, with 2-8-0 No.40 atop.
For our 2016 Challenge we opted for a Railcar Challenge. Here is a collage of the entries.

After some contact with Andrew Barnes of the Bure Valley Railway, we also visited the railway where Andrew gave us a workshop tour and laid-on a marked coach for our Group that day.

Our trip was behind loco No.9 ”Mark Timothy” a graceful 2-6-4.
Standing in the Autumn rain on Platform 3 at Aylsham, our Group with invited guests.

The 2017 Challenge was to build a narrow Gauge Building, but there were only three entries.

This is Stuart Hughes entry, inspired by the waste trains in the village of Abergynolwyn, but this is a rail served garden building in brick.
Such an atmospheric scene on visiting 009 layout “First” by Stephen Clulow. 2017 exhibition.
Also taken in 2017 at Barsham Village Hall, this photo of Bill Knight’s 1:16 scale display. He not only operates his layout “Knight’s Yard”, but also displays the cheap, readily available materials used in the construction of his trains and layouts.
Geoff Grumble takes a different route for O-16.5 modelling using radio control. Built for his garden line is this 2-4-2 tank loco, battery power is in the van behind.
Here’s a photo taken in 2017 of Chris Seago’s 009 shunting puzzle “Priory Water Works”.  The loco is a Kerr-Stuart “Skylark” conversion to a tram engine.
Loco No 9

Above: We were invited back to the Bure Valley Railway on two more occasions. This is in 2017 with loco “Mark Timothy” again hauling our train. 

Above: OK, possibly we drink too much tea at meetings, but when Neville’s O scale Water Tower with sound effects turned-up at one of the meetings most of us headed for the loos!

Stuart Hughes was helpful to several members and a wider customer base making these laser-cut mdf modules (and other items) under his Norfolk Heath Works title.

For a few years we continued to put-on both an exhibition in Beccles and an Open Day in Barsham.

But in 2018…..it snowed

In March the “Beast from the East” arrived, we decided it was impossible to put on a show especially when the car park was under a foot of snow. This was my memorial to it in my garden.

The exhibition was re-arranged for 1st September that year, the Challenge was to Build a Narrow Gauge Wagon:

This is the only photo I can find of the wagons built for the Challenge, and Bill’s 1:16 scale Mobile Donkey Engine Wagon (upper left) won the Trophy that year.
At our 2018 Exhibition we were honoured to have the late Jack Carter’s multi-level HOe layout “Meanderbahn”, now owned and displayed by Brian Meldon.
This was the year I was able to display my Gn15 layout “Longstone” at exhibitions. Using mainly Smallbrook Studio resin kits for locos, Barry Weston helped me a lot with information on Gn15 stock and I am glad he now owns and exhibits the layout.
Chris Seago’s “Chapel Mills” at our Barsham Open Day. Chris’s layouts feature animated/working items, on this layout the windmill sails rotate at variable and prototypical speeds, there is a fire glowing in the boiler house and the sack hoist in the mill works too.

Again, in November 2018 we visited the Bure Valley Railway, this time hauled by No.7 “Spitfire”. Manager Andrew Barnes gave us a talking tour on the new BVR running shed with up-to-date facilities, safety and security measures. It’s was quite amazing to hear how much the manager and staff have learned about running a long line such as this, the techniques now used, and the power it requires for it’s locomotives.

For our 2019 exhibition we had two special visiting 009 celebrities John Thorn with his layout “Bottle Kiln Lane” and John Wilkes, with his wife Annabelle, with their layout “Coleford”, also the lovely Derek Reeve with his charming mouse-populated “Wendsleydale” (O-16.5). Unfortunately I didn’t get to this one as I had some surgery a couple of days before. The Group Challenge was to build a Narrow Gauge Railway vehicle.

This is John Wilkes 009 layout “Coleford”, unusually modelled in winter, and with unique narrow gauge vehicles. The story of the layout can be found in “The Coleford Railway Story”, a book published by the 009 Society.
The winner of the Group Challenge this year was Chris Seago with this O9 Fordson Tractor locomotive.
1st April 2019, and all the April fools supplied with cakes for our 5th Anniversary meeting.
Richard owned this unique layout for sometime, a 009 layout with a track plan in the shape of a “30”. It was a special layout built for the 30th Anniversary of the Wessex Group (009 Society). Richard made improvements and modifications to it. This is the passenger pier with a Corgi bus to 009 railbus conversion.

Of course most of our activities at meetings are split between modelling at tables, testing/displaying layouts and loco and stock testing on the test track, most of you who view this website will already know this:

Scratch building stock, in this case O9 by C. Seago
Kit building, R.Doe
Testing “Ruritanian Eisenbahn”, James Corsi’s last layout before he passed away.
Scratch building loco’s, in this case a Lister chassis frame, by Alan Fuller.
Testing trains on the test track, Grahams first O9 scale models.
Making buildings, Ray Trudgett’s lovely 4mm cottages.

. . . . . . . . . .

Above: Many modelling demonstrations on a regular basis at our shows has been by Alan Fuller who models 4mm card kits, 16mm mdf kits and scratch built plasticard stock. Excellent models. (If you can catch him in his chair) he is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable modeller to chat too. 

In 2019 another event was added to our repertoire. Richard, our founder member, has been a member of the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway for many years, it is not narrow gauge, but a charming light railway. We were offered the chance to display our Group layouts, demonstration and models there. So each summer we now display on a steam running day.

For our first show at the Middy we welcomed special guest Chris O’Donoghue displaying his micro layout, “Castle Quay”.
Stuart Hughes Gn15 “Norfolk & Suffolk Estates” layout at our first “Middy” event.

Here’s two pictures from meetings in early 2020.

The busy end of the Victorian “New Walmigton Pier” (009) by Dave Carson.
Martin Edward’s Gn15 maintenance works layout “Longstone Park”.

Then came our 2020 exhibition, though another success, I seem to remember the atmosphere was all very tentative with something called “Covid 19” threatening.

“The Brickworks” Gn15 exhibited by Barry Weston.
009 layout “Llanfair Jamieinion” by Jamie and Graham Doe
One of the first exhibitions for our 009 layout “Shortwaite Hill”.
Peter Rednalls ” Ashurst Brickworks” (009).
Graham Morfoot’s “Caroline Concrete Works” (O-16.5).
“Southwold” by Stewart Green (00n3)

The 2020 challenge was to build a narrow gauge diorama in a “Fruit Box” (or something that size).

Above: The presentation table with the dioramas displayed, and Bill Knights brilliant winning entry “Narrow Gauge Graveyard” (1:24).

Then came a period of inactivity for the Group as Covid 19 took hold. We could still send photos in to Richard of the models we were making during Covid and produced a few monthly “Photo Meetings”. Its hard to scan all the photos during that time but here are just 4.

Alan Fuller’s scratch built Aldeburgh Beach Boat for SM32.
Ray’s “Mountaineer” O-16.5 loco, a Smallbrook Studio “Eros” kit with new bunker and raised cab.
Chris Seago built four O-16.5 wagons for use with a proposed Tippler feature.
Malcolm Cudmore’s extra-detailed SM32 Phil Sharples Simplex kit being built.

It was frustrating because when the restrictions were relaxed, it was difficult to know how quickly to “open up” again, and what would be a safe environment for the members, so we decided to have a couple of “Car Boot Meetings”. We brought some models to display from the boot of our cars while parked in the adjoining paddock at Barsham Village Hall. It would be a safe way of having a Group meeting.

General view of the paddock Car Boot Meeting.
Barry Weston brought several second-hand layouts to display, amongst them this Gn15 Emmett style scene.
A shortened Hunslet 009 kit by Richard Doe.
Jim Bamber’s 009 Pechot-Bourdon 0-4-4-0

It wasn’t until July 2021 when we met in the village hall building again, wearing the obligatory masks and taking other precautions. On the 25th July we displayed our layouts once again at the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway. The Halesworth to Southwold NGRS and Great Eastern Models supported us on the day.

Richards Doe’s “Staines Barn” (009) in it’s original form. It takes it’s name and the unusual loco from Farmer Pykes railway near Claxton, Norfolk.
Bill Knight’s 1:16 “Little Ease” shunting puzzle.
Malcolm Cudmore’s 16mm R/C Simplex…
…and Malcolm demonstrating figure painting and tree construction.
The first outing for our O9 layout “Raven Hill”.
An unusual view of Chris Seago’s “Ashfield Green” (009).

It’s so hard selecting a few photos from several hundred shots in one year, but here are six from our 2021 meetings.

Alan Fuller’s 16mm scratch-built Armoured Simplex.
Richard’s Colorado & Southern 2-6-0 (Hon3)
Ray’s O-16.5 “Anax” 0-4-0.
John Tritton’s 16mm self-designed and 3D printed stock. The diesel has micro-processor sound.
Nigel enjoys making O-16.5 locos and stock using old chassis (Jouef/Playcraft) which run well. These are for a future Industrial layout.
Stewart Green’s unique set of working dioramas known as the “Wonderwall”.
Stuart Hughes Great Eastern Models Box File Challenge entry.

A great debate took place during 2021 about whether to try to put on a full exhibition in 2022 with problems in inviting guest layouts and booking the Blygurgate Hall at the right time post Covid and all that, so we eventually decided to do a show at Barsham Village Hall on 4th June 2022.

“Mopsies Peat Bog” (O9) was displayed by Barry Weston.
My wife and I took along our 009 layout “Shortwaite Hill”.
Alan Fuller’s growing number of 16mm Tin Turtles manifested themselves on his new wartime front line layout W↑D40.
A Group member for a couple of years now is David Churchyard, he is developing this Coffee Table layout using his own 3D printed HOe/009 locos and stock and miniature Tsugawa Yokou mechanisms or Kato chassis.

Later that year we again displayed at the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway in July and also a contingent of four of us displayed at Blythburgh Village hall for the Halesworth to Southwold NGRS as part of Suffolk Festival and the Whitwell & Reepham exhibition.

John Tritton’s 16mm display at the “Middy” with Blue Tooth-controlled diesel “Albert”.
Malcolm Cudmore’s vintage 009 diorama with Simplex and V skips.
Out in the beet fields on Richard’s 009 “Staines Barn”. The Ford Model T rail conversion and train fully loaded.
Chris was displaying two 009 layouts at Blythburgh, his micro layout “Priory Water Works” and also his circular “pizza” “Castleby Mills”.
Alan demonstrating, Bill with “Little Ease”, Richard with “Staines Barn” and ourselves with “Raven Hill” at Whitwell & Reepham Station exhibition in October.

Barsham & Shipmeadow Village Hall had some recent overdue improvements with a new toilet block extension, re-decoration and a re-fitted modern kitchen, later to come were new chairs and tables, all of which have improved our Group meetings.

A few shots from our other 2022 meetings:-

Our Group at the “Barsham Big Breakfast” on 12th February.
8th Anniversay cake.
Some members of our Group also by some of the superb 009 ready-to-run. Here is a Peco/Kato George England “Prince”.
Another of Geoff’s O-16.5 R/C trains the loco inspired by Sharp Stewart.
Two of Ray’s 4mm buildings, full of character.
7mm goods shed under construction by Chris Seago for O9 shunting layout “Ingoldsby Yard”.
Another ready-to-run loco, Hunslet “Britomart” seen on my un-finished HOe layout “Sampson Vale”.
A “Corrissy” scene, on Stuarts “Cilffordd Corris” micro layout.
Nigel’s O-16.5 Armstrong Whitworth Petrol tractors.
009 Manning Wardle pannier tanks (but my notes don’t say who they belong to!)

For 2023 we put-on our main exhibition in June at Blyburgate Hall in Beccles, the first time since 2020. We attended the Mid-Suffolk Light railway again in July, had a small display in Great Eastern Models shop in Norwich and also put-on our relaxed Open House (running day) day in October.

Special guest Chris O’Donoghue brought his whimsical Emett style 009 layout “Much Meddling”.
16mm scale “Fen End Pit” by David Barham.
At several of our shows Chris Seago has displayed his 009 layout “Reeds Beck Water Works”, a portrayal of a Victorian-built neatly kept municipal water works.
Alan Church’s O-16.5 layout “North Level Railway”.

This years Group Challenge challenge was to build a narrow gauge railway with a minimum area of 4 square feet (576 sq. Ins).

Ray Trudgett’s trophy winning layout “Lysander Farm” (009).
“Noels’ Walk” 1:16 scale by Bill Knight.
“Loose End” (009) by Jim Bamber.
“Wainford Sidings” SM32 by Malcolm Cudmore.
“Martlesham Malteser Mine” (SM32) by Alan Fuller.
“Pointless Shunting” (009) by David Churchyard.
“Southgate Sidings” (O-16.5) by Geoff Brace.

Great Eastern Day:

At the “Great Eastern Day” our O9 layout “Pye Rigg Works”.
16mm display by John Tritton.
At the “Middy” in July, Chris’s O9 “Inglenook” shunting puzzle “Ingoldsby Yard”.
Barry Weston was running this unusual modern industrial HOe layout “The Backs” at the “Middy”.

Open House/Running day:

“Nibley Knoll” (009) displayed by Phillip Moore
Tram loco on the “North Level Railway” (O-16.5)
Quayside scene at Jim Bamber’s “Old Chapel Yard” (009).
Chris Seago’s new automatic 009 micro layout “Ashfield Road”.
Chris Seago also displayed his neat layout “Ashfield Green” (009) , a Challenge entry at our first exhibition.

During 2023 it was decided amongst the Group at meetings that our 2024 “Challenge” should include something with the number “10” to mark the Group’s 10th Anniversary. It will be interesting to see what members have come up with. Here are a few photos from the 2023 and early 2024 meetings.

Ffestiniog and Blaenau Rly. 009 coaches by Ray Trudgett.
Barry Weston’s 009 Bachmann “Dorothea”, with Peco Brake vans and Quarrymans coach.
Ray’s Peter Sam conversion named “Barsham”.
Geoff Grumble’s scratch built stone buildings for O-16.5.
In August I took “Shortwaite Hill” (009) for a test run.
Bill Knight’s 10.25″ gauge generator with donkey engine.
Stuart Lamb’s town diorama with Fourdees 0-6-2 Hunslet and stock.
A little scene on the extended “Staines Barn” (009) by Richard Doe.
Stuart Hughes bought a couple of O-n30 USA Porter locos.
…and this is Richard Doe’s HOn3 Porter for his American Andersons Mills layout.
George Shaw’s Rye & Camber-inspired 009 3D print.
Richard Doe’s lovely 009 Bagnall Side Tank for his Beccles & Bungay Railway, a Narrow Planet kit.

A couple of new items for Group meetings are a new multi-gauge test track with built-in controller through a multi-way switch to the appropriate tracks, and a small set of display shelves.

Layout List: 

Layouts (Challenge entries, micros, exhibition layouts) built by, or owned by our members during the 10 years of the Group, in no particular order.

Chapel Mills009CS
Hofbau Engine Works0-16.5JC
Glenister Valley Rly009PP
Ashfield Green009CS
Hubbards Halt009JB
Knights Yard1:16BK
Farm Micro009AxH-B
Un-named009S
Un-named009AxH-B
Fruit Packaging FactoryO9BW
FenwellO-16.5BW
Hawkins Tower009GW/PM
Reeds Beck Water Works009CS
PlacervilleHOn30ND
Gneiss CiderGN15BW
La Garita Hills RailroadOn30AH-B
Shipmeadow009RD
Ruritania EngineeringO-16.5JC
Little Ease1:16BK
Thurtey009RD
Priory Waterworks009CS
Longstone Maintenance ShedGn15GW/ME
LongstoneGn15GW/BW
Nibley Knoll009GW/PM
Bridge over the BlythNn3SG
Old Chapel Yard009JB
Grumblewick Coombe009GW
Arendt SpitzeO-16.5JC
Arendt Spitze (Large version)O-16.5JC
Upton End009AxH-B
Raven Gill009GW
The Heronry, Southwold RailwayNn3SG
The Whitsend Tramway009GW
Trial and Error ManufacturingSM32SH
Watt’s MineGn15BW
Lester Tin Mine009RD
The Ship InnGn15BW
Ellerbank009GW
Cilffyredd Corris009SH
Newlands FarmGn15BW
Llanfair Jamieinion009J&GD
Birds Folly009SG
Southwold Railway 1922OOn3SG
The BrickworksGn15BW
Shortwaite Hill009GW
Staines Barn009RD
Coffee Table layout009/HO9DCh
Wonder WallVariousSG
Raven HillO9GW
WD40 War Dept Area 4012SM32AF
Mopsies Peat BogO9BW
New Walmington Pier009DCa
Pointless Shunting009DCh
Pye Rigg WorksO9GW
The Backs009BW
Southgate SidingsO-16.5GB
North Level RailwayO-16.5AC
Ingoldsby yardO9CS
Ashfield Road009CS
Wainford SidingsSM32MC
Noels Walk1:16BK
Lysander Farm009RT
The Marthesham Malteser MineSM32AF
Loose Ends009JB

When I went to the first meeting ten years ago I was quite narrow minded (pardon the pun), and, deeply into 009 scale I hoped that there would be mostly 009 modellers at our first meetings. But to see everyone else’s projects of varying scales and techniques over the years it has been very rewarding, so how wrong I was. Add the fact that I became interested in Gn15 and O9 too during this time, seeing multiple scales being built and at work really inspired me and gave me a broader knowledge.

Meetings have always been informal, just with the odd chat now and again to help organise and arrange things. We let any new or prospective members meet the Group to see what we do. When they are happy to come along regularly we ask for a fee at each visit to cover the cost of the hall and heating (at present £4 per visit average). At meetings, the number of Group members is regularly 15 or so, and on occasions the village hall has been full as each member has a table to work at or display on, or, a layout is displayed/tested.

The last mention and congratulations must be sent to our founder member and organiser Richard Doe, occasionally assisted by his good wife Sarah, for he has formed a great group, thanks to him organising both meetings and exhibitions, inviting guest layouts, advertising and admin on behalf of the Group.

Graham Watling, Feb.2024.

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