Events and Reviews

Open House/Running Day, Barsham Village Hall, 21st October 2023.

We held another of our Open Days on 21st October and were surprised to have quite a few visitors despite the heavy rain and floods. We know that two visitors lived in Brighton, and Perth, Australia, thank you to them for coming along. 9 layouts were shown plus 3 displays/demonstrations arranged for our enjoyment and to help the Barsham & Shipmeadow Village Hall fund. We were ably refreshed all day by Sarah and Pauline who also served great cakes. To them – thank you!

Click on images to enlarge

John’s 16mm display.
Shunting wagons on David’s “Pointless Shunting” (009)
Tram engine “Tinker” leaves the station on Alan’s “North Level Railway” (O-16.5)
Detail near the garage on the North level Railway.
“Griffin” is seen leaving “Pye Rigg Works” on Graham’s O9 layout.
…and “Tiamat” arrives with a passenger train.
Tram loco “Glem” is on duty and seen leaving “Ashfield green” on Chris’s 009 Suffolk inspired layout.
“Glem” has just arrived with another mixed train.
Chris also displayed his automated 009 micro layout “Ashfield Road”
A scene at “Nibley Knoll” station, displayed by Philip (009).
HOe scale layout “The Backs” displayed by Barry.
Here, a works loco leaves the industrial area on “The Backs”
A steam rail bus at the bay platform on Jim’s “Old Chapel Yard” (009)
Another view of “Old Chapel Yard” at the quay siding.
Bill’s display of materials used on his 1:16 scale models.
Two new weathered wagons on Bill’s “Little Ease”.
I failed to get a good shot of our display table (but here you get the idea) with many scales and also power methods.
More models on the display table.
Alan F was demonstrating plasticard modelling, on the day making frames for a Lister Autotruck.
Sarah and Pauline helping us with teas and cakes (and here looking a bit threatening).

Day at Great Eastern Models, Norwich. 12th August 2023

Our Group displayed narrow gauge layouts and projects at Great Eastern Models shop in Plumstead Road, Norwich. Many thanks to Anne and her team who kindly supported us all day with refreshments. Here are a few photos from the day….

Some of Richards 009 collection. He was building kits and running a mini test track.
Up a few scales to SM32 where John was displaying some 16mm models.
Two images above of Chris’s pizza layout “Chapel Mills” (009).
Displaying the difference in size, between English and American 3ft gauge, although the larger Rio Grande loco is HO scale HOn3. Displayed by Neville on the first board of a new project.
David was displaying his Challenge layout “Pointless Shunting” (009). Most items are 3D printed at home, locos, stock and even the buildings.
Alan, (another great scratch builder) displaying a part-built vertical boilered loco, and making the frames of a Lister Autotruck.
Chris’s railcar on his automatic micro layout “Ashfield Road” (009).
Malcolm’s work on painting 16mm figures.
Graham and Caroline were displaying their O9 layout “Pye Rigg Works”.
Another 009 layout was displayed by Jim, his Challenge layout “Loose End”.
A view of Bill’s 1:16 Challenge nursery layout “Noels’ Walk” a unique scratch-built shunting puzzle.
Stuart was making O scale American building mock-ups.
A friend of the Group, Isaac, displayed his 009 box file challenge layout.

 

Model Railway exhibition at the “Middy”: Sun. July 23rd 2023

Our Group was invited back again to the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway to display our groups layouts around the Brockford Station site. Despite some early rain the weather was kind to us again and by the afternoon many of us were hitting the ice cream cabinet, and also I noticed, the Middy Bar Coach too. Here are some photos from the day….. (Click photos to enlarge)

“Hawkins Tower” – 009
“Hubbards Halt” – 009
“Pointless Shunting” – 009
“The Backs” – HOe
“Pye Rigg Works” – O9
“Shipmeadow” – 009
“Southgate Sidings” – O-16.5
“North Level Railway” – O-16.5
“Ingoldsby Yard” – O9
“Ashfield Road” – 009
“Wainford Sidings” – SM32
“Little Ease” – 1:16
16mm display.
Halesworth to Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway – 16mm live steam.
Ruston & Hornsby 165 diesel of 1951.
Fowler diesel mechanical 40hp of 1934
Trade support: Thank you to Jasmyn and Anne for attending with the Great Eastern Models sales stand.

Narrow Gauge Model Railway Exhibition: Sat. June 3rd 2023

We held our first annual exhibition since the Covid epidemic on June 3rd. There were sixteen layouts including our “Challenge” layout entries, three Society stands and Great Eastern Models from Norwich providing trade support. We thank everybody involved, including very importantly Zane, Carol, Sarah, Ann, Pauline and Pat for providing refreshments and cakes. And a special thank you to Richard for all his hard work organising the show.

Here are some photos of the exhibits:-

The Ruston 10RB loading skips at the gravel pit on “Fen End Pit” – 16mm.
Old Simplex locomotives at the shed on “Fen End Pit” – 16mm.
Displayed in remembrance of James Corsi who built the layout, Barry Weston runs typical continental stock on “Ruritania Eisenbahn” – O-16.5 scale.
The right hand end of “Ruritania Eisenbahn”. It was built from an easy “starter set”, plus additions.
Dave Carson’s Edwardian 009 layout “New Walmington Pier”, full of detail.
Winter near the front line in the Great War is Baldwin 778 on “Plugstreet” in 009, by Laurence Hendry. Photo is tinted.
“Plugstreet” is a casualty clearing station where wounded soldiers are treated before being transported to hospitals. Photo is tinted.
The wonderful scene at “Much Meddling” (009) by Chris O’Donoghue.
The “Much Meddling & Farr Dyke Railway” is inspired by the work of Rowland Emett. All the stock is scratch built. Resemblance may be seen to the “House in the Clouds” in Thorpeness which inspired the tower.
009 loco “Alde” is seen down by the filter beds on Chris Seago’s “Reeds Beck Waterworks”.
“Reeds Beck Waterworks” is a Victorian waterworks displaying the well-maintained grounds and buildings which municipalities had great pride in.
Graham & Caroline Watling displayed their O9 layout “Raven Hill”. Here “Hydra” is arriving with a short passenger train.
A goods train is seen in the loop at “Raven Hill” station.
A Manning Wardle loco un-couples on the “North Level Railway” (O-16.5) exhibited by Alan Church.
The goods shed sidings including a transporter wagon. “North Level Railway” – O-16.5.
A scene on Ian Jopson’s “Whimsey”
Ian has included a mixture of scales, and used left over parts along with characters from fairy tales etc.

“Challenge” Layouts.

This years Challenge was to build an operational narrow gauge micro layout with a minimum scenic area of four square feet (576 sq. ins.). Fiddle yards could be added to aid operation as required. We thank all those who entered and put much effort to producing some uniquely interesting models.

The winner of this years Trophy was “Lysander Farm” in 009, by Ray Trudgett.
“Lysander Farm”: This railway transports hops, arable and dairy products on the Kent/East Sussex border. Restored stock provides passenger trains for visitors at weekends.
Ray receiving the Trophy from Helen Arnold of Great Eastern Models.
“Southgate Sidings” – O-16.5, by Geoff Brace. The sidings serve a small industrial estate built after the great war.
“Southgate Sidings”. Wagons are dropped off and picked up from various points on the sidings.
“Noels Work” – 1:16. A shunting puzzle built by Bill Knight.
The layout is built in Bills typical scratch-built style, much of it from cardboard and strips of wood, and superbly weathered.
“Pointless Shunting” – 009 by David Churchyard. A very different freelance shunting puzzle layout.
“Pointless Shunting”: The layout uses two turntables instead of pointwork to position wagons. Most items are 3D printed at home.
“The Martlesham Malteser Mine” – SM32, Alan Fuller. Equal 2nd in the vote came this secret honeycomb mine layout at Martlesham. Balls of honeycomb are loaded on to barges under cover of darkness and towed out to sea to waiting coasters.
“The Martlesham Malteser Mine”. The battery loco enters the mine for another load of honeycomb balls.
“Wainford Sidings” – SM32, Malcolm Cudmore: Great atmosphere portrayed in the Waveney Valley – a short spur near an aggregates quarry.
“Wainford Sidings”: Malcolm has used his artistic background to create a lovely scene.
“Loose Ends” – 009 by Jim Bamber. Also equal second in the Challenge, Jim created this fictional village scene.
“Loose Ends”: The railway runs through the village of houses, shops and mill. There are many small details.

Support:

Trade support from Great Eastern Models, Norwich. Here are Helen and Isabella manning the stand.
Great Eastern run a fantastic modellers service from their shop in Plumstead Road.

 

Richard Stone from the Southwold Railway Trust.
Supporting the history of the railway and developing “Steamworks”, the old gas works site at Southwold.
Alan Butcher and Andrew Barnes from the Bure Valley Railway.
Popular 15″ gauge line running from Aylsham to Hoveton/Wroxham.
Mike Kendall and James Hewett from the Halesworth to Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway Society.
Dedicated to promoting and restoring the narrow gauge railway from the Halesworth end.

 

 

“Running Day” at the Middy: Sunday 25th July 2021

Our Group were invited back to the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway to display layouts at their steam open day. The weather was good despite a bad forecast, and we were pleased to see so many friends and enthusiastic visitors. Here are some photos: Click on image to enlarge

Baldwin’s at “Llanfair Jamieinion” (009) by Graham & Jamie Doe.
Bill Knight’s 1:16 scratch built shunting puzzle “Little Ease” and display of materials in construction.
“Staines Barn” by Richard Doe (009) a micro layout receiving it’s first public showing. Based on a unique sugar beet line in Norfolk.
Barry Weston was running the late James Corsi’s O-16.5 scale “Ruritania Eisenbahn” layout.
Another layout having it’s first public display was “Raven Hill” (O9) by Graham & Caroline Watling, inspired by the North York Moors.
“Ashfield Green” (009) by Chris Seago.
“New Walmington Pier” (009) by Dave Carson.
Malcolm Cudmore was displaying his 16mm remote control Simplex and also painting figures as a demonstration.

 

Jim Bamber was displaying his 009 layout “Hubbards Halt”, here are two of his loco’s, a vertical boiler tram loco and coach and a Beyer-Garratt scratch build.

6th Open Day & Exhibition, Beccles, 7th March 2020.

Our 6th public exhibition was held in Beccles on March 7th. We hosted 13 layouts ranging in scales from 4mm to 16mm, 6 sales and society stands and a painting demonstration. With 315 visitors, it was quite a busy day.  We also held our annual challenge where seven “Fruit Box Dioramas” were built by members of the Group, which this year by its very nature totalled hundreds of hours of work.  Bill Knight won the trophy this year for his superb 1:24 scale “Narrow Gauge Graveyard”.
Of course we must thank Myra Davies for her demonstration of painting and weathering 7mm scale accessories and figures, the Southwold Railway Trust, Bure Valley railway, Halesworth to Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway, Helens Sales, Great Eastern Models, and the 009 Society Sales for their trade and society support.  Thanks also again to members of Great Yarmouth Brass Band who supplied delicious home-made cakes and refreshments.
Photos by G. Watling unless marked.
(Click on images to enlarge)

 

Southwold – 00n3 (4mm scale 12mm gauge). Stewart Green’s excellent Post World War 1 model of Southwold Station. Famous for it’s “Cleminson” 6-wheeled chassis and it’s quirky nature the model features all the flavour of the station area and the approach from the cutting.
Oh Guano – 0-16.5 (7mm scale). A Queensland, Australia set model of a facility to process bat droppings (Guano) built by Noel Davies. It is mainly used for fertiliser and also supplied to gunpowder manufacturers.
Orne – 009 (4mm scale, 9mm gauge). Chris Ford displayed his Mid-Sussex scene of a railway that has just managed to survive the war. It was built on a redundant baseboard.
Llanfair Jamieinion – 009 (4mm scale, 9mm gauge). Built for his son Jamie to operate, Graham Doe has constructed a layout with a continuous run, the tack plan being inspired by the W&LLR western terminus. A small fiddle yard has now been added for more operational variety.
Ashurst Brickworks – 009 (4mm scale, 9mm gauge). A fictitious layout by Peter Rednall based alongside a narrow estuary on the Sussex coast where good brick-making clays have been found. Now based in the 1950’s, a passenger service continues to run.
Character of the day “Maisie”, and (right) Myra Davies Painting Demonstration detailing 7mm scale figures and accessories.
Mirkwood – 009 (4mm scale, 9mm gauge). A lovely model of a small Welsh slate quarry and nearby village by Tony Clarke.
Photo: R. Doe
Caroline Concrete Works – 0-16.5 7mm scale. A concrete works loosely based on the Tallington works near Stamford. Various structures are made, including sleepers. Materials are moved within the works by the narrow gauge and finished products to a standard gauge siding. Built by Graham Morfoot.
Photo: R. Doe
4000 Yards Area 5 – SM32 16mm scale, 32mm gauge. Kelvin Barnes super-detailed WW1 scene based on behind the lines railways set in France between 1916 and 1918.
Challenge Trophy presentation.
Photo. R. Doe
The Group Challenge table, and Bill Knight receiving the Challenge Trophy from 009 Society Chairman Julian Evison. More photos of entries below.
Photo: R. Doe
The Brick Works – 0-14 7mm scale, 14mm gauge. An industrial layout built by Stephen Thomson and now owned and exhibited by Barry Weston, Ruston locos move clay into the works through a realistic scene.
Photo: R. Doe
Maentwrog – 009 4mm scale, 9mm gauge – Using Ffestiniog Railway stock, Peter Webb has created this lovely welsh layout over several years. Originally built to 8mm gauge, it was modified to 9mm when 009 items appeared on the market. First public showing.
Shortwaite Hill – 009 4mm scale, 9mm gauge. Graham & Caroline Watling’s fictitious, North Yorkshire inspired layout. Features a lower and upper station, scratch built buildings and hill scenery.
Old Chapel Yard – 009 4mm scale, 9mm gauge. A repair and maintenance yard set on the edge of a rural town by Jim Bamber. Jim is still adding stock and details on the layout.
Photo: R. Doe
Fishie Fishie – SM32 16mm scale, 32mm gauge. Work is well in progress now on this large scale shunting puzzle layout by Alan Fuller. A narrow gauge line serves the fishing industry drawing inspiration form Aldeburgh and Hastings beaches.

The 2020 Narrow Gauge Railway Group Challenge

After looking at the small mdf-made supermarket fruit trays we decided that this years Challenge was to “Create a narrow gauge scene in a box with sides – foot print no bigger than a piece of A4 Paper”. There were no other restrictions in the way the box could be used.

A: Tovil Treacle Blenders
B: The Greenhouse
D: Lineman Wichidale
E: Boxhall
F: The Windmill
G: The Depot
C: TROPHY WINNER: Narrow Gauge Graveyard
A: A mill scene in Nn3 2mm scale with a busy day at the mill and a wagon about to be moved onto the turntable for unloading. Built by Stewart Green using the tray upright and framed.
B: to the other extreme – a 16mm scale scratch built greenhouse by Alan Fuller with over 1000 individual pieces. A narrow gauge line enters the greenhouse to load wagons with produce, or tools for the estate workers. (Photo: R. Doe)
C: A superbly detailed scratch built 1:24 scale diorama by Bill Knight made using mainly card, small pieces of strip wood, used tea leaves, string, and teased-out felt hanging basket liner. This graveyard scene was voted favourite by visitors to the show and Bill was presented with the Group Trophy.
D: A rural scene in 1:24 scale where a telephone engineer arrives to attend to a telephone pole, while a Ruston diesel rumbles by. Built by Martin Edwards.
E: A small halt and village scene in 009, 4mm scale, by Graham Watling. Built almost entirely from the bits box and scrap materials. Cut-up calendar pictures give more depth as used on the back scene. Last years “Challenge” entry is also seen on the road in the form of the tea van (now mounted on it’s original road wheels rather than the rail chassis).
F: A second “framed” entry by Stewart Green in Nn3, 2mm scale. A motorised windmill forms the centrepiece with the miller taking a breather while workers attend to their chores.
G: A small RNAD (Royal Naval Armament Depot) in 009, 4mm scale by Richard Doe. Munitions and supplies are being transhipped from the standard gauge to the 2ft 6ins narrow gauge railway.