Last Saturday saw me taking the journey over to Rainhill for my first exhibition attendance of the year. Plenty of layouts, and a nice variety of trade support as well. A very fun couple of hours well spent.
Apologies for the picture quality, such was my rush to there I left the proper camera behind! Likewise, I totally forgot to take a note of every layout I photographed.
This layout was a great example of space saving. The run was a long U shape, but the long straight sections were probably somewhere in the region of 9" wide, only modelling up to the railway boundary.
The above layout caught me a little by surprise, as it appears to have taken heavy inspiration from Chris Ford's 'Garn'. Comparing this quick photo with those online an in Railway Modeller, it might even be the exact same layout with one siding removed and some slightly updated scenics. Unfortunately there was no operator around at the time to ask.
The engine in the middle here really caught my eye. At a glance it appears to have the footplate and side skirts from a Vari-kit, with a body seemingly made from a mixture of Jeanette and Douglas parts. Another potential idea to add to the to do list!
A very pleasing figure eight circuit on Castletown, packing in a lot in a relatively small space.
The South-West Lancs Light Railway (009) is always nice to see.
It also offered a chance at seeing Charles Insley's recently repainted Kato George England, now in the light blue livery.
Post-exhibition time saw a visit to a relative's to 'play trains' on their 009 layout for a few hours. It was also a good opportunity to get to grips with a show purchase: A Narrow Planet Bagnall side tank. I'd been after one of these for a while before they were discontinued, so to find one at a more than reasonable price on the 009 sales stand was a real treat! Needs a bit of fettling in forwards to prevent a slight swagger, but in reverse it glides like a sewing machine. Very happy.
Big thanks to the shows organisers for putting on a great day.
