THREE exhibition posts in a row?! It's all a coincidence, I swear. I don't normally get around this much!
Just over a month since my last visit, I'd decided to brave the weather warnings for heavy rain and head back at the Agricultural Centre in Bakewell for another model railway exhibition. This time for the annual Gauge 1 show, held here since 2010. I've been attending now for the last four years, but this marks the first time I finally remembered to bring the camera along with me!
This is taking the 'train set oval' to the ultimate level, with both live steam and battery power running side by side and some sizeable train lengths. What an image can't capture is the wonderful smell from all the steamers!
The Manor class engine rushing through the above image deserves a special mention as it was coal fired, the operator essentially having to shovel whilst sprinting alongside the straight to keep up with it. They'd got it down to perfect timing, clearly not their first rodeo!
Spotted awaiting his turn.
I know 'hand of God' images are generally frowned upon, but this moment did give me a chuckle. At the last moment it was found a scenic over bridge was too narrow to allow the engine to clear the main line.
A coal drop module on the corner adds a little bit of variety, and the working tipper mechanism always manages to find an audience. Personally I find watching the wagons being shunted one by one down the slight incline on the other side a tad more fun.
One big reason for visiting this show though is the trade support. A quick look at the website to refresh the memory shows a total of 29 stalls (Including societies) catering to every aspect of Gauge 1. For me though, the tools and raw material stands are unmatched for any of the model shows I regularly attend. That's not to say the others can't provide, but that this is very much a 'builder's scale' gauge. Essentially, if I'm after some sort of tool, or in this case a sudden need for brass tube, I know I can definitely find it here.
There is an urge to model something Gauge 1, and it'd probably surprise many to discover the main 'want' is to model one of these 7 plank wagons. I'm very much of the generation that grew up with the early television episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine, and it may surprise some to learn that during the early series many of the rolling stock kits came from Tenmille Products. The company is still going and were there on the day. I know there are people out there who produce replica faces from the original TV series ones, so the temptation to model a 'proper' troublesome truck is strong. I think the main thing holding me back is that I know it'd just end up one my desk as a store for pens/pencils...
One thing that did strike me during my visit is just how young some of the operators on the big layout were (i.e. clearly below 20) There's a lot of comments lately, and indeed an ever going on argument, that the hobby is dying with no or few younger modellers taking over. Certainly didn't seem that way to me, which I found even more surprising for such a large scale when comments about lack of space are also a regular occurrence. Perhaps it's more a case of the model railway hobby has come full circle and the idea of only owning and engine and a few items of rolling stock to take along to a group layout is regaining popularity again? It's food for thought...
I mentioned 'the big layout' above as in one of the back rooms were two much smaller layout. One of these was the "Chop It Up Lumber Company" demonstrating minimum gauge modelling in a large scale, allowing for a highly detailed layout in a relatively small footprint. The waterwheel hidden in the shadows did work.
Likewise, the pumping engine at the other end worked as well. This is a really nice little cameo shed scene.
Unfortunately my visit was cut short by the inclement weather outside. Not wanting to be caught out by how quickly some of the surrounding roads can flood, and having obtained enough brass tubes to hopefully last me a few years, I made an early exit after a couple of hours.
Still, what little time I did have there was very enjoyable. Big thanks to the Gauge 1 Model Railway Association for putting on the event, it's always nice to take some time out to just watch the trains go round.
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