Reports and Blog

My thanks to Neil Davies for writing this month’s report:

16 attended the meeting.

Julien Webb, with Jane, took a prime spot in the hall, overseeing a brisk trade in Peter Hardy’s locos and stock [Pic1]. Geoff Harper acquired Peter’s K1 [Pic2].  Several other members are now rehearsing their stories that a certain loco has been in their fleet for years… 

Matthew Tozer brought along a few projects [Pic3]. These including repainting a 7mm phone box, acquired from a layout donated to the Heart of England group’s layout. He then turned his attentions to repainting an Eggerbahn crane wagon into his fleet colours.  Finally,  another 3d print crane wagon mounted on an L&B bar bogie [Pic4] had a touch up.

Steve Mann’s test track allowed various of his fleet the chance to stretch their wheels. [Pic5]

Charlie Forbes brought a railcar and diesel. The railcar is a 3d printed body on a stretched Tomix chassis. The file was from Thingverse and is based on a French CFD prototype.  Details are still to be added [Pic6]. ‘The Thing’ is a Chivers Australian kit for a Queensland Railways loco [pic7a].  The kit includes the chassis, which has individual powered bogies. [Pic7b]

Ian Willetts was getting to grips with Brandgeight, having taken on its ownership from Peter Hardy’s family [Pic8]. Various items of Ian’s fleet were tested on the gradients.  These included a brace of mainline Hunslets heading a rake of Penrhyn quarrymen’s open coaches [Pic9]. Ian also bought a loco, vans and brake of Peter Hardy’s to keep with the layout. [Pic10]

John Davies brought along his in-progress 12 mm gauge inglenook.  He also had some 5.5mm scale rolling stock. The locos are elderly GEM kits whilst the rolling stock are mostly built from card and wood on Triang TT wagon chassis. The green coach is an original GEM kit whilst the FR brake coach is built from plywood. [Pic11]

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15 made it to the meeting.

Bob Taylor brought along a new layout in a box called “Dwy-Ochr”. One side has a station building with a platform has been made from individual matches and a farm house (pic001). The other side has a loco shed and water tank (pic002). The Loco shed is based on a downloadable card kit but cut out from Wills corrugated sheet.

Neil Davies brought along his backpack test track. He tested a Farish 08 bought for a Matt Ditch 3d printed Hudswell Clarke diesel and an 0-6-0ST “Sextus” (pic003). This was another Matt Ditch 3D printed body but running on an EFE Austerity chassis. Also getting a run on the rails was Julien Webb’s latest purchase from 009 sales (pic004). This was a white metal kit for the County Donegal railcars running on a 9mm gauge German Trix diesel chassis.

In between running trains Neil was also working on making parts for a weeping willow to go on Alfriston (pic005).

Alec Matthews had been busy again and displayed the results on his test track. First was a 2-4-2 (pic006) based on Baldwin designs for plantation railways. This ran on a Bachmann Peter Sam chassis. Next was a Forb model T based petrol ‘critter’ (pic007) running on a Tomix 4 wheel chassis. Going up a scale was an 09 0-4-0ST (pic008). This was based on Brian Clarke’s Vowchurch Slate company designs. Last was a Ruston ‘streamline’ 48DL (pic009) pulling a rake of Nigel Brooks Snailbeach hoppers from Joseph Jacks.

Joseph Jacks brought along ‘Snailbeach 2.0’ (pic010) where his Fiji got a run. He had also brought along a second smaller diorama (pic011) with more stock. This included the chassis for a Hudson ‘Gogo’ tractor. It used the motor and bogie from a Kato 11-105 chassis (seen front left).

Andrew Bizley brought along his layout “St Michael’s Town” (pic012) and ran a variety of stock. This included Andrew Weaver’s railcar (pic014) on a Kato 11-106 chassis.

Paul Walton brought along ‘Saint Marie’, his HOe layout made in a month in 2023 (pic 015). Set in France Paul ran a selection of stock including a rather nice Pechot Bourdon 0-4-4-0 (pic016).

Ian Willetts brought along his scenic test track. Running was a Fourdees Bagnall 0-4-0st running on a Bachmann Percy chassis. Also running was a Barclay E class from Westcliff Works. This was fitted with a Penrhyn style buffer beam running on the same chassis (pic017).

Adrain Hall had been continuing work on his HOn3 Climax loco (pic018) by fitting handrails. He also had a brass HO inter urban car (pic019).

Mike Bartleet again used the meeting to get some more model making done (pi020). Work was continuing on the On30 tool car and O-16.5 GVT brake van. They had been joined by a Mercian Penrhyn open coach (pic021)

Martin Smith brought along an O scale (1/4″) Mac bus (pic022). This had been built from an Italian REO model of a Fiat bus with a Corgi Mac bonnet.

Matthew Tozer was also using the meeting to get some model making done (pic023). This time he was working on a Peco laser cut plywood kit for a GVT brake van. This was to join his Harbourne China Clay Company fleet (pic024).

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17 made it to the meeting.

Dick Jonson brought along his latest purchases – a set of three of the Bachmann Ffestiniog break coaches (pic001).

Joseph Jacks brought along Dol-fach (pic002) after It has had a bit more scenic treatment. Running was a Kerr Stuart Corris No.4. this was a Fourdees body and Bachmann ‘Peter Sam’ chassis. Joseph also had a new Snailbeach diorama (pic003). This gave Ben Powell a chance to run a Tramfabriek ‘allrounder’ chassis he’d be sent as 009 Society TLO.

Dave Rowley brought along a small layout “Dilynwr Cynffon” (‘Tail-follower’). This featured a 3d printed bench by Ducket Models. Ruining a 3d printed saddle tank on a Kato chassis (pic004).

Continuing the theme of small layouts Trevor Street brought along an unnamed layout last shown at ExpoNG in 2012 (pic005). The years in storage hadn’t had any ill effects and it ran well at the meeting.

John Davies had been working on the GVT layout seen at the last meeting and had evicted the electrical gremlins. He ran a selection of 009 stock (pic006) and had some possible scenery.

Andrew Bizley brought along his layout “St Michael’s Town” (pic007). Scenic work on the layout has continued. It now looks practically finished – well, as ‘finished’ as any layout ever is!

Paul Walton brought along his HOn30 layout “Small Town USA” (Pic008). He ran a variety of stock but I was taken by a small articulated logging loco (pic009).

Adrain Hall had been working on a HOn3 Climax loco (pic010). The body had been built from a commercial kit. The chassis starting off at N gauge (9mm) before Adrian converted it to the 10.5mm gauge needed for HOn3.

Mike Bartleet used the meeting to get some more model making done (pi011). The current projects (pic012) were laser cut plywood kits for an On30 tool van an O-16.5 GVT brake van.

Like Dick Johnson, Andy Smyth had also succumbed to the Bachmann FR Brake coach. He had purchased the one with the curly roof (Pic014). Andy also brought along 2 books. One on the Maine 2′ gauge system and another called “A locomotive engineer”‘ full of weird and wonderful stuff. A Baldwin steam monorail loco was one example.

Martin Smith brought along some of his latest models (pic015). First was an NG7 (O-16.5) Quarry Hunslet “Margaret” from Bachmann. The other an On30 snowplough (or snowplow?) made from a Bachmann bogie gondola and a Dinky toy blade.

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23 made it to the meeting (pic001).

Dick Jonson brought along Tren Bach and ran a selection of stock, but managed to escape the camera.

Kevin Wright brought along his new layout (pic002). The BMLR (British Military Light Railway) is set ‘somewhere in France’ during World War 1.  A number of dioramas from the period incorporated into the layout.  It all seemed to be behaving itself on its first ever outing.

Steve Holland brought along an 0-14 layout as a work in progress (pic003). “Caldermine” had been recently uncovered after 14 years. It utilises a lot of Roy Link (now KB Scale) parts and kits.

John Walker brought along his oval test track.  John ran his selection of DCC sound equipped Ffestiniog locos and stock.  This was was another layout that escaped my camera.

Ian Willetts displayed his scenic test track with its classic car show (pic004). Running on the rails was a Fourdees Bagnall 0-4-0ST.  Ian also had a Westcliff works Barclay E class with Penrhyn style buffer beam.  Both locos were running on Bachmann Percy chassis.

Steve Mann had his test track set up.  This is built into a Really Useful Box, and he ran a Bachmann quarry Hunslet ‘Alice’.

Also using Steve’s test track was Charlie Forbes making a visit form the East Mids. He brought a trio of bogie diesels based on the Knightwing diesel shunter kits. These ran on Bachmann F7 and GP40 chassis. He also had some steel bogie vans made from Peco RoRailer bodies, and curtain-sided vans made from VGA bodies.  The latter had been cut down and fitted with Wills ends (pic005).

Another member making use of Steve’s layout was Paul Walton.  His latest loco was a 3D printed body for a Russian Tu4 bogie diesel running on a Tomytec chassis (pic006).

John Davies brought along an embryonic GVT layout.  This was a baseboard and track he had acquired (pic007). A few electrical gremlins were chased out, and by the end of the meeting it was almost running.

Neil Davies brought along Alfriston (pic008).  Scenic work on the layout has progressed significantly.  Neil was running a selection of stock.  A Bachmann quarry Hunslet repainted and detailed as Statfold’s ‘Jack Lane’ (pic009).  Also a Sentinel railcar with a Welshpool bogie coach (pic010) made a run.

Trevor Street brought a small display of Kato mini modules (pic011) and had a Dolgoch and some Talyllyn coaches running round (pic012).

Joseph Jacks brought along Dol-fach (pic014) with it’s LED lighting installed along with a selection of stock (pic015).

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18 made it to the meeting.

Colin Capel brought along a selection of HOe stock after fettling the couplings (pic001).

Ian Willetts brought along his scenic test track.  The centre of the layout houses a classic car show.  On the rails were a selection of Paul Windle locomotives (pic002).  Also running were a pair of Bagnall locos.  A 0-4-0ST (Fourdees kit running on a Bachmann Percy chassis) and a 0-4-0IST (3D printed body on a Minitrains chassis).  These posed of the photographer alongside the engine shed and water tank.  The tank is made from a Tomytec HM-01 body (pic 003).

Bob Taylor brought along his box file layout with a Bachmann Rheneas pulling a pair of vans (pic004).

Paul Walton brought along a section of a larger layout.  A quayside (pic005) set in North Wales.  Running was  a French style 0-4-4-0 Mallett tank loco.  This had been built from a a modified Lilliput U class body.  Running gear was a pair of N-Drive Productions 0-4-0 chassis(pic006).

Dick Johnson brought along his latest purchase. This was a freelance 0-4-0 tender loco with a haystack firebox (pic007).  Based on the designs of Isaac Watt Boulton to fit a Tsugawa Koppel chassis.  The print came from Double M Models .

Tim Williams made a welcome return to a meeting, and brought some current projects. The biggest was his Lartigue Monorail test bed (pic008).  Tim had also brought along his Kilimanjaro Summit Railway (pic 009).  This had been tested on Cadair Idris and the French Alps.  Tim was applying some finishing touches before he takes it to Africa.  Tim had also been working on a couple of other things.  Two rail mounted baths (3d printed from Thingverse files).  Also a Port Penrhyn tar boiler (Tim’s own design) (pic010).

Alec Matthews had been working up some 3d printed loco bodies for the Bachmann Quarry Hunslet chassis.  First was a Darjeeling & Himalaya Railway No. 1 class (pic011).  A similar Sharp Stewart design built for Brazil (pic012) and a Decauville Type 2 (pic014) are also planned.

Joseph Jacks brought 2 layouts along to the meeting.  The first was ‘Dol-Fach’ (pic015), showing some more scenic development.  This was accompanied by ‘The Coaster’ (see pic009).  Built around one of the 009 Society 50th Anniversary coasters and with just enough clearance to run trains around a pint glass!

As usual Mike Bartleet was working on some stock.  This time it was a variety of laser cut wood kits for On30 and NG7 rolling stock.  Adrian Hall brought along his HO/HOn3 layout module that will be the home to the Campbell Scale Models Idaho Spring Mine kit he had been building at the last meeting (pic017).

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16 made it to the meeting (pic001).

Paul Atkin (pic002) was working on a laser cut book end kit made of laser cut plywood (Pic003). He has also bought a Kato Chibi Railway set. Various ideas as to what to do with the powered coach and unpowered locomotive were shared.

Also working on projects were Adrian Hall, Mike Bartleet and Andy Smyth (pic004).

Adrian was working on a Campbell Scale Models Idaho Spring Mine kit for his HOn3 layout. Mike was working on some Peco NG7 kits, again laser cut plywood. Andy was building a pair of loco sheds –  laser cut kits from Peco for Boston Lodge in 4 mm scale (pic005).

Dick Johnson was planning a new layout. This used the Grainge & Hodder baseboards from his old layout, along with some scenic modules from his old layout. He had brought a baseboard along, with the ‘tin tabernacle’ scene for some inspiration and discussions. He also had one of the new Bachmann Ffestiniog passenger brake coaches in yellow & crimson livery, and a Peco ‘bowsider’ coach in the victorian livery (pic006).

Colin Capel brought along a selection of HO and HOe stock which ran on his new oval test track (Pic007). Unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough to make notes of what the stock was!

Ben Powell brought along a Kerr Stuart ‘Superior’ build from the Golden arrow kit but running on a Farish 08. Apparently it was a case of ‘3rd time’s the charm’ as on previous visits the running had been less than desired.  With perseverance Ben had traced the issue down to misalignment in the frames.  It was able to pull a rake of Chivers steel open wagons on Neil Davies’ test track (Pic008).

Ben had also brought along his scratch built Peckett 0-4-2ST ‘Dwarf’ and Narrow Planet 20ph Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0 which, along with Neil’s Fourdees ‘Leeds No.1’ and LKM V10C diesel from Narrow Planet (Pic009) also got run.

Joseph Jacks showed us progress on ‘Dol-fach’, that now was some more scenery along with a station building and name board (Pic010).

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 17 made it to our March meeting(pic001) marking the 30th Anniversary of the groups foundation.

John Walker brought along his DCC Layout (pic002) and gave his sound equipped Double Fairlies (pic003) and Mainline Hunslet a run.

Dick Johnson made a welcome return to meetings after his recent illness. Dick also brought his layout Tren Bach. Bachmann Quarry Hunslets ‘Dorothea’ and ‘Holy War’ circulating with a selection of stock (including the Purple Moose special!). Dick also showed us a rather nice Welshpool & Llanfair coach he had purchased from 009 Sales (pic004).

Dave Rowley brought along a small test track. A Kato England ‘Exmoor Pony’ in southern livery (pic005) ran during the meeting. Dave also had a 3d printed Lister Autorail pushed along by a Kato powered wagon (pic006).

David Churchill had brought along his work tray and spent the meeting detailing up a 3D printed GANZ locomotive (pic007).

Andrew Bizley brought along his layout “St Michael’s Town”. Scenic work on the layout has progressed well – in fact it looks almost finished! (pic008).

Paul Walton brought along his ‘wedding cake’ layout The ‘Tehachet Butte F&C Railway’. It has been built onto the circular base for a wedding cake.  The the cake base set is also set on a stand to allow easy eye-level viewing. Paul has used MinitrainS stock but in an American setting, and a series of cameo scenes make the layout look much bigger than it is (pic009).

Ian Willetts brought along his ‘scenified test track’ (pic010) and ran a variety of stock. One was a Bachmann Hunslet Dorothea (pic011).  A Paul Windle ‘Leeds 2/3rds’ on an N-Drive chassis (pic012) also ran.  There was also a 3d printed Fowler Diesel on a Farish class 14 chassis (pic014).

Charlie Forbes brought along his articulated steam railcar set (pic015), now painted in a read and cream livery. Charlie also had a snowplough and steam tram loco (pic016).

Neil Davies brought along his test track and a selection of stock. These included a Kerr Stuart Sirdar (by Paul Windle), 3d printed goods van and a brake van. This had been ‘kit-bashed’ from an Inoxion models print (pic017). Neil had also bought along an Inoxion W&L coach and Bachman Percy chassis (pic18),. His Kato Portram was used by Julien Webb to demonstrate how to extract the power bogies (pic019). Julien also discussed how to modify them to run independently.

Steve Mann was working on some new cassettes made from aluminium angle (pic020). Testing them were a Fourdees Corris No. 4, Bachmann Baguley Drewry and Lilliput 4 wheel diesel.

Geoff Harper ran his latest loco – a Short Run Batch 0-4-0st Peckett.  Geoff has spent some 7 years of work on and off (mainly due to issues with Geoff’s eyesight).  Now it’s at the stage of heading for the paint shops (pic021).

Joseph Jacks spent the meeting working on his Dol-fach project (pic022). Scenery on the layout is advancing well (pic023).  Even in its current state one can see the scenes, like the ‘gateway to adventure’ (pic 024) are developing well.

Alec Matthews brought along his layout “Port Ciaradh” (pic025) as a work in progress and did some test running with a selection of stock (pic026 & 027).

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17 made it to our February meeting(pic001).

Neil Davies brought along his test track. He ran a War Department Hunslet 4-6-0T.  This was a Langley white metal body on a Mintirix chassis he had purchased via Facebook. It pulled some 3d printed stock from Inoxion models (Pic002).

Ben Powell also made use of Neil’s test track for his Monarch 0-4-4-0T. It pulled his Admiralty combination car now in a red and cream livery (Pic003). Ben also ran a pair of Golden Arrow ‘Superior’ 0-6-2 tanks and Kerr Stuart Skylark “Ridcully”. Ben also had a Leek & Manifold transporter wagon. This was a 3d print from Stuart Taylor (Pic004) also got a run.

Alec Matthews had been busy designing and making 3d printed items. First was a Ruston diesel based on the Tal-y-llyn ‘Midlander’ (Pic005). Alec also made a freelance 0-6-0 tender loco – an “Alistair McEnzie Type 2 “Long Boiler”” of 1875 (Pic006).

John Davies made a welcome return to the group after recent health issues. He brought along a selection of 12mm gauge locos. These were a Clogher Valley No 3 ‘Blackwater’, County Donegal No 15 ‘Phoenix’, Pingueley bi cabine and Cf d’ Corse diesel. there were also coaches – Schull & Skibbereen 1st/3rd composite, all 3rd and enclosed 1st class saloon, and Cavan & Leitrim passenger brake van. And wagons – Cavan & Leitrim milk van and horse box, Lough Swilly box van and horse box Tralee & Dingle box van and butter van. (Pic007) For fun he had also built some “Chariots a foudre” wooden cask wagons to run on St Fayre Rhianne. (pic008 & 009).

Joseph Jacks had been busy testing some ideas. First of these was a short length of track ballasted then ‘weathered’ with grass (Pic010). He also had the original version of ‘Dol-fach’ (pic011) and a revised version (Pic012), all being displayed with a selection of Tal-y-llyn stock.

Mike Bartleet was hard at work making more On30 box cars from Mount Blue Models kits (pic014) alongside Adrian Hall (Pic015) who was working on a HO scale sawmill (pic016) for his HO/HOn3 modular layout, adding working lighting amongst other details.

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17 made it to our January meeting.

Joseph Jacks brought along ‘Dol-fach’, his mini layout based on Dolgoch. He is looking into mounting the layout in an Ikea ‘Eket’ storage cube.  This will make a self contained diorama with LED lighting (Pic001, lighting provided my Joseph’s phone).

Colin Capel brought along a selection of HOe stock.  This included some standard gauge wagons on transporters.  He did a few repair jobs during the meeting.

We had a number of test tracks available.  It was a little difficult to keep up with all the traffic but here goes!

Ian Willetts’ track saw a pair of Bachmann N scale Percy locos recently bought by Julien Webb.  Ian’s own W&L Upnor Castle diesel (a 3d printed body on Tomix chassis) got a run.  So did his Tyneside Models 3d printed Kerr Stuart Diana on an F&C chassis. He also had a Fourdees ‘Jubilee’ Peckett, (another F&C chassis). Finally  a ‘Dorothea’ Bachmann quarry Hunslet (Pic003). They were joined by Ben Powell’s pair of 009 Society Hudson toast rack coaches.  Ben also had some Bachmann Ffestiniog coaches he had been sent for review. These were a ‘Tin Car’ and Brake Third No. 2 in Yellow & Crimson livery (pic004).

Ben Powell had also brought along his larger radius multi-gauge test track.  His pair of Kerr Stuart 0-6-2 Tanks (Pic005), built from Golden Arrow kits, went through their paces.  Ben also showed with an Admiralty combination car in grey primer.  This had been built from a set of Worsley Works etches (Pic006). Kevin Wright also used Ben’s track to run his WW1 open Simplex. this had been made from a modified 3D print and ran on a Tsugawa chassis (pic007)

Neil Davies also brought along a test track and a selection of stock. First a tiny 3D printed loco (Pic008) based on a Kerr Stuart ‘Wren’ and running on a Tsugawa/Tramfaberike Koppel C chassis stole the show. It just about managed one of the Bachmann Review coaches (Pic009).  But it looked more at home with a rake of skips (Pic010). Neil had also been busy making carriages, bringing along a recent finished Fourdees Corris coach (Pic011).

As well as lots of active on the various test tracks we also had a number of members making models.

Matthew Tozer  was working on some 3D printed Vale of Rheidol wagons and printed 009 couplings for his Fox Valley railway (Pic012). Unfortunately I managed to miss photographing his an Ashover Baldwin and coaches by Bachmann.

Mike Bartleet spent the evening building a selection of the new 7mm scale laser cut plywood wagon kits from Peco (pic014).  Alongside,  Andy Smyth was working on some 4mm scale Peco kits for loco sheds based on those at Boston Lodge.

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17 made it to our December meeting (Pic001).

Geoff Harper was repairing his Backwoods Miniatures Barclay 0-4-0T.  He was fitting tiny keys made from brass wire to the wheels to stop them rotating on the axles (Pic002).

Joseph Jacks brought along his Mini Dolgoch layout (Pic003). Currently it is awaiting the arrival of some bogie stock to set the running clearances. He also had a Fourdees 3d printed diesel (Pic004).  Also 3d printed model of Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 ‘Fiji’ running on a Farish 08 chassis (Pic005).

Will King brought along some of his 009 stock that had a run on Steve Mann’s test track. They included his vertical & horizontal boiler deWintons, Bagnall 0-4-0IST (Pic006) and mcEwan Pratt 10 hp petrol loco (pic007).

To run on his own test track Steve Mann brought along a selection of 3D printed locos that were making their way through the workshops. These included an Upnor Castle on a Tomytec HM-01 chassis, a Simplex on a Tsugawa 16A chassis (Pic008) and a Fourdees ‘Prima’ on a Kato ‘England’ chassis (Pic009).

Steve’s test track also saw David Churchill’s HOn30 railcar.  This had been built by Garry Whiting from a Railways Recollections kit (Pic010).

Neil Davies brought along ‘Alfriston’, his Sussex based layout for some test running to establish clearances. Not doing things by half he had asked Julien Webb’s 2-8-0 ‘Victoria’ to do the honours (Pic011 & 012). She was assisted by Charlie Forbes’ scratch built 2-4-0+0-4-2 Garratt (pic014).  The garratt was based on the Ceylon H1 loco built on a pair of Dapol 14xx chassis. Neil also ran some of his own stock. Shown is a Kerr Stuart 60hp diesel (Pci015) . Also a Vale of Rheidol break coach conversion (combining the Dundas coach and brake van kits). Acompanying is a 4 wheel open coach made with the bits left over from the conversion (Pic016).

As well as the garratt Charlie Forbes had brought along his latest steam railcar (Pic017) based on Sentinel designs. It is powered by a Halling motor bogie Charlie had made the bodywork from Ratio Midland Railway coach sides.

Paul Atkin brought along his 00-6.5 layout made from a Rokuhan Z scale shorty micro layout kit. It’s now looking like Paul has finished it (Pic018).

Continuing the micro layout theme was Mike Wall’s “Saturday Nite at the Duckpond”.  Built into a box file and featuring a couple of photographers (Pic019).

Andy Foster brought along Hartland (pic 020), but any running was stymied by a pints failure outside the signal box.

Alec Matthews brought along his current harbourside layout project that as yet has no name (pic021). He also brought along some stock. Shown is a Paul Windle 0-6-2 ST and 2 Eggerbahn ‘Fiery Elias’ coaches. These have been refurbished with 3d printed parts including a brake conversion (Pic023).

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