Last weekend I took the Bure Valley Railway ‘boat train’ from Aylsham to Wroxham, enjoyed a boat tour of the Norfolk Broads, and took the train back again.

The Bure Valley Railway was originally a standard gauge line. It was interesting to travel under standard gauge bridges and past former standard gauge stations in a 15inch gauge train! My train was hauled by ‘Mark Timothy‘ a 2-6-4 tank engine based on a Leek and Manifold design. She has a charming colonial feel and a lovely exhaust note as she accelerates uphill.

By coincidence the Broadland Model Railway Club were holding their annual exhibition in Aylsham. Two layouts in particular caught my eye.

Bishops Lane Brewery by Colin French, a small ‘O’ gauge industrial layout that doesn’t have a single point. I really liked the idea, the detail and the weathering. It was a brave decision to create such a simple layout. It’s paid off and the end result is very eye catching.

Chris Seago was exhibiting Ashfield Green, a lovely 009 layout I first saw at the Norfolk and Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers Open Day in  March this year. At the Open Day it was a static exhibit because it was entered in a competition. This time it was operating – and it was great to see it working. I had a really good chat with Chris and picked up lots of advice. Thanks Chris.

I do like Chris’s modelling. He creates attractive scenes throughout his layouts.

It turned out to be a great weekend for books. One of my weaknesses is second-hand bookshops. I can’t resist them. There was a super secondhand book stall at the BMRC exhibition, a bookshop on Aylsham station and the excellent Buffer Stop Books at Wroxham station. Needless to say I came away with lots of super stuff.

The 7mm Narrow Gauge Association drawings are for when I start scratch building. That is likely to be some time in the future – I have a layout to finish!