Steve

St Neots Model Railway Exhibition 2023

Today I popped across to St Neots for the SNMRC annual exhibition.

It’s a small, friendly exhibition. Seven traders, 10 or 11 layouts and a couple of demonstrations.

The layouts were good quality, there seemed to be lots of visitors and, although the narrow aisles were crowded, it was well worth the visit.

Here are some pics. (Click on a photo for a larger image).

Priory Yard by Malcolm Goodger.
A nice shuting layout in O gauge.
Lots of attractive viewpoints….
Kyle of Lochalsh by Pete Macham.
The scenic area is just 680mm long.
It captures the remote Scottish atmoshpere very well.
The 2mm finescale works well, coarser track and wheels could dominate the scene.
The fiddle yard is visible, it’s lit and has a traverser made from transparent plastic so you can see the stock. Nice touch!
Ledsam Street Works by Colin French. Always good to see this little micro.
If you wanted to see if O scale is for you a little micro like this could be a good test ground.
Chica, South Illinois by Ron Bailes.
Another really attractive layout.
Ron calls this standard gauge with narrow gauge atmosphere. Perhaps that’s why it appeals to me.
It’s not a large layout but the HO scale seems to allow a little extra space for the modelling to breath.
Very nice modelling too.
Look at the ‘wear and tear’ on this crossing.
Eyemouth in N scale by John Spence.
Set just before WWII.
This layout ooses atmosphere too.
Look at the detail and depth in this scene.
Millfield Yard by Pauline McKenna was a really popular layout. The people were 3 or 4 deep in front of it and this was the best photo I could get!

5 comments

  1. Looks like it was a good exhibition. But one thing I must say, despite your instructions I can’t get the photos to enlarge – either on my phone or laptop. Is it just me?

    Like

    Reply

    • Hi Chris, The pop ups work fine for me (on 3 different computers and 2 mobiles).
      Two thoughts: 1. the larger photos appear in a pop up, perhaps a pop up blocker will prevent this. 2. If you get the pop up but it’s a black box with no photo wait a few seconds it appears WordPress load all the photos before the first one will appear.
      After that, sorrry I cant help…. I’m not ‘the IT guy’ 🙂

      Like

      Reply

      • Aah. I’ve discovered if I right click I can open the image in a new window, then enlarge it. thanks.

        Like

  2. Dear Steve
    Another nice set of pictures. I was thinking how the layout B4 WWII would look now probibly every space filled with flats and tiny houses, so laid out the housing then in some areas (not the slums). I do like the Chica, South Illinois layout by Ron Bailes I think you have pictured it B4 but always nice to see this compact high standard of layout, there is so much detail hidden in it takes afew looks to findit all. One day I might see the layout in my area.
    Thanks again or your nice pictures.
    Roger Sisley

    Like

    Reply

    • Hi Roger,
      Good to hear from you.
      I agree, the area would look really different if modelled today. The modeller would probably even have to include a nail bar. These seem to be everywhere… but I’ve never understood why!
      Chica is a super layout. You’re right I’ve included photos of it before but I like it so much I posted some more. The operation is mainly some lazy shunting of box cars. Great to watch. It’s well worth looking out for this layout.
      I’m hoping to go up to Spalding in November. That was a good exhibition last year…
      All the best
      Steve

      Like

      Reply

Leave a reply to Chris O'Donoghue Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.