Here’s my look back at 2023 and a little look forward to the new year.

The Roman god Janus had two faces so he could look in two directions at the same time.

I guess the railway equivalent is the double Fairlie, but I’m not the first person to think this.

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My Favourite Exhibitions in 2023

I went to lots of exhibitions in 2023. Highlights for me were the 009 Society 50th Anniversary exhibition, the Norfolk and Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers exhibition and the Ely & District MRC exhibition. What makes these three stand out: a diverse selection of high quality layouts, a friendly atmosphere and good selection of secondhand items (I do enjoy good ‘rummage boxes’ 🙂 ).

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Visits to Real Railways

One of my personal goals for 2023 was to visit more real railways. It was a very special year including a day out at the lovely Stapleford Miniature Railway, the dream of a lifetime trip to ride the metre gauge Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha in Spain and an unexpected visit to the Asturias Railway Museum.

Finally, a visit to the Mid-Norfolk Railway to ride on their Pacer. Yes, Pacers are naff but I thoroughly enjoyed it !

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A Year of Much Modelling

2023 was pretty productive on the modelling front.

My 009 layout codenamed ‘Boxomise‘ went from a bare baseboard to something resembling a layout.

I laid all the track, did the electrics, made a control panel, knocked-up a fiddle yard, kit-bashed some buildings …

… and made a reasonable start on the scenery.

There was a diversion to practice my scenic modelling that resulted in a photo plank. Hopefully this will be useful when I restart O9 modelling.

The small O9 Ingelnook shunting puzzle, Apadobe Mine, appeared in both Narrow Lines and Continental Modeller. It’s great to see the layout ‘in print’. Next stop Hollywood (not) 🙂

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It’s great to look back like this. It’s made me realise that 2023 was a very special year for me.

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My Plans for 2024

I find I enjoy myself more if I don’t set too many goals. So let’s keep it simple for 2024.

1. Complete my 009 micro layout, Boxomise, and make some new stock for it
2. Start another O9 layout. I know what I want to do and I’ve negotiated the space for it. I just need to start….
3. Visit more exhibitions and real railways
4. Just have fun, making models 🙂

Thank you for reading this blog.

Whatever you have planned for 2024 I hope you have a happy, healthy and enjoyable year!

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The Mason-Janus loco image a public domain image via Wikimedia Commons.

The Ferrocarril Mexicano, Fairlie Locomotive 46 loco image a copyright free image via SMU Libraries.