Steve

Heart of England Narrow Gauge

I visited the Heart of England Narrow Gauge Modellers annual exhibition yesterday.

There were 20 layouts, 7 traders / demos and lots of cake.

All the right ingredients for a good day out 🙂

Here are some snaps. Click on an image for a larger version.

Melinau'r Abaty model railway layout in 0-16.5, inspired by the Corris and Talyllyn Railways.
Melinau’r Abaty in 0-16.5.
Melinau'r Abaty model railway layout in 0-16.5, inspired by the Corris and Talyllyn Railways.
I like the detailing around the loco shed.
Melinau'r Abaty model railway layout in 0-16.5, inspired by the Corris and Talyllyn Railways.
It’s unusual to see a roadside tramway on a model.
Melinau'r Abaty model railway layout in 0-16.5, inspired by the Corris and Talyllyn Railways.
The layout is inspired by the Corris and Talyllyn Railways.
Melinau'r Abaty model railway layout in 0-16.5, inspired by the Corris and Talyllyn Railways.
The buildings are very well made.
Melinau'r Abaty model railway layout in 0-16.5, inspired by the Corris and Talyllyn Railways.
The station is based on Aberllefenni.
Amery Quarry 009 model railway layout
Amery Quarry built in 1978.
It was for sale.
Amery Quarry 009 model railway layout
Nicely modelled quarry.
Amery Quarry 009 model railway layout
The layout ends in a canal transshipment area
Railcar on Amery Quarry 009 model railway layout
Nice little railcar.
High Lodge model railway layout in 009
High Lodge in 009. Inspired by the Canadian Forestry Corps tramway in Thetford Forest that existed in 1918.
High Lodge model railway layout in 009
I’m not sure what to call this loco but I really like it.
Quarry End model railway layout in 009.
Quarry End in 009.
Quarry End model railway layout in 009.
A good selection of stock.
Quarry End model railway layout in 009.
The slate cutting shed is very attractive.
Clifton Brook in O-16.5 is an attractive terminus to fiddle yard model railway layout.
Clifton Brook in O-16.5 is an attractive terminus to fiddle yard layout.
Clifton Brook in O-16.5 is an attractive terminus to fiddle yard model railway layout.
Charming engine shed.
Tren Bach an engaging double sided 009 model railway layout.
Tren Bach an engaging double sided 009 layout.
Tren Bach an engaging double sided 009 model railway layout.
On one side is a scenic area with a river crossing.
Tren Bach an engaging double sided 009 model railway layout.
The other has the station area.
Heart of England Narrow Gauge Modellers Modular 0-16.5 model railway layout.
Heart of England Modellers Modular 0-16.5 layout.
Heart of England Narrow Gauge Modellers Modular 0-16.5 model railway layout.
Very attractive module. You move the van to change the point 🙂
Heart of England Narrow Gauge Modellers Modular 0-16.5 model railway layout.
This corner module is lovely.
Please put a back scene on it !
Morton Yard SM32 model railway layout
Morton Yard proves you can build a SM32 layout in a small space, it’s only 4 x 3 feet.
Kit bashed locomotive shed on SM32 model railway layout
It uses old tinplate track and repurposed buildings. This loco shed was a 1:12 scale beach hut !
Scratch built locomotive shed on SM32 model railway layout
This little loco shed used components sourced from secondhand Sylvanian buildings.
Figure and trainspotter sign on SM32 model railway layout
The sign made me smile 🙂
Hill Farm SM32 model railway layout
In the same spirit this layout Hill Farm was connected to Morton Yard via a linker board called Middle Earth 🙂
SM32 Ruston locomotive
Nice little Ruston. Although it’s a big as an elephant so perhaps I shouldn’t call it ‘little’ 🙂

My only purchase was this book from the Industrial Railway Society stand.

Northamptonshire Narrow Gauge Railways in the 1960s by Sydney A. Leleux

It’s a super book, full of industrial lines that I’ve never heard of and plenty of photos of well used, rusty little locomotives. Just my kinda thing 🙂

It was the first time I’ve been to this exhibition. I’ll definitely be back.

5 comments

  1. You certainly get to a lot of narrow gauge exhibitions.There all good layouts, but it’s mainly Sm32 ones that interest me.Morton Yard & Hill Farm seam to be doing the rounds at the moment.I’ve seen them on several YouTube videos at different exhibitions, & they were at Stoneleigh last year.Dave Pollard.Sent from my Galaxy

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    • Hello Dave,
      Yes, I’ve really enjoyed going to exhibitions this year. I feel I’m in a bit of a transition period and seeing lots of different layouts is helping me think about what I like and what I want to do next.
      It was good to see Morton Yard and Hill Farm, lots of lovely locos and a great reuse of old ‘tinplate’ track. Pete has actually added more sleepers to the track on Morton Yard (by taking sleepers from ‘scrap’ tinplate track and inserting them on the track he used for the layout). It sounds like a ‘crazy idea’ but it looks good when you see it. The slow running of the Tin Turtle was impressive!
      All the best
      Steve

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  2. What a delightful model railway exhibition. I was very taken by the SM32 Morton Yard layout with its tinplate track. Very very temping since I have so much old tinplate track stashed away.

    I’ve posted some of the pictures over on my thread on RMWeb with a link back to your site here Steve.

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    • Hi Annie
      Yes, it was a lot of fun. There was a really wide range of layouts, in different scales, styles and sizes – something for everyone!
      I was very taken by the SM32 layouts too. The tinplate track looks good. It’d be worth getting your old track out and giving it a try, especially if you have some 16mm scale stock.
      Thanks for reposting the blog on RMWeb. Much appreciated 🙂
      Best wishes
      Stephen

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