Thornbury Model Railway Exhibition 2014

The 47th annual Model Railway and Modelling Exhibition of the Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Model Railway Club was held at The Chantry, 52 Castle Street, Thornbury BS35 1HB on Saturday and Sunday 29 and 30 November 2014.

 

LAYOUT AND ATTRACTION REVIEW

 

STAPLEY by Phil Haskins

O Gauge 7mm scale

Stapley was a finescale O Gauge layout based on former Cambrian Railway lines during the British Railways era of the mid 1950s. By this time former London Midland and Scottish railway locomotives and rolling stock were appearing in mid Wales as well as more familiar Great Western trains.Stapley was a finescale O Gauge layout based on former Cambrian Railway lines during the British Railways era of the mid 1950s.  By this time former London Midland and Scottish railway locomotives and rolling stock were appearing in mid Wales as well as more familiar Great Western trains.  5781 seen here in charge of a train of vans was one of five 5700 Class 0-6-0PTs built at Swindon in 1929 to Lot 260 and delivered new in December that year to Bristol St Phillip’s Marsh Depot. Its final GWR shed in 1947 was Westbury and withdrawal from British Railways service came at Yeovil in October 1958.

 

 

 

WAGON LOADS AND KIT MAKING  

by Phil Harries and Eddie Michel

O Gauge 7mm scale

The P&M fleet - completed in 1916 -also contained four locomotives built by fellow Britolians Peckett & Sons, two by Brush of Loughborough and one each by Andrew Barclay and Hawthorne Leslie. Of these, four survived into British Railways Western Region ownership in 1948 and the last to be withdrawn was one of the Pecketts, numbered 12 by P&M, 935 by the Great Western and latterly 1152 by British Railways.Train operating companies subcontracting for others is commonplace today but one historic example of this practice was the firm of Powesland and Mason (P&M) supplying locomotives and crew to work in Swansea Harbour supplementing the existing motive power of the Swansea Harbour Trust.  P&M began these operations in 1903 and were absorbed into the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1924.  The GWR continued to use the nine strong ex P&M fleet for shunting and short trip working, with some of the  0-4-0STs eventually being based as far away as Danygraig depot, west of east Swansea’s Jersey Marine station.

The oldest of the P&M fleet, Number 7, had been built by Avonside of Bristol for the South Devon Railway as a Broad Gauge Raven Class “Rook” in 1874, the outside cylindered 0-4-0ST having then been converted to Standard Gauge in 1892, changing GWR numbers from 2176 to 1330 before being sold to P&M in 1903.

The P&M fleet  – completed in 1916 -also contained four locomotives built by fellow Britolians Peckett & Sons, two by Brush of Loughborough and one each by Andrew Barclay and Hawthorne Leslie.  Of these, four survived into British Railways Western Region ownership in 1948 and the last to be withdrawn – in 1963- was one of the Pecketts, numbered 12 by P&M, 935 by the Great Western and latterly 1152 by British Railways.

For this picture the model makers kindly removed the roof of their model of 1152 to show off the cab detailing and posed the 0-4-0ST next to a monochrome image of the real engine at Danygraig MPD taken in 1958 by Gloucester resident (and my childhood hero) Norman Preedy.For this picture the model makers kindly removed the roof of their model of 1152 to show off the cab detailing and posed the 0-4-0ST next to a monochrome image of the real engine at Danygraig MPD taken in 1958 by Gloucester resident (and my childhood hero) Norman Preedy.

Although 1152 was later scrapped, Brush built P&M 6 (GWR 921) survives at Snibston Discovery Park near Coalville, Leicestershire, the 1906 vintage engine having been sold on by the GWR in 1929.

 

 

HOOKWOOD by Jim Bryant

EM Gauge 4mm scale

When the South Eastern Railway reached the small village of Westerham in July1881 it was assumed by the local populace that it was only a matter of time before the branch line from Dunton Green ( on the London Victoria - Sevenoaks - Tonbridge main line ) via Brasted would be extended south west for four miles to Oxted on the London Victoria -Croydon - Newhaven main line. In fact this never happened due to the huge cost of extensive engineering works required but Hookwood imagines that the line had been built as a secondary route from London to the Channel Ports. Hookwood station itself would have been located about a mile north east of Oxted on the Kent / Surrey border and the layout depicted the scene in the mid1960s with scratch-built station and goods shed buildings based on those at Westerham and BR Southern Region third rail electrification.When the South Eastern Railway reached the small village of Westerham in July1881 it was assumed by the local populace that it was only a matter of time before the branch line from Dunton Green ( on the London Victoria – Sevenoaks – Tonbridge main line ) via Brasted would be extended south west for four miles to Oxted on the London Victoria -Croydon – Newhaven main line. In fact this never happened due to the huge cost of extensive engineering works required but Hookwood imagines that the line had been built as a secondary route from London to the Channel Ports. Hookwood station itself would have been located about a mile north east of Oxted on the Kent / Surrey border and the layout depicted the scene in the mid1960s with scratch-built station and goods shed buildings based on those at Westerham and BR Southern Region third rail electrification.

The locomotives were mainly modified ready-to-run examples using Ultrascale EM wheels and A1 detailing kits. The 2BIL ( 2 cars, Both Including Lavatories ) EMU was an Ian Kirk kit with Branch Lines motor/gearbox and extra detailing and wagons are mostly super-detailed kits with EM Society wheels. Spratt & Winkle couplings were used with strategically placed electromagnets placed around the 11′ x 1’6″ layout for uncoupling.

Hookwood also featured simulated third-rail arcing, a station cat, working semaphore signals and a decidedly non-working gardener!

 

CODRINGTON by Sodbury Vale Model Railway Club

00 Gauge 4mm scale

This Digital Command Control layout aimed to show what could be achieved using modern and readily available OO gauge products and materials. Hornby and Bachmann buildings were used in conjunction with Peco Code 75 fine track and signals from the new Dapol range. Codrington depicted a typical branch line terminus set in the 1950s, early 1960s with buildings, details, locomotives and rolling stock reflecting a setting not too far from the Bristol area.This Digital Command Control layout aimed to show what could be achieved using modern and readily available OO gauge products and materials.  Hornby and Bachmann buildings were used in conjunction with Peco Code 75 fine track and signals from the new Dapol range.  Codrington depicted a typical branch line terminus set in the 1950s, early 1960s with buildings, details, locomotives and rolling stock reflecting a setting not too far from the Bristol area.

 

COMBE ABBOT by Alan Postlethwaite

00 Gauge 4mm scale

 

The branch to the ficticious town of Combe Abbot was joint GWR/ LSWR and became part of the SR at the 1923 Grouping but retained GWR style buildings and signals.Set in Wiltshire between the late 1930s and early 1950s, liveries of the ten trains travelling from the traversers were a mix of GWR, SR and early BR.The branch to the ficticious town of Combe Abbot was joint GWR/ LSWR and became part of the SR at the 1923 Grouping but retained GWR style buildings and signals.Set in Wiltshire between the late 1930s and early 1950s, liveries of the ten trains travelling from the traversers were a mix of GWR, SR and early BR.

Trains ran to Westbury (BR-W) and to Salisbury (BR-S). The latter included 3-coach sets which attach to Exeter-Waterloo services. There were also push-pull trains, milk traffic, local goods, a weed-killing train and Army tank traffic to a sub-branch on Salisbury Plain. Built originally by Keith Blake from Bromsgrove, Combe Abbot was refurbished during 2010-12. Track on the 17' x 3' layout was SMP with wire-in-tube point operation and there were two Gaugemaster Combi controllersTrains ran to Westbury (BR-W) and to Salisbury (BR-S). The latter included 3-coach sets which attach to Exeter-Waterloo services. There were also push-pull trains, milk traffic, local goods, a weed-killing train and Army tank traffic to a sub-branch on Salisbury Plain. Built originally by Keith Blake from Bromsgrove, Combe Abbot was refurbished during 2010-12. Track on the 17′ x 3′ layout was SMP with wire-in-tube point operation and there were two Gaugemaster Combi controllers.

 

CROOKED LANE MPD by Dan Winter

00 Gauge 4mm scale

Crooked Lane Motive Power Depot was based on the former debatable lands on the English/Scottish border and provided locomotives for trains to the east and to London as well as Scotland. Also on the nearly-square scenic section was a station and rail served factory.Crooked Lane Motive Power Depot was based on the former debatable lands on the English/Scottish border and provided locomotives for trains to the east and to London as well as Scotland.  Also on the nearly-square scenic section was a station and rail served factory.

 

 

 

THE GAMLYN VIADUCT by Phil Moates

00 Gauge 4mm scale

The Gamlyn Viaduct was one of two wooden trestle viaducts built at the top of the Cynon Valley in South Wales in the 1850s for the Vale of Neath Railway with the support of the Great Western Railway. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and similar to many of his Cornish timber trestle viaducts, the Gamlyn Viaduct was on the outskirts of Hirwaun where the branch line for Bwlla Colliery and Cwmaman left the main line and crossed the Cynon Valley. The line was closed in 1939 and dismantled shortly after the Second World War.The Gamlyn Viaduct was one of two wooden trestle viaducts built at the top of the Cynon Valley in South Wales in the 1850s for the Vale of Neath Railway with the support of the Great Western Railway.  Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and similar to many of his Cornish timber trestle viaducts, the Gamlyn Viaduct was on the outskirts of Hirwaun where the branch line for Bwlla Colliery and Cwmaman left the main line and crossed the Cynon Valley.  The line was closed in 1939 and dismantled shortly after the Second World War.

 

NEPTUNE ROAD by George Kinsman

00 Gauge 4mm scale

Neptune Road was a small sound-chipped DCC operated inglenook shunting puzzle with steam and diesel motive power from the 1960s, put perhaps more remarkably it was made from a single sculpted block of expanded polyurethane stiffened on the underside with wood. Neptune Road also appeared in the February 2012 issue of Model Rail magazine.Neptune Road was a small sound-chipped DCC operated inglenook shunting puzzle with steam and diesel motive power from the 1960s, put perhaps more remarkably it was made from a single sculpted block of expanded polyurethane stiffened on the underside with wood.  Neptune Road also appeared in the February 2012 issue of Model Rail magazine.

 

NORTH TEES STEEL by Rob Mills

00 Gauge 4mm scale

North Tees Steel was a double ended shunting plank layout, built in tribute to the heavy engineering and fabrication industries which used to exist on the north bank of the River Tees in Stockton, County Durham. Steel and other raw materials were tripped from North Tees Junction, arriving from the left hand side of the layout, and were dropped off at North Tees Steel or continued to other plants further up the branch. Completed products were collected on the return working. Shunting within the complex was carried out by a typical mixture of privately owned industrial locomotives.North Tees Steel was a double ended shunting plank layout, built in tribute to the heavy engineering and fabrication industries which used to exist on the north bank of the River Tees in Stockton, County Durham.  Steel and other raw materials were tripped from North Tees Junction, arriving from the left hand side of the layout, and were dropped off at North Tees Steel or continued to other plants further up the branch.  Completed products were collected on the return working.  Shunting within the complex was carried out by a typical mixture of privately owned industrial locomotives.

 

OXFORD ROAD by Richard Papper

00 Gauge 4mm scale

Oxford Road was a fictitious setting somewhere in West London in the mid 1980s to early 1990s. The layout - DCC equipped using an NCE Powercab system and built with Peco Code 100 track - contained a small depot, fuelling point, engineers siding and small platform which saw a sporadic service of garishly painted first generation Network South East dmus. The Bakerloo Line ran on a lower level beneath it and had its own separate station. Structures were a mixture of card and plastic kits and scratchbuilt and rolling stock detailed ready to run vehicles from Bachmann, Hornby, Lima and HeljanOxford Road was a fictitious setting somewhere in West London in the mid 1980s to early 1990s.  The layout – DCC equipped using an NCE Powercab system and built with Peco Code 100 track – contained a small depot, fuelling point, engineers siding and small platform which saw a sporadic service of garishly painted first generation Network South East dmus.  The Bakerloo Line ran on a lower level beneath it and had its own separate station.  Structures were a mixture of card and plastic kits and scratchbuilt – including this terraced house backyard with apiarist in action – and rolling stock detailed ready to run vehicles from Bachmann, Hornby, Lima and Heljan

 

SHUNTING LAYOUT by Sodbury Vale Model Railway Club

00 Gauge 4mm scale

One of a popular genre of shunting puzzle layouts, in this case with limited audience participation.One of a popular genre of shunting puzzle layouts, in this case with limited audience participation.  Pictured here is a Midland Railway type brake van with verandahs at each end and a central ducket on each side sandwiched between a seven plank open coal wagon (with white diagonal stripe indicating the top-hinged opening end) and a more modern BP liveried petrol tanker.

 

SCHMAL by Gary Ball

00/Ho Gauge 4mm/3.5mm scale

This layout features two tracks running full length. The trains stop at each end for about 20 seconds before returning, thus ensuring constant movement. The stock comprises unusual British and Continental railcars that ran between 1900 and 1962. There are both steam and diesel locos, some of which have been scratchbuilt in brass. A road runs alongside the track in places with period cars and commercial vehicles. Buildings and scenery provide an interesting focal point.This layout featured two tracks running full length.  The trains stopped at each end for about 20 seconds before returning, thus ensuring constant movement.  The stock comprised unusual British and Continental railcars that ran between 1900 and 1962.  There were both steam and diesel locos, some of which had been scratchbuilt in brass.  A road ran alongside the track in places with period cars and commercial vehicles.  Buildings and scenery provided an interesting focal point.  In this picture a 1959 vintage Renault built panoramic autorail – with passenger seats next to the driver – forms a colourful backdrop to AEC/Park Royal Great Western railcar 2 and, in front, parcels railcar 34, built with the more angular styling of Swindon Works in 1940.

 

WARDTON by Dave and Matt Wardrobe

00 Gauge 4mm scale

Wardton was a fictional terminus somewhere on British Railways Western Region. Originally part of the GWR, it featured a two platform station, a goods yard and shed and a separate siding for a local factory. The track and points were Peco with signals built from MSE kits and components, operated by servos controlled by Heathcote boards. The signals were not interlocked with points and so safe train operation relied on the vigilance of the operator!. Buildings were mainly plastic or card kits with extra detailing while the goods shed was scratch built due to limitations of space.Wardton was a fictional terminus somewhere on British Railways Western Region.  Originally part of the GWR, it featured a two platform station, a goods yard and shed and a separate siding for a local factory.  The track and points were Peco with signals built from MSE kits and components, operated by servos controlled by Heathcote boards.  The signals were not interlocked with points and so safe train operation relied on the vigilance of the operator!.  Buildings were mainly plastic or card kits with extra detailing while the goods shed was scratch built due to limitations of space.

 

ASHBROOKE by John Thomas

TT Gauge 3mm scale

This fictitious 1950s layout was based on the concept that the Midland & South Western Junction Railway continued as a secondary route through the Cotswolds despite the Great Western Railways endeavours to rationalise it during previous years. Trains of former LMS and GWR stock could thus be seen on the 11’6″ long by 20″ scenic section between fiddle yards.This fictitious 1950s layout was based on the concept that the Midland & South Western Junction Railway continued as a secondary route through the Cotswolds despite the Great Western Railways endeavours to rationalise it during previous years.  Trains of former LMS and GWR stock could thus be seen on the 11’6″ long by 20″ scenic section between fiddle yards.

 

BURNHAM ON SEA by John Perrett

2FS (9.42mm) Gauge 2mm scale

 

Situated on the Somerset Coast, this town was once the important northern terminus of the Somerset and Dorset Railway, linking the Bristol Channel with the English Channel. The pier at Burnham received rails from Welsh steelworks to be carried onward to the expanding rail network in southern England on paired bolster wagons while pleasure steamers such as the PS Waverley would also call during the summer. Burnham Pier was also used by the lifeboat, which had its own private siding.Situated on the Somerset Coast, this town was once the important northern terminus of the Somerset and Dorset Railway, linking the Bristol Channel with the English Channel.  The pier at Burnham received rails from Welsh steelworks to be carried onward to the expanding rail network in southern England on paired bolster wagons while pleasure steamers such as the PS Waverley would also call during the summer.

Burnham Pier was also used by the oar-powered lifeboat, which had its own private siding and was launched and recovered on a special railway wagon by a winch which could rotate to face either towards the sea or inland.

The first Burnham lifeboat was operated by the Bridgwater Harbour Trust from 1836 to 1857, after which its lifeboat house closed.  This facility was re-opened by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1866 but closed again in 1930.  The house for the rail-mounted boat and associated siding opened in 1874.

The first RNLI Burnham Lifeboat was paid for by public subscription among the people of Cheltenham and launched on Pittville Lake on 10 October 1866.  The 32’ long,  7’4” beam vessel cost £ 650/10/7d and remained on duty until 1887.  In 21 years it put to sea 14 times and saved 36 lives.

RNLI Lifeboat 138 then served Burnham on Sea from 1887-1902 only to be replaced by Lifeboat 498 – named “Phillip Beach” and represented by the layout model – from 1902 to 1930.

The railway station, opened on 3 May 1858, unusually featured a short overall roof and a long platform for excursion trains. it closed to normal passenger workings on 29 October 1951 with excursion traffic continuing to 8 September 1962 and goods to 20 May 1963.The railway station, opened on 3 May 1858, unusually featured a short overall roof and a long platform for excursion trains.  it closed to normal passenger workings on 29 October 1951 with excursion traffic continuing to 8 September 1962 and goods to 20 May 1963.

 The layout was made and exhibited by the late Denys Brownlee and is being rejuvenated by John Perrett with the ultimate aim of depicting the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway scene in the 1920s and 30s.  Current stock is mainly borrowed or adapted N gauge.

 

 

BRIMSCOMBE by Shirehampton Model Railway Club

N Gauge 2mm scale

This layout of the one-time through station on the Glouester to Swindon line through the Golden Valley south of Stroud was still under construction - but with trains running - when I last saw it at Thornbury in the autumn of 2009. What a difference five year makes! The station is now a scale replica of Brimscombe - complete with combined engine shed and water tower for the engine banking trains up Sapperton Incline - and the still extant St Mary's Crossing is represented on one curve of the lines returning to the rear fiddle yard. A triumph of railway modelling!This layout of the one-time through station on the Glouester to Swindon line through the Golden Valley south of Stroud was still under construction – but with trains running – when I last saw it at Thornbury in the autumn of 2009.  What a difference five year makes!  The station is now a scale replica of Brimscombe – complete with combined engine shed and water tower for the engine banking trains up Sapperton Incline – and the still extant St Mary’s Crossing is represented on one curve of the lines returning to the rear fiddle yard. A triumph of railway modelling!

 

CROSS HANDS HALT by Jonathan Edwards

N Gauge 2mm scale

Cross Hands Halt is approaching thirty years old, having been built for the Great Western railway 150th anniversary celebrations and was last seen at Thornbury seven years ago. It depicts Cross Hands Halt on the branch between Pilning Low Level and Severn Beach and features the distinctive parish church of St Peters and the former Cross hands pub, now converted into a restaurant.Cross Hands Halt is approaching thirty years old, having been built for the Great Western railway 150th anniversary celebrations and was last seen at Thornbury seven years ago.  It depicts Cross Hands Halt on the branch between Pilning Low Level and Severn Beach and features the distinctive parish church of St Peters and the former Cross hands pub, now converted into a restaurant.

 

 

ST FRAZAL LE CHATEAU by Simon Newitt

Continental N Gauge 2mm scale

France once had over 12 500 km of metre gauge lines and Simon Newitt is exploring them with his series of St Frazal layouts using 6.5mm Z gauge track to represent the metre gauge in French N (1:160) scale with a 600mm tramway being represented by by 3mm T Gauge track. St. Frazal le Chateau was a village somewhere in rural France served by a one metre gauge railway of the SNCF. As well as being famous for producing some of France's best wines the village was also well known for the ruins of L'Abbaye de Jean Martinus (The Abbey of John Martinus). St. Frazal le Chateau attempted to capture French metre gauge secondary railways as they were in the 1965-1975 time period. Sadly almost all these lines have long since disappeared The layout measured 9 ft x 2 ft.France once had over 12 500 km of metre gauge lines and Simon Newitt is exploring them with his series of St Frazal layouts using 6.5mm Z gauge track to represent the metre gauge in French N (1:160) scale with a 600mm tramway being represented by by 3mm T Gauge track.  St. Frazal le Chateau was a village somewhere in rural France served by a one metre gauge railway of the SNCF. As well as being famous for producing some of France’s best wines the village was also well known for the ruins of L’Abbaye de Jean Martinus (The Abbey of John Martinus). St. Frazal le Chateau attempted to capture French metre gauge secondary railways as they were in the 1965-1975 time period. Sadly almost all these lines have long since disappeared The layout measured 9 ft x 2 ft. 

 

PLASTIC MODELLING DISPLAY by IPMS Avon Branch

Fresh from winning a Bronze Award for their stand at the International Plastic Modelling Society's Scale Model World exhibition at Telford, the IPMS Avon branch displayed a range of challenging and inspirational models, including this Churchill tank, 764 of which were built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited during World War II.Fresh from winning a Bronze Award for their stand at the International Plastic Modelling Society’s Scale Model World exhibition at Telford, the IPMS Avon branch displayed a range of challenging and inspirational models, including this Churchill tank, 764 of which were built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited during World War II.

Although slow by later wartime standards and outgunned by many German panzers, the Churchill was well armoured and had long tracks to help it cross obstacles.

 

 

 

Also represented at The Chantry were Barry Walding: Railway Artist, the Avon Valley Railway and Lynton and Barnstaple Trust and trade stands by Keith Price, Tony Wilcock and Rural Railways.Also represented at The Chantry were Barry Walding: Railway Artist, the Avon Valley Railway and Lynton and Barnstaple Trust and trade stands by Keith Price, Tony Wilcock and Rural Railways.

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