Narrow Gauge South has come and gone - I had the pleasure of visiting, and of meeting many old and new friends, together with my brother Marcel. We arrived back home yesterday night after spending most of the day in the car, except for two hours on the Dunkirk ferry. Thanks are due to the organisers - it was a wonderful show, and they must have been tired out by the end of it!
Apart from visiting most (but regrettably not all) of the 009 layouts, two 12mm gauge layouts and the Pynton Tramway (09) by Christopher Payne, I had to walk past anything bigger as time was too short. Anyway, here is my photo report. I will show a few of each layout, otherwise please look at the photo album on http://www.009dutch.nl/archive/2014/gallery61/index.htm (http://www.009dutch.nl/archive/2014/gallery61/index.htm)
Bottle Kiln Lane, the latest layout by John Thorne, with John's usual attention to detail. In fact the layout is one big cameo scene!
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FBKL_IMG_6910.jpg&hash=f70a0d70fe8184fce98a15885b4807fd450c2172)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FBKL_IMG_6917.jpg&hash=7090d96442d3bfa7a8dd5dea27c220ef55743105)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FBKL_IMG_6924.jpg&hash=90bb26104f3f2c046860e627e5634fbe4b337420)
Badger's Lane Wharf, 00-6.5 by Trevor Giddings. Trevor prefers Japanese Z gauge chassis for his tiny but very neat 18" gauge railway.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FBL_IMG_6900.jpg&hash=026a3868d0f9ea105da39dfc69223e16117f02dd)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FBL_IMG_6898.jpg&hash=0ea3ab5fe9eb84ffe1c28a2461126ec03b855787)
Castlederg (00n3) by Andy Cundick. Being an Irish 3ft enthusiast, regrettably I haven't spoken to Andy as he was busy talking to someone else when I came along.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FCVT_IMG_6888.jpg&hash=b483c327e78b876c56e82628c159aab4b8483fdf)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FCVT_IMG_6892.jpg&hash=dd36bdc38264f959da90d4134474f2c241b7c37a)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FCVT_IMG_7242.jpg&hash=afc31d7e65b030fc6556c5cae4653fe8187f549d)
Dean Hill by Lyn and Jim Owers, an unusual subject showing a munitions depot railway in the 1970s, with full lighting and automatic DCC control. First are the Ban the Bomb crowd saying their piece, then there's a fire exercise by day and by night:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FDH_IMG_7161.jpg&hash=9705f5a82450e562d1e983b4b80138221564b1d6)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FDH_IMG_7168.jpg&hash=75f035b5e5094c28a6ebfb43799a26f541549e33)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FDH_IMG_7175.jpg&hash=157362382c917d9e6ff5b26c6a11473acb605fc7)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FDH_IMG_7179.jpg&hash=8034c1e9e1a017a7bf3ebf817f79dde0343957bc)
Another favourite of mine is Garreg Wen by Matthew Keane, with late Victorian trains of various railways running in a mainly NWNGR environment. Garreg Wen was awarded the Reinier Hendriksen Trophy at Expong in 2011.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FGW_IMG_7023.jpg&hash=b328cb93ba501a816050e298128349f5bafd6655)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FGW_IMG_7024.jpg&hash=8b82b2f051174d46cc6c261c34fb3042f08bae5c)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FGW_IMG_7034.jpg&hash=7e99456bfe658501782ec7e85a795937b90025a5)
Isle Ornsay by Tom Dauben is very much an under construction project - not surprisingly in view of its size. But the scenic areas give advance warning of what the completed layout will look like - completely stunning.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FIO_IMG_7128.jpg&hash=2a4c9319afaf5f83882aa1635368494d40c2149f)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FIO_IMG_7137.jpg&hash=7a46ebcf656d527476cbf766953863b3266a92cc)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FIO_IMG_7143.jpg&hash=51cc3b25b2562507b4146917d7ab2e0901dbd987)
Next, some locomotive modelling. Here are Tim Couling's 2-6-0 Hunslet bashes which I photographed on the window sill behind Patrick Collins' Ryedown Lane.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FATH_IMG_6945.jpg&hash=185ceb31b43d82052c1476e5d4365b2b8c76fc33)
And Ian Turner's new Avontuur 'A' class 2-6-4T, which dwarfs my tiny Lawley shown on Ryedown Lane.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FIT_IMG_6959.jpg&hash=3894249cb593b19b9c7efc02cc3fb4d6fffa1d95)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FIT_IMG_6938.jpg&hash=408ba1b00d6048c3b96037c04aff4b439ac7c342)
Rod Allcock brought his Backwoods Barclay which he built incorporating some of his own constructional standards. It ran beautifully, much better than the one I am restoring. Here it is on Llandecwyn.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FLLD_IMG_7253.jpg&hash=fe8d24ecda8150aa5575a788022e936934a72f16)
The Lawley, trailing one of Ian's old SAR coaches, also visited Khan by Julian Evison. This layout was nearly on its last showing. A unique glimpse of former German South West Africa, or 'S
The 09 Pynton Tramway is the latest of Christopher Payne's 'theater stage' model dioramas, with fully working overhead wires and loco pantographs (although non-powered), all electric traction except for a single steam loco that works the quarry trains. Here Christopher is talking to Miles Bevan, who assisted him operating the layout.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FPT_IMG_7114.jpg&hash=e86dab47568e9507377158f560e65aac8b01777d)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FPT_IMG_7116.jpg&hash=2585c48b4064946f73967ef3c9bf6a99747af956)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FPT_IMG_7109.jpg&hash=cc5bed97147a9438081c496e385463be83b529d7)
Another electric traction layout is Rh
The Torrisdale Tramway by Nic Arthur is his second layout with a Scottish theme. Another light railway scene with a strong Highlands flavour. The layout features a unique distant view where the line disappears around a cottage, after winding its way along the road. The layout lights were temporarily taken care of by a single spotlight - difficult for photography, but it looked pretty good.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FTOR_IMG_7212.jpg&hash=edec6b05b9d547c6d2b499ed70e94bc975b81c31)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FTOR_IMG_7215.jpg&hash=e9e39059748d38d6c3d8567811e3087809d6418e)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FTOR_IMG_7217.jpg&hash=daea491fba94b518e4ccf50a36ae1caa53c7ef35)
This was the first time I saw Richard Holder's narrow gauge interpretation of the Wantage Tramway for myself. Having just seen the very nice scale 0 gauge version by Dave Cox, the theme was familiar to me. But the way Richard has turned it into a 009 layout with all the fine detail should be seen to be believed. I spent at least half an hour there whilst Aaron Matthews ran the trains.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FWT_IMG_7205.jpg&hash=c8098d5a78d6ae264520ef5340b077fc2b6045c9)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FWT_IMG_7193.jpg&hash=f93743bc5cb2b7e59c60346e520e6e93cdccf45b)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FWT_IMG_7210.jpg&hash=8c8d3259c7bdd9debec20e2ca46588949f0a2df6)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FWT_IMG_7211.jpg&hash=ce248516078526072e0e3e459beae1daf0d4023e)
The last layout I have photos of is the Yates Rock Tramway, based on a Gloucestershire prototype by Colin James. The buildings are based on local prototypes (although it seems one has the roof the wrong way round, as his wife told me!). As to the scenery - look at the photos, it doesn't need an explanation!
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FYR_IMG_7049.jpg&hash=705614545ddd54c01566d9fe6bc6688583d5ccdc)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FYR_IMG_7047.jpg&hash=ecbde93c67e80aa9686085f22b959628bfefc486)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FYR_IMG_6879.jpg&hash=e7ac450f9b9439dcf14c5092dec89138fc1ddcb4)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2014%2Fgallery61%2Fimages%2FYR_IMG_6882.jpg&hash=0c81d2f71d370eb2a30c000bcc931ad8b86c1970)
looks like it was a good show but its a bit to far south for me last weekend as i had to much on
Thanks for these fine photos, Ted - I didn't manage to get to Sparsholt myself this time but there is plenty of inspiration here to work with!
David.
Thanks, David. Here is some more as I finally managed to complete my 24 minute video of Sparsholt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhgyJ0cFUo0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhgyJ0cFUo0)
Layouts featured:
00:10 - Bottle Kiln Lane (009, John Thorne) - regrettably far too short a clip, I should have returned to shoot more video.
00:43 - Minimum Gauge Models promotion layout
00:54 - Rh
Here is one of my favourites from those I took at NGS, of John Thorne's Bottle Kiln Lane. If you click www.flickr.com/photos/elmgate-models/sets/72157643659025754/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elmgate-models/sets/72157643659025754/), it will link you to my Flickr site, where you can see the set!
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/13720619105_56f8798654.jpg)
Thank you all for your photos and to Ted for the video. There was some fine modelling there and it shows this branch of the hobby to be particularly strong. Thanks to all the exhibitors for the displays you put on and for your good humour on the day.
I've just uploaded my photo report of NGS Sparsholt 2014 onto my website at: http://micksrovingreporter.blogspot.com/ Please note that as there are over 180 photos, I have split the report into 2 parts, each one accessible by clicking the link under each of the 2 photos posted.
When the inevitable mountain of howlers, errors and typos are identified, I would very much appreciate if people who are kind enough to let me know about them would please state the Part number of the report and also the photo number, which is the number at the beginning of each caption. This makes it so much easier to identify where the error is and to correct it as soon as possible. Thanks very much indeed and I hope you all enjoy!
This notice also posted on NGRM-Online
Mick