Welcome back to the channel and a first video for 2024.
I didnt manage to get to the Frome exhibition in January due to work commitments, so Alton Model Railway Groups FEBEX has been my first trip out.
As you will have noted, not all the layouts at the show have been filmed. I have decided to focus on fewer layouts at each show, trying to capture better footage of those that have not been seen before or are of the most interest, in my opinion. In this way, i can actually enjoy the show too!
First up we see Meldon West. This 2mm scale n gauge micro layout is new to me and may have actually been making its first exhibition appearance. The layout depicts the very end of the former Southern main line in the Meldon area, in the scenario that it has been extended slightly to serve a new quarry that has opened to serve a greater need for the supply of stone. Some lovely modelling and great slow speed running - not always easy in this small scale.
Next up is Collingwood. A modern image, end to end layout, featuring a station and track layout based on Fareham, in Hampshire. The stone terminal is slightly different at Collingwood, in that it can handle trains formed of bottom discharge hopper wagons. A vast array of brightly coloured TOC and FOC rolling stock can be seen, including one of my favourite advertising liveries, the ginsters livery on a Wales and West class 158 sprinter.
Kinlochlaggen is a 2mm n gauge roundy roundy layout set in the West highlands of Scotland. The station features a passing loop on a single line through the typically Scottish countryside. We see ScotRail sprinter units, a steam special, the Caledonian Sleeper and even a Network Rail test train - lots of colour! Most of the stock feature dcc sound. This was another layout I had not seen before.
Zeedijk is a 3.5mm scale Ho gauge layout, based on Dutch railways practice.
As you would expect, this layout features many typically Dutch sights, such as a waterway, flower farm and a windmill. A steady stream of trains kept viewers entertained and was probably my favourite layout. DCC sound features.
Beijiao is another 3.5mm scale Ho gauge layout, but the only one I've ever seen modelling Chinese railways. The layout has been about for a while now on the exhibition circuit, but hasn't featured in detail in one of my videos for sometime. Since it first appeared, the layout now boasts a working road system. DCC sound features in much of the stock.
I hope you enjoy the film. Please keep watching and supporting the channel - please feel free to comment, like and share - it all helps the channel, as I strive to break the 2000 subscribers mark.
Lastly, it was really nice to catch up with Gary (CheekyTek), Fred (Wilbury Castle), Ian (Exford Park in the shed) and Mike (Oak Road and Revolution Trains).