Another weekend and another model railway show.
Rather an odd one, perhaps because of the venue
The Pavilion Gardens are rather eccentric. From an exhibition perspective, the plus point is that for once, the lighting is natural. I didn't once struggle with white balance. The downside is it is a little cramped and the show seems smaller than it really is.
That is a shame, because it has an A-list roster of layouts. Most of them would be the headline layout at regional shows, or be surrounded by inpenetrable crowds at the big shows.
So this is going to be another photofest, but don't read anything into the order or the number of photos. Every layout deserved to be there.
Edgeware Rd
OK, this was my favourite layout if judged by how long I spent watching it. 7mm scale. It was amazing how much the scene encompassed without feeling cramped.
And the trackwork was superb.
Swan Street
I liked the multilevel aspect of this, and the more urban aspects of it. Let down slightly by the rock faces and the wall on the embankment top, but that's me being picky.
Nicola Landing
A layout that is underrepresented in my photos, even though I was really keen to see it. I was rather focussed on the shipping, which is relevant to an idea that has been at the back of my mind for a long time.
Port William
This appeared to be seen as a bit of a celebrity layout. I liked the stock, but something seemed a little lifeless about it in my eyes, and inconsistent in terms of detail.
Millhouses
Two Bridges
Having said which, the basic layout has tons of potential. It is just a little too clinical and, in my eyes, the position of the signal box doesn't work. Whether that is compositional or a gut feeling that it isn't prototypical, I don't know.
Grindley Brook
Iron Mould Lane
Hindlow
Hartley Bank Screens
This shows the frustration of trying to take photos of small, front-operated layouts. But then a show is about people seeing the layouts, not photographers.
OO9 Society
I love the heritage displays that the OO9 Society put on. Here we see two examples from different ends of the spectrum. A Polar Bear built by Charles Insley, and the David Mander Darjeeling Garratt. A loco that amazed me when I first saw a photo of it some 50 years ago.
Ashover Butts

Exchange Sidings
Burnham-on-Sea
I was really pleased to see it again. I was also impressed by how the operators reacted with children, without being precious about the layout.
Eldir Fach
St Ettienne-Ea- Caux