Dress Rehearsal
009 model-railways narrow-gauge inglenook sceneryApproximately five years ago, my friend Tom said
I want to see what a Steve layout looks like after all these years
Well, add a few more years, and here we are:
It's not large, or complicated, or particularly clever, but I'm very satisfied to have finally made one. It pretty much fits the image I had in my head when I started, which has to count as a win. There are a bunch of things I could have done differently, if I was starting again with the benefit of hindsight, but it's enough.
I'm also very pleased that James's Quintus feels very much at home in this scene. It's such a characterful little loco, a clever cariacture, and brings a sense of place to the layout – a clay tramway engine on a supposed former clay tramway.
Both it and the NS2f perform well on the shunting puzzle - the little Ruston doesn't have the weight to reliably shift a full train but I'm sure will make a token appearance.
My mind is already on what's next, of course, but there's no need to rush...
Wealden Railway Group exhibition 2025
009 exhibition model-railways narrow-gauge OO HO On30 O gauge"Well it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these posts."
This is what I said the last time I posted an exhibition report, and here we are again eight years later. Obviously I have been to exhibitions in the intervening time (apart from that weird gap 2020 - 2021 ish) but like with the rest of the blog stopped updating about it.
Anyway this was my first time to the Wealden Railway Group show in Steyning, West Sussex, although not for want of trying as it's been on my to-do list for years – the date usually didn't work for me.
And what a gem it is – a friendly and relaxed little exhibition with much of the vibe of an 009 Society members' day, except with more diversity in the layouts. I didn't take photos of everything, but here are some highlights.
San Telmo in On30 by Giles Barnabe
Locktern Quay in 009 by Michael Campbell (Michael's photo)
Westhay in 009 by Phil Gardner
O gauge scene by Tom Lloyd
Industrial scene in 00 by John Bruce
Drover's Brook in 00 by Chris Ford
Broken Creek in HO by South Shore Group
Current Status
009 model-railways narrow-gauge inglenook sceneryIt's the end of February, which means in a month's time this little layout I'm working on should be ready to exhibit. So, how's it going?
Actually, pretty well! I'd roughly envisaged that I would do scenery in February and stock in March, but the order of things has been a bit more fluid than that as inspiration and delivery of bits allowed.
Scenically, though, it feels like it's getting there with only two signficant areas - the field behind the headshunt and detail in the workshop yard - left to really tackle. I have a couple of suitable and reliable locos on hand, plus a couple of works in progress, and a few more couplings to fit on the rolling stock. I think I have a solution for lighting, and other matters to attend to really come down to presentation - it needs some kind of fascia on the bare front edge - and assembling all the stuff one needs on the day to ensure a smooth exhibiting experience.
I'm sure it still won't be "finished" finished by the show, but all things considered I'm now happy to let other people see it!
More posts can be found in the archive.