Page 15 - May June 2000

one end is the famous Keddie Wye, with the two steel bridges and the line splitting away over each leg of the wye. At the other end the line crosses on a through girder bridge, whilst high above is the steel bridge that carries US highway 70 between the canyon sides. Peter has captured the perspective on this model to a very high standard, with the fact that the train are N scale adding a great deal towards this. They look absolutely right in this scale, dwarfed by the scenery, which is exactly as it should be. You can stand in front of this layout and watch a parade of trains coming past you, with the operating colour light signals letting you know when one is coming. SP Daylights, UP streamliners, ATSF Blue Goose consists and numerous freights are all run here.
The whole system is automated and a sequence of trains are dispatched from a fan of hidden staging sidings at the rear. I think the highest praise for the layout and its owner came from an American visitor to the show. He lives in that area in the US and flies a plane much as we drive a car. He had flown over the location many times and immediately recognised it - that says it all. Well done, Peter!
Moving on we came to Don Annison’s N scale layout, Steamboat Springs. This very nice layout depicts a typical American rural scene. The depot is laid out for through running and some switching, and the trains performed very well. The whole concept is very well presented and lit.
Opposite were the modules produced by NMRA Webmaster John Wright, from Tyneside. He has made great strides in this P87 format. This very fine scale standard modelling belongs to his Federal Street Yard concept. The structures, especially the weathering, are worthy of note. The Pennsy switcher featured recently in Roundhouse was at work, with such things as “back to back”, flanges etc. altered to P87. The unballasted track on view enabled the clear differences (to regular HO) to be admired. The whole point of this exercise is that it works very well. I’m sure we will see more of this in the future, so carry on the good work, John!
The On3 Three Chop Lumber Camp belongs to Murray Reid and crew. This is a totally new concept, with a circular layout. Watching its erection was a whole new scene for me, the wedge shaped sections going together to form the circle. They rest upon a steel frame. Some of the buildings are works of art and really would not be out of place in a museum! Many of the other items on view also fit this description.
The layout is in its early stage with much rock work to be painted. Some of the locos (complete with sound) I have seen on previous layouts. The speakers are set under the layout and can be heard all over the area.
Whilst the layout was in operation, one of the team was busy painting the scenery - what I call a “working clinic”. All in all a very fine piece of modelling.
The South Westerners, that redoubtable group from the Exeter area, Mike Warren, Vic Perks, Mel Rodgers, together with Bob Phelps of Peco fame, and other assistants whose names I didn’t get (apologies for that) brought the HO layout that is approximately 35’ x 10’. The front and both ends are fully scenicked, with the rear a large dispatching yard sending all manner of trains out onto the layout.
The front has a depot and various industries but the scene is dominated by a large grain silo, as often happens on the prototype. Again like the real thing there is a feeling of spaciousness all around. A lot of thought has gone into the planning stage.
However what caught my eye was the high quality of the trackwork. At one end the line traverses a river on a girder span bridge. Coming off the bridge the train leans into the curve as it passes through two short tunnels in a rock outcrop - this all gives great realism. Another fine piece of modelling is the loco depot fitted into one corner of the layout. At the other end there is a nice scenic transition from a diesel facility into the open desert area.
Consists are many and varied - steam through first and second generation diesel, to up-to-the-minute double stacks, plus a variety of passenger trains thrown in for good measure. A really great layout worthy of a long look - if you
get the chance, take it!
It wouldn’t be Ulverston without the large O scale Camel Valley, of Richard Smith and Werner Bates. Richard was off gallivanting around Canada so it was down to Werner, with Ken O’Shea plus another helper, whose name I regret I did not get. Naturally Ken had the RGS On3 narrow
Keddie Wye on Peter Pedlow’s N scale Feather River Canyon - compare it to the prototype photo on the front cover!
gauge set up inside the O gauge. I had to have a go with this. As well as Ken’s superb brass 2-8-0’s, there were fine O gauge steeds to be seen including articulateds. With 4-6-2’s, 2-8-0’s and first generation diesels doing the honours, the size of O scale gives the models a nice weighty feel, don’t you agree.
A first for Derek this year was a G scale layout, the Seath Valley RR, by G scale society member Mike Garforth, ably assisted by Rod Lever. This is a small terminus to an equally small yard, with the depot area having a quayside complete with loading facility and ship. The buildings were delightful, with interior lighting and plenty of detail to pick out. The rolling stock, a mixture of kits and kit-bashed, were very nicely done. The locos were small as you would expect on such a system, and there was a very nice kitbashed railbus. My Shay was tried and passed the clearance test - even in G a small layout is possible.
Trade was well represented. Totally Trains with Peter Churchus in charge, Porter Wynn with Brenda Porter and Pete Durkin twisting your arm, and Mike Wynn assisting on Sunday in the same vein. John Parker & Ken Needham with Western Models and Ceepeear Models on the stage area, and the usual Bring & Buy, with all manner of goodies to tempt the moths from your wallet.
The Popular Vote Contest on Saturday resulted in us having to give the trophy back to Jim Burghall again, with both first and second places.
Saturday night had to be the weekend’s high spot. Gordon Nelhams had persuaded almost everybody present to join the party at the Farmers Arms for the evening meal. We got to the pub with something over 40 names, and the delighted landlord said “No Problem”.
Back in the Coronation Hall, Derek played out his final master stroke, having the New Hall Jazz Group play for us. A great session was had, with Bob Phelps sitting in on guitar at one point. Superb sound, with no music, just played from the heart. Thanks Derek, very much!
Sunday morning we were back in the hall - I had to leave about 12.30pm. I have to say I felt there was a distinct lack of support, over the whole weekend, from the very top down to the members. There’s a lot of hard work in organising such an event, especially over 2 days, and where a lack of support is evident it makes it harder to get volunteers in future. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the event, and our sincere thanks, on behalf of the NMRA, go to Derek for all his efforts.
One final item - Lebram Video run by Peter Crosskerry of Ulverston, filmed the event and produced a 40 minute video. It costs £15 plus p&p and Peter’s work is superb. Go on, treat yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
Contact Peter on 01229 586521 for further details.
JUNE 2000 15
Ian Wilson