I popped along to Epping Model Railway Club's exhibition yesterday and wasn't disappointed. Here's a quick summary of the layouts which captured my iPhones attention.
Southern Highlands
Every bit as fantastic as I was hoping this one would be, Southern Highlands is based on Exeter. It was running sound equipped locos from the 1950s to early 1980s. I even got to see 44101 in the shafts of a superfreighter, plus a P class push a stalled Creamy Kate out of the section. The following snaps were snaffled. The last shot attempts to show just how big the layout is - 50 to 60 feet in my estimation.
Western Rivers
Another new one for me. This layout has seriously interesting appeal. A noisy stockyard and shed at one end to two paddle-steamers milling around the opening rail bridge. It felt like I was in Menindee, just without the flies and the heat.
A-Tractive Effort
Still one of my favs, probably all due to this house.
Binalong
Just like the prototype, I got to Binalong just in time to see a freighter heading out through the scrub. Ain't that always the way?
5714 on the down with a goods - yum, sight and sounds!
Tarana
Stepping down a scale and forward a few years to my favourite N scale layout.
Smuggler's Cove
Before I leave you with a hashed shot of this sublime layout, I should point out that I also got great pleasure from Mungo Scott, Koolabar and a few other layouts, but I managed to either mess up the shot or entirely forget to take one. So here is the Cove, a layout I could (and nearly did) stand in front of for far too long as a modeller of NSW HO scale.
I didn't photograph the trade stands, as it would likely incriminate some poor bugger who told his wife he 'only got a few small things'. But there was plenty there to drool over.
Congratulations to the organisers and backers - a great exhibition and well worth going (back) to at some stage this weekend.
Cheers,
Don
PS a great vintage bus service is running half hourly from/to Hornsby.
