Another update on progress with the Weston show and some more layout pictures!

At the end of last week I sat in my classroom enjoying a rare moment of peace whilst the children worked quietly on a writing task. The tranquillity did not last long. All of a sudden the silence was shattered by loud music drifting through the wall from the adjourning infant classroom. My class’ concentration was shattered by the strains of the Hokey Cokey! I sat there, cursing my inconsiderate colleague, as the children were instructed to put their right arm in, and right arm out etc. As I sat and listened I felt that it did rather mirror my recent work on the model railway exhibition. As I worked on finalising the floor plan I have constantly been putting layouts in, taking layouts out and moving them all about!

It had all been going so well. Everything seemed to fit perfectly. Well it did on paper! I just had a few small gaps to fill. Then a couple of people pulled out and things became complicated. Although, thanks to RM Web, I managed to replace the lost exhibits very quickly; the replacements were not an exact match. They didn’t quite fill the new spaces exactly, and so I have had to juggle things around. In fact I spent several days juggling things around and still I couldn’t get everything to fit. I have had so many kind offers of exhibits, the last thing I wanted to do was to let somebody down. I went to bed on Wednesday night with serious “brain ache” and with the problem still not sorted. Then as I opened my eyes on Thursday morning I had one of those Eureka moments, and the solution suddenly came to me. Problem solved and everything is now in place. There is also still space for the layout I provisionally booked at Butterley, should its owner actually get back to me before the event! So things have now been sorted and the floor plan is almost finished. Now I just have one recent layout offer to sort. I would really like to incorporate it into the show, it is just whether or not I can shoe-horn it into the remaining space I have available.

The week has seen one or two more positive developments. After moaning about the lack of response from local preserved lines, I received a raffle prize from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. Their kind offer of two free adult tickets is much appreciated. A big thank you to them, and the Midland Railway Centre for their kind response. Now what about the rest of you?????

We have also, this week, reached an agreement with the local pub for the use of their car park. On the day we will ask all exhibitors to move their vehicles up to the car park after unloading. This will allow us to free up the school car park for the general public. The pub agreed, in exchange for a free advert in the show guide, so if any helpers fancy a good pub meal after they’ve loaded up at the end of the night – I will certainly recommend the carvary at the Coopers Arms. You may want to book in advance to guarantee a table. Anyone who needs the contact details can message me.

And so as I write this, with just three weeks to go, I do feel things are coming together with the show. Now we just need the people through the door. More leaflets have gone out, and there is also a poster in the local branch of Modelzone. If I can sort out publicity via the local newspaper and radio station I am not sure I can do much more.

Yes there is just three weeks to go! I can’t quite believe that the event is that close. Of course I also have a layout to get ready for the show. What is worrying is that the last week has passed with no more scenic work at all. I really can’t leave it much longer! The card kit remains “flat packed” on the coffee table and that annoying “gap” is still there. At least the layout is now back in working order. Some vigorous work with the track cleaning rubber brought life back to the station area. I tested it with a small Hornby “Terrier” tank. It ran as sweet as a nut! If something so small can run smoothly over the points then surely anything else will! During the test running I took the opportunity to take a few more shots of Skaleby West. These are included below. If anyone is interested, the loco is an Isle of Wight, Southern liveried “Terrier”, number 13 “Ventnor”. I do have a soft spot for the Isle of Wight and although Skaleby West was not planned to run as an I-O-W line – you never know!

"Ventnor" is glimpsed through the trees as it enters the station.

"Ventnor" stands in front of the station building in a shot, taken through the gap between signal box and lamp hut.

Departing the station past the incomplete goods yard.

Hope you like them.

Until next time….