Rail Ex Taunton - October 21st & 22nd 2023

[Captain Kernow]

I haven't seen an individual thread for this excellent show in the 'Exhibitions' part of the forum, although there is a reference in the 'Diary' area.

 

I visited with Re6/6, 10800, Brinkly and Taz yesterday and it was a treat, both in terms of the show's exhibits and the environs of Taunton School.

 

It was the first show I'd visited for some time and it was lovely catching up with many old friends on the day.

 

I can thoroughly recommend the quality and ambience of the new restaurant in the school, too.

 

More info can be found here - http://railextaunton.uk/

 

Here are some photos I took, admittedly of some of the layouts that I found most pleasing.

 

Lambourn (P4):

 

 

 

 

Beijiao (HO):

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 22, 2023 by Captain Kernow

[Captain Kernow]

More layouts.

 

Old Elm Park (7mm):

 

 

Cheddar S&DJR (P4):

 

 

Rolvenden (P4):

 

 

 

 

St Ruth ("mm finescale):

 

 

 

 

 

[woodenhead]

Excellent taste Captain!

[Penlan]

1 hour ago, Captain Kernow said:

I can thoroughly recommend the quality and ambience of the new restaurant in the school, too.

Restaurant? 😳
Oh, I missed that, now I look at the guide (at home in Mousehole, PZ),
it's in very small type in top LH corner of Guide.
I don't recall it being sign posted either, the toilets, yes....
I was leaving when the good Captain arrived, so missed the opurtunity for a chat, even though I'm deaf! ! ! ! !

.

Yes, agree a very good show, worth the 300 mile round day trip.

Edited October 22, 2023 by Penlan

[Penlan]

Beijiao, 
Back in the mid 1990's, I was working in China and I was surprised at just how many (not all) properties had 'air conditioning' plants on the outside of each apartment, well replicated on this layout.
I recall some of the 'Lock-up' premises, say a one car sized unit, closed up at night and that's were the person/people lived, their bed etc., could be seen in the back of the units.
I have the impression the catering on the Beijiao passenger coaches will be a lot better than when I was travelling around,  kettle heated on a primus type unit, and stained tea cups, fortunately they seemed unable to serve us Europeans.  The toilets, forget them. 
I was impressed when I saw the layout pre-Covid, so it was nice to see it again.

[Godfrey Glyn]

I went today with my five year old grandson and I totally agree with everything the good Captain said. Firstly there was a competition to engage the minds of young children and most importantly to me the quality of the layouts was excellent. The whole thing was very well organised, friendly and attentive helpers and the range of food and the service in the new dining area was outstanding. The venue is excellent and having had an overall responsibility for buildings in a state funded college I can only envy those who work in the private sector, they certainly make the most of their additional resources at Taunton School. Many thanks to all involved in putting on such an excellent show.

all the best

Godfrey

Edited October 22, 2023 by Godfrey Glyn
Correction

[ELTEL]

Just watched. YouTube video of some of the layouts at Taunton Exhibition and read the above comments.

 

Some stunning layouts,  just wish Taunton wasn’t such a long way from Stafford and that I had a  bottomless pit of money to fund traveling down for the weekend to visit the exhibition.

 

Well done to all the Taunton team, and of course to the layout owners and operators. 

 

Terry 

Stafford Railway Circle 

[HSB]

I was there today and I think the general quality of the layouts this year was very good indeed.

Edited October 22, 2023 by HSB

[PaulRhB]

22 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

I can thoroughly recommend the quality and ambience of the new restaurant in the school, too.

I was glad to see you survived the surprise assault on the restaurant  🤣

 

 

 

Just look at that!!!! 
 

The layouts were good too!

 

 

Chilcompton

 

 

 

 

 

 

More of the lovely Cheddar, very nicely observed and really nice chap to chat to. 

 

 

 

I was playing on Portleven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hotel coffee machine had grand ideas too

 

 

 

We tried fly shunting but found Bees are better at shunting . . .

 

[PaulRhB]

 

Rolvenden

 

 

 

 

Alderford

 

 

 

 

Great large scale trams!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bath Green Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darjeeling

 

 

 

[Southernman46]

Thoroughly enjoyable exhibition in great surroundings 👍 - I was taken back at just how old we all seem to be these days though 😲

[Ramblin Rich]

Visited with our lad on Saturday also, some very good exhibits.  'N' was particularly taken with the 'pop up' photographers on Beijiao which appeared when certain trains passed and the banking arrangements on the branch line. He was also impressed with the internal views into the roundhouse on Old Elm Park - which he judged to be the best in show. Good to see Captain K out & about although I didn't get chance to talk.

Here's a few of my images - probably not as good quality as others but showing the ones we enjoyed:

Beijiao - lots of operation & enthusiastic operator who was willing to explain about the setting and how they portray real life happenings.

 

Spot the pop up photographer in front of the taxi!

 

Several cameos of photographers catching the last of the main line steam workings - including some scanned from the actual layout operators

Bankers

 

 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2023 by Ramblin Rich

[Ramblin Rich]

Bristol Avon Bridge in 00 - which is designed to view trains into the overall roof, or through the station buildings.

 

 

Cameo which may appeal to @NHY 581

 

Old Elm Park 7mm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2023 by Ramblin Rich
excess image

[Ramblin Rich]

St Martin's Wharf 7mm - nice deep scene with feeling of space

 

 

 

 

BSC Bromford Bridge 00 - based on the British Steel tube works in Washwood Heath Birmingham, appealed to me because of my roots and thoughts of a shunting layout based in the area

 

 

 

[Ramblin Rich]

Red Hook Bay H0 USA 1950s

I hadn't noticed the Burlesque Theatre until posting the pictures Honest!!

 

 

 

 

( I won't bother with those layouts that others have posted up already! )

Edited October 23, 2023 by Ramblin Rich

[Bungus the Fogeyman]

Did anything move on BGP? Every time i've seen it, its been a somewhat magnificently modelled diorama! Including one of its last showings at Taunton many moons ago when I was opposite with 'Jubilee Sidings',  I had more than one person come over and say that it was good to see something moving which, bearing in mind what my layouts are like, I found a bit ironic!!

 

Disgusting of Market Harborough

[ba14eagle]

Some video of the show - it was too many to look at all of them, especially as many had featured many times before.

 

 

[PaulRhB]

42 minutes ago, Bungus the Fogeyman said:

Did anything move on BGP? Every time i've seen it, its been a somewhat magnificently modelled diorama! 

 

Yes I saw a couple of trains moving ;)

 

 

 

[Penlan]

21 hours ago, Bungus the Fogeyman said:

Did anything move on BGP?

I saw a lot of people moving behind the layout, but I thought for the expanse of the layout there could have been a  little more action on the rails - so yes I did see things moving ON the layout, but I admit I might have liked a little bit more action.

[mudmagnet]

I only took a few photos over the weekend - not too much spare time as on my stand most of the time. 

[mudmagnet]

[TEAMYAKIMA]

On 23/10/2023 at 19:38, Ramblin Rich said:

Beijiao - lots of operation & enthusiastic operator who was willing to explain about the setting and how they portray real life happenings.

 

Several cameos of photographers catching the last of the main line steam workings - including some scanned from the actual layout operators

 

 

 

Many thanks for your kind words.

 

Yes, as Chinese railways are a very unusual subject I find that having a front-of-house man giving some background information really helps viewers engage with the layout.

 

Our aim is to 'educate' those who want to learn more about the Chinese railway scene whilst, at the same time, entertain those who just want plenty of action.

Edited October 25, 2023 by TEAMYAKIMA

[pevenstike]

As the show manager for this show it is a great pleasure to read the positive comments on this thread, thankyou to all of the team from Somerset Railway Modellers club, without whom the show wouldn't be happening, to all the layout operators and trade support along with our hosts at Taunton school, here's to next year. 26th & 27th October 2024.

[Jack]

On 23/10/2023 at 09:25, PaulRhB said:

 

 

 

 

Which layout is this?  There is no label above that I could see, and I couldn't see it on the show website.  It looks intriguing, and I love the way they have done the bridges between modules!

[PaulRhB]

42 minutes ago, Jack said:

 

Which layout is this?  There is no label above that I could see, and I couldn't see it on the show website.  It looks intriguing, and I love the way they have done the bridges between modules!

From the website, showing the middle module.