CMR exhibition 2019

Chiltern Model Railway Exhibition – 2019 Held over the weekend of 12th and 13th January 2019, this is the third time the exhibition has been held at the Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre. In this short video I cover some of the highlights and major layouts that attended. One thing that I did notice was that most exhibitors were running to a time table and as such often there was a lack of movement for the viewing public. There were also a few abrupt stops where routes were not cleared or sections still remained isolated.... The video didn’t quite go to plan. I did ask a few exhibitors if they wouldn’t mind wearing a microphone and doing a bit to camera telling me about their layouts. They said they were either too busy with the timetable or simply refused... but would then answer questions from the guy next to me... On a technical note, whilst there is still some background conversations, I used the Rode external microphone to try and capture some of the sounds from the trains themselves, which seems to have worked as on some clips you can hear the wheels over the joints etc. Featured Layouts in order of appearance: We Start with possibly the largest layout in the exhibition, Grantham. Measuring 33 feet by 17 feet this OO 4mm scale layout was very impressive, although for a large main station set in mid to late 1930’s it wasn’t really that busy. The layout still uses DC control systems, which might explain the odd running issue where a train would stop due to an isolation section. But overall the layout was really impressive and always had a large audience. The next layout, Grindley Brook, was around the same size as Grantham at 34 feet x 20 feet, but only a portion of that was the actual display part of the layout. This superb fictional finescale O gauge layout is set between 1954 and 1964 as part of the ex LNWR line in Shropshire. Again DC powered, but didn’t exhibit any of the running issues like some other layouts. The 0-6-0 tank could do with a drop of oil though! Moving on to Ackthorpe from the Southampton MRS, this 33 feet x 12 feet OO 4mm scale layout is inspired by two stations on the North Eastern Railway, Moorthorpe and Ackworth, hence the name. The period modelled is mid to late 1950’s, and used a pure DC system of control. Oldham King Street Parcels is a O gauge layout and features a small fictional station and parcel depot in the North West of England around the early to mid 1970’s. DCC control is used, and many of the locos, including the class 40 shown here feature sound. Running up to date rolling stock, Norwood Road is a small 11 feet by 5 feet layout based on the location on the outskirts of Croydon south London. Interestingly the layout uses Arduino’s to control the signalling in true prototypical fashion. Next featured layout is Rugby Central. The layout is modelled on the actual location around the late 1950’s to early 1960’s. The 16 feet by 3 foot layout uses DC control. Ferring is the next layout. A P4 standard layout, this features a fictional branch terminus off the Brighton to Portsmouth line near Goring. All track work is handmade to the P4 18.83mm gauge standard, with a unique 50 lever frame that controls most of the points by wires, cranks and springs. The Final layout featured is Aber Emlyn. A 7mm fine scale terminal station set in South Wales in the 1930’s. At 34 feet by 20 feet it is an impressive layout. Track work has been built to a high standard, and all signals, including the ground signals are fully operational.