Model Railway Exhibitions Review

I thought I'd better get this post out with some photos before the month runs out. I can't believe we are almost at the end of April. The year is just rocketing away.

This exhibition review will look at some of the layouts from the Forestville Exhibition (March) and the Canberra Model Rail Expo (April). I will just identify the layouts and provide some info about them. Not all the exhibited layouts are shown here. Nevertheless, there is good variety and something of interest in all of the layouts showcased in this report. You can click on the images to expand.

The highlight was the wonderful, and still not yet totally complete, Newcastle NSW 1899.  This N scale layout portrays the port of Newcastle (Australia) as it appeared circa 1899. Newcastle was, and remains, a major import/export port on Australia's east coast. All the models were built from scratch, including all the ships. The layout has been a ten year project by noted Australian modeller, Ross Balderson. The modelling is really superb. I hope we get the chance to see the layout again.

Goulburn (HO scale) is a NSW-prototype layout from the Guildford Model Railway Group. Goulburn is on the Main South Line between Sydney and Melbourne. As such, it sees plenty of railway action and the model railway is no different. The double track mainline on the model showcases much of the proprietary NSW and interstate locos and rollingstock from various Australian model manufacturers.

One of the largest model railway displays is that from the Coffs Harbour Model Railway Club. The layout is 12 metres long and just over 6 metres wide. This layout has been exhibited many times over the past ten years. It is a credit to the members that they bring this large layout to exhibitions so far from home, almost 800 km to Canberra for example. This HO scale layout is North American in nature but the club shows off an array of different model prototypes over the course of the weekend. The layout is walk-around DCC using NCE equipment.

An old favourite is the HO scale layout, Yendys, from the ACT Model Railway Society. The location is fictitious but depicts an outer suburban station in Sydney. A defining feature of this layout is the running of suburban electrics under the overhead wires. Many varieties of locomotive hauling freight traffic are also part of the suburban scene. In the photo below we see a two car diesel railcar set passing the station on its forward journey.

Another NSW prototype layout was Gunning. This N scale layout was recently featured in the April 2022 issue of the Australian Model Railway Magazine. Gunning is also on the Main South Line some 244km south of Sydney. It is a popular spot for railway photographers of the 1:1 scale. The layout includes some elements beyond the station precinct, including the water pumping station north of Gunning at Fish River and the much compressed turntable/roundhouse south of Gunning at Junee. The layout runs both steam and diesel hauled trains, some of which are commercially produced models of NSW prototypes from emerging N scale manufacturers.

Gunbower is a real station in rural Victoria on the Cohuna branchline, 272 km north of the state capital, Melbourne. Gunbower, the layout, is an N scale layout using Tomix and Kato unitrack operated with digital command control. Many of the buildings were 3D drawn and printed and then cast in resin.

The Epping Model Railway Club attended both exhibitions with their large Bethungra Spiral layout (HO scale). The real Bethungra Spiral is a piece of historical railway engineering on the Main South Line between Sydney and Melbourne built to overcome difficult grades. The layout shows the line separation on the up (to Sydney) and down (away from Sydney) tracks to alleviate the grade.

Dungog (HO scale) is another NSW prototype-based layout. This layout, from the North Shore Railway Modellers' Association in Sydney, has been around for many years and was up for sale at the Forestville Exhibition. Dungog is 80 km north of Newcastle (which is north of Sydney) on the Main North Coast Railway line. The layout is a very good representation of the prototype, especially the unique station building. Another unique feature on the layout is the layout lighting fixtures. The layout is operated with DCC and smart phone throttles.

 

Mungo Scotts (HO scale) is another well travelled exhibition layout showcasing the Mungo Scotts flour mill situated on the Metropolitan goods line in inner-western Sydney. The flour mill ceased operation in 2009 and the site is now occupied by residential apartments. The layout is from the Sydney Model Railway Society, the oldest existing model railway club in Australia (established 1936).

Narellan (O scale) is also a prototype-based NSW layout, this time on the outer Sydney branchline between Campbelltown and Camden. This line was famous for its milk traffic. The layout depicts operations from the mid-1950s to the line's closure in 1962.

Turning to a couple of UK layouts, Tannochbrae is a fictional Scottish-themed layout in N scale based on the Western Highlands in the 1980s from the Sydney N Scale Model Railway Club. The layout was built to show that it is possible to produce a nice layout using set track (Tomix) and some imagination. The layout is DCC controlled.

Another fictitious UK layout on show was Lyttleton (OO scale). This small layout was based on a preformed moulded starter layout from Bachmann with an added short extension (as seen in the photograph below) by the builder. With some scenery and ingenuity, this little layout also shows that starting out in the hobby does not need to be overly complicated or expensive. In fact, one family was so impressed that they bought the layout at the Canberra Model Rail Expo!

Staverleigh is a compact-sized layout (4mm scale) that demonstrates how a small layout can still be well designed and detailed. The layout uses an offsite fiddle yard to have trains enter and leave the layout. Staverleigh represents a fictional Great Western Railway branchline terminus, typical of the area around Ashburton in South Devon. Trains on the layout depict a range of locomotives and rollingstock in the years 1915-1947.

And finishing off this review, we look at the freelanced N scale Japanese-themed layout Senohikui Tetsudo. The layout was inspired by the owner's trip to Japan and the purchase of a number of B-Train shorty trains which then led to the idea and construction of the layout. B-Train shorty trains are trains that have been compressed longitudinally so they take up less space than a full-sized scale model. They are available as static kits but can be motorised, as this layout demonstrates. One of the features of Japanese urban model railways is the colourful and densely packed urban landscape.

I hope this review and sample layout photos provides some inspiration for your own model railroading activities. There's a model railway theme, size, and standard for all of us.

Exhibitions are back - thank goodness!

It is with great relief to report that model railway exhibitions are back in full swing! I attended the Forestville MRE on the 5th March and the recent Canberra Model Railway Expo (26-27 March). Besides the layouts, just seeing people and catching up with friends and retailers was fantastic. I will provide a more detailed report on the exhibitions in my next blog post. But here's a sample to swoon over...

                Newcastle (NSW) 1899 in N scale debuted on the exhibition scene at the Canberra MRE (click on the image to expand)

The format of both exhibitions was similar to that of previous exhibitions. I expect upcoming exhibitions will also maintain a similar approach. This will be a topic to discuss in a future blog post.

However, Covid-19 (and derivatives) still had an impact even with relatively high vaccination rates In Australia (which is good thing). I know of a couple of friends who chose not to attend because of their age and/or existing health concerns. The Forestville MRE had mandatory mask wearing which I had no problem with. Compliance was very good - I only saw one group of four people not wearing masks. The Canberra Model Railway Expo recommended mask wearing, especially by exhibitors and retailers. Whatever the case, the social aspect of the exhibitions was still very much enjoyed and in fact was the highlight for me at both events.

Whilst I can appreciate online model railway exhibitions (especially during peak Covid), they really do miss out on the human engagement, conversation, and discussions. Sure, it is possible to replicate to some extent those interactions online, but they just don't feel the same. Online activities have a place in the model railway communications arsenal, but they just don't do enough for me where I can attend an event in person. I hope to be able to attend some future exhibitions interstate through the year.

It's great to have model railway exhibitions back in person (so to speak) - what do you think?

Exhibitions - yes/no?

Yes. I am pleased to report that the Canberra Model Railway Expo is going ahead this coming weekend, 27-28 March. The expo will be held at the UC High School in Kaleen as in previous years.

Layouts on show will include Binalong, Charlestown, Ebor Vale, Ettamogah II, Gaye Saint Edith, Goulburn, Gunning, Kookaburra Park, Mungo Scotts, Tannochbrae, the Molonglo Route, Wingello, Yendys, and others.

Photo: "Binalong" from the Epping Model Railway Club

Commercial outlets will include Anton's Trains, Austrains, Burfitt Tools, Casula Hobbies, Eureka Models, Eurohobby, IDR, Kerroby's, SDS Models, Trainworld, among others.

No. The proposed Epping Model Railway Club's 2021 exhibition at Rosehill Racecourse on the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June is off. Unfortunately, the decision to call off the exhibition was made too late to amend the advertisement in the current issue of AMRM. It is disappointing but understandable given the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, these uncertainties affect interstate visitors and potential exhibitors as well as locals who can ill afford last minute lockdowns.

For those of you who can make the Canberra exhibition this weekend, I look forward to catching up with you (socially distanced, of course).

Canberra Model Railway Expo - postscript

The Canberra Model Railway Expo is over for another year. The 2015 expo was a very enjoyable exhibition. The event was well organised with good parking (special thanks to the volunteers on duty all weekend), a great variety of model railroads scattered throughout the school, and just enough commercial vendors to keep me within budget (hey, my wife may read this!). Special thanks to Ian from Micro Models Hobbyland at Hornsby and Gary from Model Railroad Craftsman at Blacktown for ferrying some goodies to Canberra for me. In addition, catching up friends and fellow railway modellers was also part of the terrific weekend experience.

There were 25 layouts on display according to my count. I saw them all and this time I spent much of my time looking at the detail in the scenic displays. This included the natural vegetation, the industries and other buildings, as well as different cameo scenes. The hobby of railway modelling is indeed a very creative pursuit.

Now, before we get into the photos from a sample of layouts, let me confess that the camera I used today is a very old point-and-shoot because I have "misplaced" the other 2014 camera. I am still searching the house for that camera and hopefully I will find it before next year's Canberra model railway Expo!

And now some detail shots that I quite like from a selection of layouts:

Layout: Electric Car Sheds (NSW, HO scale)

Layout: Springfield Junction (USA, HO scale)

Layout: 12th Street Yard (USA, HO scale)

Layout: Brunswick Park (NSW, HO scale)

Layout: Tanoden (Japan, N scale)

Layout: Moose Jaw Southern (Canada, N scale)

Layout: 638 Mile (NSW, HO scale)

Layout: Western Front 1917 (France, HO scale) - displayed along with an accompanying video of the real WWI trains and railroad construction as part of the NMRA information stand.

In summary, the Canberra Model Railway Expo was a great weekend. Thank you to the club members of the Canberra Model Railway Club Inc. (CMRCI) and to all the volunteers who helped make the event such a success.

Canberra Model Railway Expo 2015

The Canberra Model Railway Expo is on again this year. There will a range of layouts and a good selection of commercial vendors. I know that Micro Models Hobbyland from Hornsby, and Model Railroad Craftsman from Blacktown will be in attendance.

The location of the exhibition is the same as in previous years: University of Canberra High School, 104 Baldwin Drive, Kaleen. Opening hours are 9am-5pm on Saturday (28 March) and 9am-4pm on Sunday (29 March).

Entrance fees are very reasonable: $10 each for adults, $5 each for children and seniors, and family admittance for $20 (two adults and two children).

The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) will have a stand at the exhibition on both days featuring the WWI diorama/layout of Mr D. Low. The NMRA Australasian Region has good representation around the country these days and the Canberra group is no exception.

At this stage, I am planning on being at the expo on both days from mid-morning onwards. I hope to catch up with modellers then.

Canberra Model Railway Expo 2014

The 26th Canberra Model Railway Expo was held over weekend (29-30 March) at Kaleen High School, a northern suburb of Canberra. The Expo was organised by the Canberra Model Railway Club. Once again, this exhibition was a great way to see plenty of model railway action and to shop at the numerous commercial outlets. There were over 50 exhibits and commercial stands in all.

Here is a selection of layouts that caught my eye during the afternoon today.

The first image shows the layout, Binabeen. This layout is under new ownership in Goulburn, having been called Willigobung by the previous Canberra-based owners. Binabeen is a HO scale NSW layout representative of the type of  large layout facilities on the double-track Main South Line.

Another HO scale NSW layout on display was Binalong from the Epping Model Railway Club in Sydney. The layout is based on the real Binalong which is also on the Main South line. Binalong won the award for best layout on show. In the image we see a streamlined 38 class pausing at the station with a Melbourne-bound passenger service.

The next image is from the 638 Mile layout, a HO scale NSW-themed layout. The 638 means that the location is 638 miles from Sydney. The layout is operated by DCC (digital command control) using NCE equipment. The image below shows a 620/720 railcar set in "candy stripe" livery leaving the station.

The wonderful O gauge layout, Arakoola, was on display, featuring a mix of steam and early diesel locomotives set in a rural NSW yard environment. The layout showcases some superb modelling and demonstrates what can be achieved in the larger scale. A photographic backdrop provides good depth to the modelled portion of the layout, as can be seen in the photo below. In the photo, a 50 class standard goods locomotive sits simmering in the yard awaiting the ok to proceed down the line.

Some Sydney-themed layouts were also on display. The suburban Yendys layout was exhibited by thee ACT Model Railway Society. Yendys is a HO scale layout operated by DCC. The image below shows an interurban set about to depart the station.

Mungo Scotts is an HO scale layout based on the Mungo Scott flour mill facilities near Lilyfield in Sydney. The rail line is now used by the recently opened Dulwich Hill tramway extension. The HO scale layout depicts the line in its days as a freight operation.

Another HO scale NSW layout was Electric Car Sheds that featured a selection of electric passenger and goods trains based in a typical electric car shed environment in Sydney.

Blue Ridge is an HO scale US-themed layout that showed what can be achieved in a relatively small space. The layout would fit easily into a standard sized bedroom and uses standard commercially produced locomotives, rolling stock and buildings. The layout was based on the southern end of the Cascade Mountains in California where the McLeod River Railroad had its operations. The layout was run on DC and I was impressed by the smooth-running of the trains even late on the final afternoon of the exhibition.

And rounding out the day for me was the compact N scale layout, Midford. One of the things I like about N scale is the buildings and Midford had some good examples.

There were plenty of other layouts and commercial stands at the exhibition to provide for a wide range of interests. I hope the exhibition was a success for the organisers because it was well worth the visit, especially on a rainy Canberra weekend.

Canberra Model Railway Expo 2013

Tomorrow is the opening day of the Canberra Model Railway Expo. This year the expo is celebrating it's 25th anniversary. The exhibition will feature about 25 layouts (including Waterfall if my information is correct) and just over 20 commercial traders as well.

Some of the commercial traders include Austrains, Casula Hobbies, Eureka, Gwydir Valley Models, Model Railroad Craftsman, MicroModels Hobbyland, On Track, Runway 17, Southern Models, and TrainWorld.

I hope the expo will have a successful weekend.

Canberra Model Railway Expo report

The Canberra Model Railway Expo is over for another year. A decent selection of layouts were on display covering a range of prototypes and scales, from N scale to G scale.

I managed to spend time at the exhibition on both Saturday and Sunday. A great part of the time at the exhibition was chatting with a bevy of railway modellers from interstate and from the local Canberra region. But I did get to see all the layouts too, including Geoff Small's new layout Oddwalls (following three photos).

Oddwalls (HO scale) continues a fine tradition of exhibition layouts from Geoff (he has previously exhibited Mullet Creek, Smaldon Curve, and others). This layout is 4m long and uses the same fiddleyard as in previous layouts. Geoff uses a simple layout configuration (double main line with a couple of sidings) but demonstrates significant thought about landscape and townscape, quality detail, and very realistic scenic composition using a range of commercially available structure kits and accessories. Oddwalls was on its first showing and will be appreciated by fellow modellers when they get their chance to see the layout in the future.

Other layouts on display included:

Waterfall from the Illawarra Model Railway Association (HO scale) continues to impress as a quality NSW layout with fine attention to scenic detail. The trees at the rear of the layout look superb and this layout continues to improve at each outing. Spending time looking at the layout always reveals a fine example of railway modelling and chatting with the Illawarra blokes is always a pleasure. In the scene below, we see some NSWR diesels awaiting their call to duty.

The next layout photo shows the full length of Nicholls Siding. This layout (HO scale) is about 7 metres long and features four main running tracks that offer plenty of action throughout the day. Nicholls Siding features Australian prototype trains and uses digital command control (DCC).

Jembaicumbene is another HO scale layout that features NSW railway prototypes. This layout has been around for several years now but still runs superbly. The feature of this layout is the curved station nestled within a busy town and industrial scene. In the photo below, we see a CPH railmotor just leaving the station.

As way of contrast, the next photo shows an EL with a grain train speeding through Willigobung (HO scale). Willigobung is another layout that has been around for a few years now but I hear a new exhibition layout is currently under construction by the south Canberra lads. In the meantime, watching a parade of different trains snake around Willigobung was certainly enough to keep the punters happy.

638 Mile is an Australian HO scale (NSW) based layout featuring a fictitious rural location. The layout shows a country branchline with a range of locomotives and rolling stock from the 1960-70s period.

Another HO scale layout, but this time of US prototype, is Twelfth Street Yard. This layout from the ACT Model Railway Society uses DCC, but was originally operated using standard analogue control. Twelfth Street Yard has been on the exhibition circuit since 1999. It still holds plenty of interest with a variety of through trains, switching and interchange tracks, plus street running to a tight urban industrial precinct. The photo below shows some switching in action.

Enoshima (N scale) is a large and highly detailed Japanese layout featuring fast trains, high density living, and all the colour and light associated with big cities in Japan. Whilst I have scene this layout several times now, I always like to take in the density of detail this layout has to offer.

The Canberra Monaro N scale group displayed their large AusTrak layout featuring locos and rolling stock of prototypes from both Australia and overseas. AusTrak modules are individually built by members of the club. The standardisation of module design and construction means that these modules can easily be joined together into an operating layout. The station in the photo below is clearly a NSW prototype, albeit at the time I took this shot, long US modern era trains were having a run.

Representing OO (4mm) scale was Bridport South Western. I have seen this layout a few times now but I enjoy the audio commentary that this layout provides and the old world charm of its 1890 era. I also admire the trackwork and the use of a small traverser at one end of the layout to bring trains on and off the layout.

The larger G scale garden railway representative was Leonville Junction; always a great hit with the kids due to its fast action and multitude of cartoon and television characters scattered throughout the scenery.

The exhibition was entertaining and a great opportunity to catch up with fellow railway modellers. The new layout Oddwalls was a highlight. Some other layouts were let down by poor lighting and I am not convinced that school venues are the most suitable for model railway exhibitions - a bit of a rabbit warren to some extent. Nevertheless, I understand that exhibition organisers have to use what venues are available and at a suitable cost. Also, good venues are difficult to find.

In addition, it does appear that new quality layouts coming onto the exhibition scene are the exception these days. I can understand why to some extent - new layouts take time and cost money so it's not easy to keep building new layouts. However, I do wonder whether recycling the same layouts each year will have any impact on future attendances. That said, I do know that there are a couple of new layouts under construction by modellers in Canberra that could debut next year at the 2012 Canberra Model Railway Expo - we'll have to wait and see if these layouts keep to timetable!

Thanks to the organisers for an enjoyable weekend and I do hope it was a success for you as well.