The Programme was kindly sponsored by Eileen's Emporium.

It’s hard to believe that this was the 4^th expoEM at Bracknell. The venue is still welcoming and helpful. The Grange Hotel in the town centre is still a 4 star hotel at B&B prices. And finally all the adverse comments about the location have died down. If the Society fell on its feet it was due to all the helpful souls in Bracknell. They help to make expoEM the show it is. Thank you.

And what a show we had!! Graeme Vickery, the expoEM Manager, chuffed with the attendance up nearly 15%. We deliberately held the prices but nevertheless did incur slightly higher costs for the venue and hotel. But nothing major.

Nobody attending could have any complaints. The layouts, every last one of them, were Best of Breed, all deserved awards. Not a duff one in sight. A fantastic atmosphere and I’m sure many people left more knowledgeable after seeing some of the excellent demonstrations and lectures that we presented. Once again bargains galore at the Members Sales. Even spotted some Portescap motor/gearboxes at knock-down prices. They went like hot cakes.

Comments on RMWeb were all positive and many of the people I spoke to were happy with the show. We seem to have the balance about right plus we are one of the few shows that have no barriers.

Just like to say a big thank you to the layout operators, the traders, not forgetting the EMGS Members who helped.

(Steve Young EMGS Publicity Manager)

LECTURE PROGRAMME:

A selection of topics for both days.

Peter Hill’s ready-to-run loco conversions was a popular event and ran on both days. Other events were Scratch built buildings – where to start by Paul Bason, Building an exhibition layout including baseboard construction jointly presented by Chris Kedgley & Colin Wilson, a tribute to the late Rev. Peter Denny by Rev. Mike Kippax and Signalling by Mike Haywood.

Many thanks to these people who gave their time to show others.

We are always on the lookout for people to present at our Lecture Programme.

Traders:

(Please note that Blacksmith Models were unable to attend due to family illness)

Branchlines, Brassmasters, C&L Finescale, Cambrian Models, Roger Carpenter, Colin Craig,

Comet Models, Dart Castings/Montys/MJT, dc Kits, Eileen’s Emporium, EMGS Trade Stand,

The Engine Shed, Exactoscale & The P4 Track Company, Alan Gibson, GW Models, High Level Kits,

Hobby Holidays, Mike King, London Road Models, Marc Models, Modelex,

Model Railway Developments, David Newband, Kevin Robertson Books, Radley Models,

Realistic Modelling Services, Roxey Mouldings, Shawplan Model Products, Steamage,

South East Finecast, Southwark Bridge Models, Sunningwell Command Control,

Mike Thorp, Wild Swan Publications, Wizard Models, 247 Developments.

Layouts featured:

Axe Edge & Thatch Marsh Colliery (EM) Dan Wright

Canada Road (EM) Peter Johnson

Eastwold (EM) Roger Dickinson

Pen-y-Madoc (EM) Steve Farrow

Longcarse West (P4) David Furmage

Western Road Diesel Depot (P4) Mike Anson

Prospect Wharf (EM) Mike Bell

Tower Pier (EM) Geoff Ashdown

Yeoford Junction (EM) John Nicholas

Two extra-special layouts that need mentioning here.

Leighton Buzzard, Linslade GCR

(A superb crowd-puller and the newest part was the fiddle yard built 21 years ago. Most the layout is over 50 years old and just shows what one man can achieve. This was the beginnings of EM gauge and the results still stand the test of time. A time when nearly every item had to be made. There was very little trade support. Steve Young)

Built by the late Rev. Peter Denny

Exhibited by Tony Gee and Ken Hill. A pioneering EM gauge layout built in the 1950’s as part of the Buckingham Branch GCR.

In December 2009 the hobby lost one of its true pioneers with the passing of the Rev. Peter Denny. Work on his Buckingham Branch started as long ago as 1947 and he was still modelling and holding regular operating sessions into his nineties. Buckingham was one of the very earliest finescale 4mm scale layouts and one of the first to be built in EM gauge. Peter was also a founder member of the EM Gauge Society.

The first Buckingham model was started in an age when almost nothing was available through the trade. Even timber for baseboards was rationed. So Peter developed a policy of making things himself, which he continued through his modelling career. A great deal of thought has been put into what the future of Buckingham would be. Due to the nature of the layout it was felt that the best place would be in the hands of a model railway enthusiast, who was willing to take on what is an extremely complex layout. A new home has now been found and the layout has been moved to a purpose built outbuilding, where work is under way to re-erect the layout and return it to its full operational state. Peter Denny did exhibit part of the layout just once, at the Model Railway Journal show in 1990. A special fiddle yard was constructed to allow Leighton Buzzard to be exhibited as a stand-alone layout. This fiddle yard still exists and it has been agreed with the Denny family that Leighton Buzzard will be exhibited from time to time as a memorial to Peter and to give a wider opportunity to people to see some of his work.

This exhibition is the first such show and we are delighted to be able to display the layout along with a static display of other items from Buckingham. The track plan is one of Peter’s own drawings. Since he made the drawing the track plan has been altered slightly, with the removal of the crossover near the gasworks. We are also very pleased that some of Peter’s regular operating team from Cornwall are able to attend the show, as are members of his family.

We hope that what you see will form a fitting tribute to Peter’s memory.

(Based on notes supplied by Tony Gee)

Mostyn. (P4) Barrowmore MRG

(Winner of the Best in Show Cup expoEM 2011 – Well done Richard and crew)

Mostyn represents a small stretch of the ex-LNWR North Wales Main Line as it was in June 1977. Sadly the station has long since closed and the four track formation has been reduced to two running lines but there is still very intensive block-to-block working in the peak summer months. The majority of loco-hauled passenger and freight workings see Classes 24,25,40 and 47 from Crewe Diesel, Longsight and Springs Branch sheds but there are also plenty of ‘foreigners’ on excursions and longer distance freight. First generation Diesel Multiple Units make up half of all passenger services and may be seen in long and very mixed formations. To add to all this passing traffic there is an active rail-served dock with exchange sidings.

We aim to provide the onlooker with a line side viewing point to watch prototypical-length trains in accurate formations sweeping along the main line. The humble unfitted trip freight contrasts with the Class 1 express passenger workings. We have researched our location extensively but we are always keen to hear from anyone with new information.

Mostyn made its first major exhibition appearance at expoEM 2002 as a 22ft x 14ft layout with 10 operational fiddle yard roads and 150 items of stock. Since then, stock has continued to roll out of the workshops and the layout has earned a reputation on the exhibition circuit for consistent reliable running – not a quality that is always associated with P4. Major scenic and fiddle yard extensions were added during 2009-10 and we are delighted that expoEM 2011 will see Mostyn return for its first appearance in its final form as a 24ft x 30ft layout with 34 operational fiddle yard roads and 450 items of stock. The coming years will see our stock list steadily increase to about 800 items and there is an ambitious list of scenic enhancements that will ultimately finish the project. It would be nice to return to expoEM in due course for our final curtain call.