2010 MRE

Pre-event Press Release:

Open 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Thorncombe Village Hall - TA20 4NE 

13 exhibitors plus trade support, grand raffle, refreshments, layout naming competition, free parking and disabled access. 

Adults £3.00. Senior Citizens £2.50 All accompanied children by donation.

The standard just keeps on getting better:

This year we have assembled a range of exhibits that encompass all that is best about our wonderful hobby.

• • “Bishopsmead” has won many awards and is justifiably popular,

  •  “Swyncombe” majors on period atmosphere in the “senior scale”

  • “Aldbourne” shows just what can be done in OO9 with a good eye for detail and reliable running to boot!

  • “Wheal Elizabeth was featured in Railway Modeller in Feb 2010, along with the diminutive “Blackwood Valley Railway” that has caused me to change scales after seeing what has been achieved in a tiny 4ft 6in x 1ft 4in!

  • Rod Alcock's “Corris” (OO9) comes fresh from victory down in Cornwall, where it was judged by the public to be the best in show, on only its second outing!

  • Finally, we have a local celebrity to open proceedings - Paul Atterbury of “Antiques Roadshow” fame. Paul is a well-known authority on railways and has written many books on the subject.  We are delighted

• to have him visiting today, and will make a popular annual event even busier!

A different Flavour

We have a distinctly different flavour to the range of exhibitors this time. Of course, the major scales are all represented, but we also TEN NEW EXHIBITS that have not previously visited us, covering scales and gauges of O, OO, N, 009, O/16.5mm, American & German HO, and Andrew Ullyott’s  wonderful “Wheal Elizabeth” in P4. Special mention must also go to Peter-John Sanders, who has agreed to travel down from Welshampton in Shropshire with his inspirational “Blackwood Valley Railway”. A real treat!

Trade Support

To back this up, we have once again generous support from Buffers Model Railways of Colston Cross Axminster, (who were recently awarded “BACHMANN RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2010”). Peco from Beer will also be in attendance with their pro-built N scale layout and track display.

Second hand railway items for sale are to be also found courtesy of Rod Saunders. Alan Corwood returns with a diverse and interesting range of railwayana, which can be purchased for surprisingly reasonable sums.

Grand Raffle:

Following on from last year’s initial success is the inclusion of a Grand Raffle. All our trade support and other local shops have kindly donated some superb prizes that should whet the appetite of even the most jaundiced of "rail interested persons". Maria at Buffers has very kindly agreed to donate a starter set, amongst other things, this will surely be a perfect way to get a boy or girl on the “road” to railway modelling.

New this year: “Layout naming competition”:

Peter Halls has kindly agreed to host a layout naming competition for his recently completed N scale layout “Chardley”.  Peter is willing to adopt the public’s choice of suitable name for his attractive village scene. Suggest a name or add your vote to another earlier suggestion!

Provisional line up of Exhibitors:

BISHOPSMEAD – OO, Ted Olney. Bath.

MILEHOUSE TRAMWAY – OO/9mm, Bob Pritchard. Taunton.

ALDBOURNE – OO9, Adrian Ponting. Bristol.

CAROL ANN – HO, Barrie Baker. Shepton Mallet.

SWYNCOMBE – O, Alan Garrard. Barnstaple.

DUGELSHAVEN – HO, Doug Tompkins. Newton Abbot.

WHEAL ELIZABETH – P4, Andrew Ullyott. Weston Super-Mare.

CORRIS – OO9, Rod Alcock. Cullompton.

CHARDLEY – N, Peter Halls. Axminster.

CLASS 43 COMPUTER SIMULATOR - Jon Clarke-Irons TRAC. Axminster.

TORMOUTH QUAY - 00, Graham Bean TRAC. Axminster.

BLACKWOOD VALLEY RAILWAY – O16.5, Peter-John Sanders. Welshampton.

LAMBERTS CASTLE - N, Steve Haynes. C/O Peco @ Beer.

Trade Support:

Peco, Buffers Model Railways, Rod Saunders (second hand) & Alan Corwood (railwayana).

All in all, a great exhibition in the offing! We look forward to seeing you all on the day.

A scene from the Blackwood Valley Railway, gritty industrial atmosphere in a small space. Photo courtesy RM.