This year sees the Monty Python team reforming for a couple of shows and in true Python tradition this post is now for something completely different. This weekend not only am I going N scale but North American to boot!
This weekend, 12/13th April, is the annual Bentley Model Railway Group ‘Trainwest’ exhibition in Melksham, Wiltshire, and I shall be attending operating one of the High Wycombe and District Model Railway Society’s N Scale layout ‘Hamilton’.

The layout, I am told, depicts an area of Ohio but has not been modelled on any particular place. The AT&SF known as the ‘Santa Fe’ is the major train operator. Purchased by the Burlington Northern it now bears the name of the BNSF. Other Railroad companies, such as Canadian Railroads, the Union Pacific, the L&N and the Southern Pacific Railroads have trackage rites to operate a through service (so at least a version of the Southern gets in there somewhere..). The town of Hamilton is a small community comprising of Main Street with a small industrial area at the east end of town and the grain storage silos near the river at the western side of town.
If you are planning a visit to this show, that has an impressive line up of layouts, please come and say hello, as I am sure I will be only too willing to chat about all things Southern to help regain my sanity…I will be the one coughing a lot…
The show is held at the at the Christie Miller Sports Centre, Bowerhill Industrial Estate, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6QU and is open to the public Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Normal service will be resumed in due course…
See you there Graham – on the Sunday. M