I have been advised that the Stafford Railway Circle Exhibition that Canute Road Quay was due to attend on 5th & 6th February 2022 has been unfortunately cancelled.
The show organisers have advised: “In view of the rapidly worsening Covid situation caused by the Omicron variant, Stafford Railway Circle has decided that it is not possible to proceed with this exhibition. We deeply regret that we have to cancel it and hope that our exhibitors, traders and would-be customers will understand why this decision has been taken. Our sincere apologies but hopefully you understand.”
Unfortunate but understandable, I hope to be there in 2023.
Canute Road Quay is also scheduled to be at the Astolat Model Railway Circle exhibition in Guildford on Sunday 16th January 2022, I am aware that the organisers are monitoring the current situation and will advise further in due course.
As I mentioned in my post earlier this week, I shall be assisting Hornby Magazine editor Mike Wild operate his Berrybridge layout at the Stafford Railway Circle exhibition this weekend (4th/5th February). The Stafford exhibition, held at the Stafford County Showground (with ample free parking), is always worth a visit with over 30 layouts and 40 traders in attendance there is bound to be something for everyone.
A ex Midland 2F from '00' Works passes the good shed on Berrybridge. Photo copyright and courtesy of Mike Wild / Hornby Magazine
Berrybridge was originally built for an article in the magazine to prove that layouts do not always need to take years to complete and indeed could be built within 100 hours but in fact it only took 75!
It is based on a small freelance ex Midland station on a cross country route with a typical passenger and freight service serving the station and a small good yard. A small loco servicing facility is also included for good measure. The end to end format with turntable sector plates at each end allows for simple operation of quite an intense service. This ensures that viewers have something to see moving most of the time, which is something of a philosophy with the Hornby Magazine layouts.
One of the operational interests of the track plan is that generally trains are not able to pass in the short station loop necessitating freight to make use of the lie-by siding to allow other trains to pass.
As is usual I am sure I will answering many questions and politely advising some visitors that firstly, Mike Wild is in fact old enough to be a magazine editor and that I am not he; and also that the magazine is published by Ian Allan not Hornby Hobbies, having no connection to them other then the use of the name!
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The model railway world and mainly Southern Railway meanderings of Graham 'Muz' Muspratt
