Impressions of the Garden Railway AGM

Thank you everyone who came and talked to us at the 16mm AGM. It’s always nice to put faces to names and to catch up with news from friends. Speaking personally, I didn’t get as much time as I’d have liked to walk round and chat, but here are a few impressions I gained at the Show.

Quarry Hunslet Velinheli 16mm model by Wrightscale. It is good to see this well-loved prototype featuring in a series of books aimed at the coming generation. Photo by MD Wright

Our stand was next to Saddletank books. Their aim, through story and illustration, is to make Quarry Hunslets accessible to the younger generation. As well as half a dozen books, they are moving into the toy market so parents and grandparents take note!

A 16mm Wrightscale Baldwin Gas Mechanical appears with a Wrightscale Pechot system flatwagon. These worked French military railways. Part of a War Department (British wagon can juts be seen to the left. Photo J. Hawkesworth

Newcomers to the Show were the 16mmMilitaryngm who can be found on Facebook- groups. They specialise in WD and other 60cm military prototypes. The models run under war conditions. We admire this departure. As you know, Wrightscale models are based on military prototypes but we ourselves and most of our customers run them on layouts based on post-war scenes. Our own garden railway evokes a rural line which benefited from war-surplus sales of locomotives and rolling stock.

If you want the trench experience, join them at the 16mm Military Day on 2^nd June 2018 at Woodseaves Miniature Railway, Sydnall Lane, near Marke Drayton TF9 2AS – prototypical running preferred!

PDF models are producing WD wagons from 3D printing, and also some locomotives. They should give Wrightscale a run for its money.

Wrightscale Pechot system 16mm rail-mounted crane for moving shells. Unlike a 3D printed kit, this is made from a number of different materials. Photo MD Wright

For the 100% scale experience don’t miss ‘Tracks To The Trenches – 2018’ at the Apedale Light Railway ST5 7LB (Loomer Road on your satnav).

And then there was the model spot – models of the year. This is quite a large section now, handily placed between the entrance and a café. It is very encouraging to see how Model Of The Year has expanded over the years. As this is an Annual General Meeting, it is very appropriate that the public are given a chance to vote. I also like the way that new categories are being added all the time. For example, once our Association covered 45mm gauge as well as 32mm, locomotives and rolling stock in the broader gauge could be entered.

A new category has allowed professional model-makers to compete among themselves. This is a good idea. When I was at school, having my essays criticised, I always wondered what sort of essays teachers themselves could turn out. Well, it is fun for the students, in this case the average enthusiast, to be able to mark the teachers, in this case the model-making professionals.

Malcolm made a model of a carriage which had always fascinated him. In the early 20^th century the Maharajah of Gwalior developed an extensive 2’ gauge network in his State, and even had a silver railway modelled by Asprey to carry condiments about his dining table.

16mm Model by MD Wright A fish-eye view of the Maharajah's coach which ran on the Gwalior Light Railway. The awning is just one of the passive climate control that it featured.

Malcolm’s entry in the All-comers’ category was a model of the Maharajah’s private state carriage featuring adaptations for the hot climate, and for local customs. The servants could enter from one end, he and his family had their private quarters at the other. Staff and maharajah met in the central dining area; custom and privacy could be duly observed but with all comfort. The carriage itself was adapted to screen out the heat. The roof had a double shell, the windows fixed blinds to keep out the sun but not the breeze. Windows were carefully arranged to allow cool air in one side, disperse hot air through the other.  The public were clearly impressed by a bit of ‘living archaeology’ and Malcolm received an award.

We were delighted to offer our well-loved white-metal rolling stock kits. We were all sorry when Adrian Swain had to give up. He had always supplied us with castings of high quality. Fortunately, we have a new supplier, Sarum Castings who are able to match Adrian for quality, as you can see from the illustration.

Wrightscale WD bogie 16mm scale

Thank you, everyone who enquired about the Wrightscale Baldwin Gas Mechanical Locotractor. Sarum Castings will be able to provide many parts. We hope to have a supplier for the laser cut chassis parts, and another for the gearbox. When we have all in place, the BGM will be running again.

Malcolm is working on a batch of Wrens. Thank you everyone who came up and reminded us of their email addresses. Many of us are obliged to change – why can’t providers allow us to keep an address for life? (!)

It was an excellent day. Living in a remote area, we particularly appreciate being able to see our friends and catch up with news and gossip.