Good weekend at the Worthing Model Railway Exhibition

27 meets 72

The new Dapol "O" gauge model of 32636 (Fenchurch) was on display on the Fenchurch Fund-Project 27 stand
(along with 1027!)

We had a good weekend at the Worthing Model Railway Club's annual exhibition last weekend, both financially and in goodwill.


The display included the new "O" gauge model of BR 32636 (Fenchurch) with the assistance of Brian Jackson at Morris Models of Lancing (http://morris-models.co.uk/). Brian is a long time supporter of the Bluebell and the Fenchurch Fund.


We put on a display showing the work so far carried out and also one showing the reasons behind having to have a set of cylinders cast.  These created a lot of interest as did the power point display, which was different on each day!

The display showing some of the things we have achieved and on the end panel some of those who have achieved it!

The display showing the cylinder drawings

We also put on a display of models (which was enhanced as the weekend went on) and included a selection of locomotives that would have been seen on the Central division of British Railways Southern Region.  These included a line up of P class locos awaiting their turn for overhaul, terriers up to Standard class 4 and Ivatt class 2 and also included the C and E4 locos.  Even a B4 and USA slipped in!

75H loco shed "somewhere on the Central Division"

Also on display was the small diorama of the cuckoo line featuring 32636 and a short goods train as seen in a photo held in the Bluebell Railway picture archive.  A great place for inspiration for modellers!

32636 on a short freight train on the Cuckoo Line

A great amount of interest was shown in our 1/8th scale model cylinders especially the process used to create them.  A great feather in the cap of Matthew Holloway who designed and drew the 3D computer model.  Maybe we will get a set of 1/8th scale frames to add to the display!

The Cylinders on display

We had the usual selection of items for sale on the stand and a few new lines in the preserves range.  A selection of our merchandising will be available at a couple of exhibitions in the next couple of weeks due to the generosity of Harrison-Brown Models (www.harrisonbrownmodels.co.uk) If you are at one of the exhibitions (Including this weekend, the Fareham Rail Ex) please pop along and say hello. Adrian Harrison is a "resting" working member of the Bluebell Railway.

The sales stand and display (a frontage of 20 feet!

Our next display will be at the Giants of Steam Weekend at Sheffield Park where you will be able to see the latest progress with the restoration as well as seeing the displays and sales stand.  We hope to have as many of the team on hand as possible to give you the assistance needed.  Also open during the weekend will be the Standard Class 2 project and Atlantic House, so please come along it will be a good opportunity to see the progress on these three projects.