Uckfield Exhibition 2023

 This years Uckfield exhibition held a tribute to the late Iain Rice celebrating his modelling and the number of iconic layouts he produced over his lifetime. How many of us remember The East Suffolk Light, Butley Mills and the North Cornwall Mineral Railway. Iain was also instrutmental in developing the cameo layout concept although at the time when he and his group built Hepton Wharf is was a challenge in a weekend to build a small layout.

Here are the photos I took of Iains layouts, though I did not know him personally he may be gone but certaintly will not be forgotten.

Longwood Edge

Butley Mills

Hepton Wharf

North Cornwall China Clay

Cades Green

Taw Valley in Fake Southern livery

 

Taw Valley visiting from the Severn Valley Railway. Wearing its Fake Southern Livery and looking better than that horrid Purple!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JQfYKRVAbqDc2TQC6

Fenchurch on the goods - Giants of Steam 14/10/23

 

Shot from the embankment at Horstead Keynes - Looks like a model railway dont you think?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2YArrj3bxwTjVsnE9

And here we have Fenchurch arriving back at Horstead Keynes

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9DccayjUUVuYFo5J8

Giants of Steam 15/10/23

A visit to the Bluebell railway on Saturday last yielded some photos of Bullied engines in all their finnery plus my favourite tank engine the Stroudley Terrier, even the GWR got in the act!

I decided to drive to Horstead Keynes and once I had paid £10 for my platform ticket, wandered around snapping locos and watching the trains go by.

Fenchurch was doing brakevan rides around the station, very popular.

At the other end of the Spectrum, Blackmoor Vale is quietly rotting away.

Contrast with Manston which needs a good clean!

As to Taw Valley which is resplendent in "fake" SR black livery (better than the 🟣)

But outshone by the finish on Wightwick Hall

Oh and btw Diesels have arrived!

Restoration of 1305 continues a pace.

All in all an enjoyable few hours, despite grumpy old men and backpackers!