"Thirty years ago I built an 009 layout on an ironing board and I have always hankered after the simplicity of folding down legs, plugging in the current and the layout being ready to run.

However, now I model '0' gauge it seemed out of the question until I saw a second-hand wooden ironing board for sale at the shop round the corner. So I bought it for £6 and tried various possibilities.

Eventually, I came up with a layout measuring 8' x 1'7" which is split into two 4ft sections which are created face to face for transport with the bottom one being attached by conti-joiners to outriggers running across the ironing board which is 12 inches wide.

Many of my previous layouts I have modelled loco sheds of one sort or another but this one is different.

It depicts a small yard which is on a short branch from a nearby station and it serves two factories as well as a goods unloading platform. The locos used are all short wheelbase ones and the fiddleyard uses cassettes which are a maximum of 20 inches long."

Tolshaxam LNER
by Patrick Cook
Size = 13' x 18"
Gauge = '0'/7mm

It is based on a light railway somewhere in East Anglia in the 1930 - 1948 period. The stock is kit built and the buildings are
scratch built. The stock is typical of what could haev been on a light railway such as this.

Brensham Junction
by John Cox
Size = 12' x 2'
Gauge = 'Em'/4mm

The layout is set in Worcestershire countryside, some where around Evesham. The name of the junction and the branch come from John Moore's books on life in this area before the war. Within the space available, I have set out to capture the essence of Broom Junction on the ex Midland Redditch line to Ashchurch, by including the north box, signals, sidings, grounded coach, island platform and the road bridge. I have endeavoured to get the feel of the Midland Style with the correct signals, design box and rolling stock.

All the buildings are scratch built replicas from plans drawn by Illife Stokes of ones in the Evesham area. The sequence of operation is taken from a 1930's working timetable and includes through branch passenger trains, pickup goods with interchange traffic and numerous fitted though freights. Locomotives are kitbuilt and reflect those that were shedded at Bournville, Saltley & Redditch. Passenger and goods stock are also kitbuilt and represent those running at the time.

Libbyville
by E York
Size = 4'6" x 4'6"
Gauge = '00'/4mm

The design is basically a small village with an industrial site and farm land. There is one main road running through Libbyville with the usual facilities of a pub, church, station etc. and also a new development. The building of the layout has been a joint effort and this is our first attempt. We have made errors and learnt from them, but would have made considerably more if it was not for the help and advice given by more experienced modellers. The layout has further work to be done on it.

Ballykiren
by Ned Williams
Size = 10' x 2'6"
Gauge = 7mm scale narrowgauge (on 16.5mm track)

Ballykiren is yet another attempt to cram a quart into a pint pot. A roadside half on an Irish narrow gauge railway is served by trains running from hidden revolving sector plate to hidden revolving sctor plate. There is just space for a junction with a stretch of roadside tramway and the outskirts of the village served by the halt.

Hickam (freelance)
by Don Marshall
Size = 10' x 3'
Gauge = 4mm

Hickam is just over 49 years old, showing the original Triang track and modified engines. Children will love this layout as they may see someone they recognise (Thomas and Friends).

Cherwell Junction
by Solihull Model Railway Circle
Gauge = '00'/4mm

‘CHERWELL’ is our exhibition layout and is developing fast. It’s design means a number of scale length trains can run simultaneously. The scenery is now taking shape, the tramway is now laid, and new for this year light signals!
If you look carefully you can see: Pigeons roosting under the station bridge; Foxes using the trackbed as a shortcut and one fox eying lambs, gulls eggs and the shepherd on the upper pasture; Cats watch building work in the arch from the platform; Gulls above the sea and on the cliffs with a lonely Cormorant.