The 2004 Open Day was held on Saturday 23rd October at the Cadoxton Conservative Club, Vere Street, Cadoxton, Barry.
The exhibition was open from 11.00am until 5.00pm. Admission £1.50, children and OAPs 75p.
The event was supported by local traders and preservation groups. The club's special edition Dapol wagons were on sale.
The following club and members layouts were on display:
Holton General, the club's main OO-gauge British outline layout. This is now fully functional, so that trains will run from the lower level bay platform right through to the branch terminous on the uppermost level with about three circuits in between.
Tafsil, the club's main O-gauge layout, whereby the fixed boards (four road engine shed and curved viaduct sections) in three rooms are linked to the portable station boards operating as a country terminous. Both walls behind the engine shed have now been painted. (Not too many people remember the coal pit alongside Chepstow Castle - artistic licence!!!). The chance to view this alone was well worth the entrance fee. A wide variety of GWR steam will be in operation, including many locos taken over from the valleys railways at grouping. Look out for some migrants from other railways!!!
Cadoc Bluffs, an American HO-scale layout depicting an imaginary line in the foothills of the Rockies. Both steam and diesel hauled trains ran, including some with full sound capabilities. The back scene round three sides of the room is really impressive - thanks Dave!!!
Machynlleth, an N-gauge layout with this important Cambrian Railways junction station as it was in the 1930's. There is even a trace of the narrow gauge Corris Railway to be seen at the front of the layout. The room has some photos of the modern day station taken in Summer 2000. Surprisingly quite a lot of the trackplan and buildings still remains. With some new N-gauge modellers joining the club, this exhibit came fully alive this year.
Walker's Ridge. A working diorama of a British Columbian
logging community built in memory of the late Capt. Bill Walker. Lots of exquisite detail which is to be expected of Brian Scoulding
White River Pass. Another American layout, this time in N-gauge. This was donated to the club by a member, but an extension board has been completed and was on show in the clubrooms in its complete form for the second time.
Cwmderi: A make-believe 4mm/00 gauge layout from our father and son members, Gwynne and John. The layout features a branch line terminus, with quarry reception sidings and trackwork from an adandoned coal mine. The layout is set in the late 1960's and was exhibited for only the second time.
Denis Powys, a double track main line station in GWR days, with loco shed (regularly supplied with coal!) and small goods yard. This layout has not been seen for two years, but is now fitted with DCC control. Shunting in the yard makes use of Spratt & Winkle couplings reducing the need for the big hand from the sky!! There are some beautifully modelled buildings on this layout, including the former post office in Penarth. Spot the longest stretched limo on a British layout!!
Helstow . A portable OO gauge layout depicting an imaginary sea-side terminous in the West Country, where the Southern and Great Western Railways meet. This layout has now been extended with a model of the Dare Valley Viaduct, one of Brunel's few wooden viaducts outside Cornwall.
Blue Jay . A fun layout from our artist member depicting the American wide west, with the 7th cavalry much in evidence - try counting the horses!
Bardale. The club's earlier N-gauge exhibition layout makes an apearance again this year after a break. The renewed interest in N-gauge in the club is the reason. Bardale ran in 1970's BR period with diesels and DMUs, including a model of the weed killing train of the time.
The next Open Day is scheduled for October 2005 - exact date to be confirmed. For further details contact me david@murky.net
