Report on the 2008 AGM & Show held at Biggleswade on 29th March 2008
Words by Bob Leggett, photos by Keith Bone
All photos may be enlarged by clicking or tapping on them. Best viewed full screen!
Although called the AGM this really is an excellent show, organised by Chairman David Ramsey and members with no less than 10 layouts/displays and 25 traders.
TCS Chairman, David Ramsey
It is probably the friendliest of all the TCS events and members travel from far and wide to be their, praise must go to Dave Coddington who left Scotland at 9pm Friday and arrived at Noon Saturday (delayed due to essential works!)
Dave Coddington (right) with Malcolm Pugh
None of this was necessary at the show as all the layouts performed well and I will take you round the room from the entrance. Actually the entrance hall includes the first stop which is the club “bring and buy” stall ably manned by Malcolm Pugh with assistance from Tony Penn. Several bargains were on offer and I noticed a Tri-ang Hornby Polly Goods set sell for £35 and a Timpo Rocket set for £11, A Book of Bassett Lowke by Fuller sold for £20, in total nearly £300 was sold which meant £30 was added to club funds.
Opposite was the club stand and the theme was Tankers. This is probably the best and most colourful display there has been with over 200 tankers on display from Z gauge to Gauge 2. Shell was by far the most popular with Andy and Elaine Hyelman and Bob Leggett both bringing along a rake each of Shell Tankers.
As we enter the main hall, the layouts and displays are on the outside and I will take you round clockwise.
Paul Brookes was selling Master Models and similar items and also had a lovely static display of all the Master Models and appropriate stations. The range is just enormous and showed the huge variety available in the late 50s and early 60s.
Eric Large was displaying a superb colourful collection of TT from around the world and included stock from the following manufacturers WESA, Tri-ang, Rokal, Klein Bahn and Berlinerbahn.
Chris Smith had the most unusual display of the day. He replicated E.Beal’s 1930s 00 gauge 2 rail track with a third outside rail electrical pick up. Beal has devised the outside rail pick up to show more realism by avoiding the centre rail. With some scratch built locos this was a very interesting display.
A fascinating collection of Die-cast trains by Reg Harman was next to Chris. Crescent, Dinky, Moko, Benbros and Budgie were among this excellent display which also included a collection of Crescent Signals.
Brian Peters was running Hornby and Len Mill’s ACE trains on his three track O gauge layout. While I passed by a Hornby GWR No 1 special was pulling 13 tankers (as per club theme) While an ACE A4 was running around the outside with a rake of ACE Coaches.
Next was Paul and Adam Draycott’s Lionel O gauge layout. To show we are up to date a Lionel Hogwarts Express pulling three coaches with lights was doing its duty while I was there. I also notice a Big Boy on show in the sidings as well as Lionel Battlespace wagons.
Peter Berry was running OO gauge Graham Farish with a pannier tank running on the outer circuit, on the inside track parked in an original GF Brookdale card station was Sir Eustace Missenden with a rake of Pullmans. Peter was also selling a variety of stock.
Peter Hilton was also showing a collection of his replica 00 Gauge tankers.
A super Hornby Dublo three rail layout with several neverwazzas was operated by Roger White with help from Colin Barton. A thick matting made this a surprisingly quiet layout.
Next to Roger, Bob Leggett was operating his Tri-ang TT Layout which has been constructed on an original Tri-ang built board. To add colour Bob had placed Graham Farish trees made by Britains around the layout. Bob was also selling a variety of stock from 50s Tri-ang to more recent Bachmann.
Pat Hammond had brought along a mouth-watering collection of 200 Tankers from the Rovex/Hornby stable. Several prototypes which never went in production were in the display. I also noted no less than 16 different Tri-ang Hornby UD Tankers. Pat also had all the latest Hornby six wheel tankers.
Pat Hammond with Tony Stanford
The larger premises allow more traders (25 in total) I therefore give an idea of some of the items I saw that interested me.
John Neale had a streamline 0-4-0 electric O gauge loco and two coaches by Kraus for around £150. John Foreman was again thinning his stock and I saw a nice UBILDA loco for £35. There were at least three French Hornby autorail sets from three different traders, Richard Elkan had a very rare Electric
Betal train set for £120 and a Hornby O gauge Percy Set for £60.
The TCS AGM commenced at 1.50pm and finished at 2.35pm. The minutes will appear in the next Train Collector Magazine.
The day would not complete without the superb refreshments organised by wives and girlfriends of members. Many thanks Amalia Ramsey, Janice Carpenter, Clare Lahiffe, Jackie Hall and Margaret Fitch.
Thanks to all those who came, the organisers including the setting up team, exhibitors and traders for contributing to such an excellent show.
Bob Leggett
And finally as the Club Stand theme was Tankers here are some more photos of them.
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