A couple of weeks ago I took the train up to the Birmingham NEC to attend the Warely National Model Railway Exhibition, a massive two day event attended by over 16,000 hobbyists.

Rather than drive all the way up to Birmingham, I opted to take the Virgin train service from Watford Junction, and I was very impressed with just how smooth the trip turned out to be.  The NEC is located adjacent to Birmingham International Station, so I was in line for the opening of the doors at 9.30am.

The exhibition hall was huge, which was just as well because the crowds were equally large!  I haven't been to such a well attended railway show since the old Glasgow SEC shows in the late eighties.

The majority of the layouts and traders were british outline, with a large Hornby presence, but there were several US traders including Penguin, Macs Models and Signal Box.

Layouts included several beautifully detailed switching layouts, a number of logging type layouts and even some LGB garden scale equipment.

I enjoyed the show, and picked up several bargains from the Signal Box, but sadly Penguin didn't have anything I needed as none of his stock was NS or CSX, and Macs Models were charging crazy prices (£35 for an autorack? - same model £15 at Signal Box!).

I'm already planning to attend the next Scottish SEC show early next year, should be fun.

Horse Creek - Wyoming - HO Scale

Large Scale Display - LGB Scale

Haven Hill Junction - On30 Scale

Menasha WI - Wakefield - HO Scale

Cushman Oregon - S-Scale

Purgatory Peak - On30

Wild Creek Lumber - OnG Scale

The Shop - Ronald Halma - HO Scale

Cornfield Yard - Ronald Halma - HO Scale

Jacksonville Yard - HO Scale - Terry Tasker

Bachmann Display

Atlas Display