Rail-Ex Taunton - Saturday 21st October 2023

Welcome back and I've been out and about again, to bring you another model railway exhibition video.
Rail-Ex Taunton is a large show, put on by Taunton Model Railway Group at the Taunton School. As the show is so large, I have adopted the same format as my last video, from Fareham, in that I have focussed on filming layouts that havent appeared on the channel previously - of which, there were still quite a lot. Last featured on the film is Chilcompton Tunnel. Now, I know this layout has featured before, but this show was rumoured to be its last public exhibition and its just so good, it had to be shown again.
So, here is what we have for you in this film:
Rannoch - a layout that has been about for years, but Ive only just caught up with it. A 2mm N gauge representation of this bleak, West Highland outpost.
Next up, a couple of 4mm scale tramway layouts, the first of which I didnt find out the name of. Presented by members of the Tramways & Light Railways Society.
Ripley - 4mm scale OO gauge layout, set in the 1970's and 1980's. As befits the area, coal trains feature heavily.
Lambourn - 4mm scale P4 gauge. Inspired by the GWR branchline terminus of the same name, set in the 1930's.
Fareford Depot - A modern image traction maintenance depot, featuring both 3rd rail electric and 25kv overhead electric.
Nether Stowey - a 2mm N gauge GWR branch terminus layout dating back to the early 1990s. The layout has recently come out of storage and will be restored to its former glory.
The LHR - a OO9 narrow gauge "pizza" layout, inspired by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Lots of fine detail make this layout a real treat.
Hergest - a 4mm scale standard and narrow gauge junction station, based in the Welsh borders.
Cheddar SDJR - 4mm scale P4 layout, based on "what if" the Somerset & Dorset had built a line off the Wells to Glastonbury branch, to serve Cheddar - firmly in GWR territory!
Porthleven - 4mm scale OO gauge Cornish branchline, based on what couldve been, had the Helston branch survived into the 1980's / 1990's. Trains arriving in the scenic section first pass a large clay dries and associated sidings, before heading for the branch terminus station, situated high above the town. The town section is still under construction, providing food for thought on how model railways are built.
Minehead Quay - a 7mm scale narrow gauge layout, which is crammed full of interesting details. Look out for the operating mineral loading and unloading.
BSC Bromford Bridge - set from the early 2000's to the present day, the exchange sidings of the BSC works is the setting for this 4mm scale layout, which features dcc sound.
Depot Nord - is an HO 3.5mm scale depot layout, featuring steam and diesel sheds and a turntable. The layout features locomotives from the 1960's.
Finally, Chilcompton Tunnel. - Steve Jones representation of the legendary Somerset and Dorset location and line, just to the North of the village of the same name. Realistic train formations and locomotive combinations finish off the look of this, one of my favourite, exhibition layout.
I hope you enjoy this film. Please feel free to comment, share and like. If you arent already, be sure to click subscribe!
best wishes
Iain