Charles Cooper's Railway Pages - The Great British Train Show

The Great British Train Show

The Great British Train Show (GBTS) is sponsored by the Platelayers' Society, formed in 1976 by railway enthusiasts living in Southern Ontario, whose interests are primarily in the railways of Britain, either as modellers or as armchair enthusiasts. Unlike most other railway modeller groups it does not own or rent rooms, but meets monthly in various local venues including at members' homes, and also participates in area model railway shows. The Platelayers exhibited regularly at the now defunct original annual Toronto model railway show (that started at the Harbour Front Ice House in 1976, gravitated to the Queen Elizabeth building at the CNE, then to the International Centre, before ending its long run at the Toronto Congress Centre).

The Platelayers also had annual get-togethers with displays at the Toronto Delta Hotel (in those days the Delta Chelsea Inn). In 1992 they put on their first "Great British Train Show" at the Jim Archdekin Community Centre in Brampton, and the GBTS quickly earned a reputation for the high standard of its exhibits. It has consistently attracted visitors and exhibitors from the USA and the UK. The show's principal distinct feature is that it is only put on every two years. This allows exhibitors a better interval to renew or create new layouts and concepts. The show rarely permits "bare boards", and all exhibits must of course be prototypically of British or Commonwealth railways.

While these Railway Pages feature predominantly Canadian-prototype railway modelling under the "Railway Modelling" menu, it would indeed be remiss not to acknowledge the important contribution the Great British Train Show has made (and continues to make) hereabouts to the steadily-growing high standards of railway modelling in general. With that said, the show also delights in presenting exhibits from the European toy train era, and its devotees are able to enjoy their particular "memory lane" fix.

So presented below are vignettes of layouts at some past shows. My viewers' indulgence is requested for the often rather less-than-perfect photography and my sloppy record-keeping where I simply omitted to record at the time the ownership and details of some of the exhibits. I hope that viewers will get in touch and help identify some of them. Also, it should be said that my picture-taking has been happenstance, and so not to infer anything from the inclusion of any particular layout or view - or the absence thereof. When these images were taken, I had no thought that they might finish up on a webpage. So for all perceived shortcomings, I accept responsibility and ask for your indulgence. Note: The four- or six-digit number at the end of each caption is the image identification number. Please quote it and the year of the show if you get in touch with me about any image.

1998 (Fourth Show)
Identification of some layouts is remiss and the photography is not that hot. However, one layout featured at this show is Brian Fayle's celebrated Knott's Wharf Canal & Railway Company in 1:43 (0) fine scale. The August 2006 Railway Modeller featured this layout as "The Railway of the Month", and it also appeared in Model Railroad Planning 2001.

Kingsmarkham, by the Calgary British Railway Modellers 980001

Kingsmarkham, by the Calgary British Railway Modellers 980002

980007

980006

980009

Hornby Dublo 3 rail, by the Hornby Dublo Group 980010

Newquay GWR, by Tom Kidd and Mark Stapleton P4 980011

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers 00 980012

Much Bynding (Northminster station), by the Durham Region British Modellers 00 980013

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers 00 980014

Knott's Wharf, by Brian Fayle 0 fine Ratio 1:43 980015

Knott's Wharf, by Brian Fayle 0 fine Ratio 1:43 980016

Knott's Wharf, by Brian Fayle 0 fine Ratio 1:43 980018

Knott's Wharf, by Brian Fayle 0 fine Ratio 1:43 980019

Knott's Wharf, by Brian Fayle 0 fine Ratio 1:43 980020

Knott's Wharf, by Brian Fayle 0 fine Ratio 1:43 980022

Knott's Wharf, by Brian Fayle 0 fine Ratio 1:43 980023

Knott's Wharf, by Brian Fayle 0 fine Ratio 1:43 980024

2002 (Sixth Show)

020001

Wandle Valley Railway, by Mike Watts. S Scale. 020002

Wandle Valley Railway, by Mike Watts. S Scale. 020003

The Buffers. 00. 020004

The Buffers. 00. 020005

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 020006

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 020007

Triang TT 3mm Scale. 020008

Triang TT 3mm Scale. 020009

Bombay, Baroda & Central India Railway, by Lloyd Pierce. 7mm Scale fine. 020010

Bombay, Baroda & Central India Railway, by Lloyd Pierce. 7mm Scale fine. 020012

Bombay, Baroda & Central India Railway, by Lloyd Pierce. 7mm Scale fine. 020011

2004 (Seventh Show)

Limpley Wharf, by David and Gill Freeman. N. 2mm Scale. 040001

The Buffers. 00. 040005

The Buffers. 00. 040006

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 040007

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 040008

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 040009

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 040010

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 040011

Wandle Valley Railway, by Mike Watts. S Scale. 040012

2006 (Eighth Show)
It was at this show that the Durham Region British Modellers' well beloved "Much Bynding" layout, with its impressive Northminster station, appeared for the last time. It was also the show that was attended by a British delegation, and the editor of the Railway Modeller Magazine contributed this insert "Canadian Cream" in its July 2006 edition.

Trix Twin Railways, by Chris Ricketts and friends. 00. 4455

Limpley Wharf, by David and Gill Freeman. N. 2mm Scale. 4458

Victoria County, by Larry Murphy. 00. 4465

Victoria County, by Larry Murphy. 00. 4471

Victoria County, by Larry Murphy. 00. 4472

Victoria County, by Larry Murphy. 00. 4479

"Royal Scot" 7 mm Scale, owned by Alan Farmer - visiting the Ingleton Road layout. Gauge 0. Behind Alan's Royal Scot is an unpainted brass Scot that belongs to Chris English. 4481

Ingleton Road, by the British 0 Gauge Group (BOGG) 7mm scale. 4482

Ingleton Road, by the British 0 Gauge Group (BOGG) 7mm scale. 4484

GWR pannier tank and van in 7.25" Gauge, by Steve Moore. Centrepiece of the show. 4486

Ardleigh Bitton, by The Buffers. 00. 4490

Patrick Brompton, by Alan Featonby and Ron Smith. 4mm scale. EM (18 mm) Gauge. Memories of the Wensleydale Railway. 4492

4495

Hornby-Dublo 3-rail layout, by the Hornby-Dublo Group. 00. 4498

The Great Lakes Scale 1 Group. 10mm Scale. 4504

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. Northminster station. 4508

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. Northminster station. 4509

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 4512

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. Northminster station. 4515

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 4516

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 4518

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 4521

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 4522

Much Bynding, by the Durham Region British Modellers. 00. 4523

2008 (Ninth Show)

Sleightholme, by the 2mm Scale Association Ottawa Area Group. P2. 9.42 mm gauge. 7236

Triang TT Type A 7245

Upper Leaside, by Mark Stapleton. P4 4mm scale. 18.83 mm gauge. 7272

Trix-Twin 00 7255

Limpley Wharf by David and Gill Freeman. N. 7253

Scale 1 live steam. 7314

Triang 00 Standard Track 1959 7246

Hornby-Dublo 3-rail 00, by the Hornby-Dublo Group. 7278

Triang Super 4 00 7287

Bridge Street layout 00 Newmarket British Modellers Club 7289

"Underneath the Arches" by Brian Fayle Narrow Gauge whimsy. 1:43 Scale. 7290

Bridge Street LNER, by the Newmarket British Modellers Club. 00. 7302

Glamorgan, by Peter Payne. 00. 7307

Mortimer, by the Ottawa British . 00. 7310

Ingleton Road by the British 0 Gauge Group (BOGG) 7mm scale. 7270

Bridge Street LNER, by the Newmarket British Modellers Club. 00. 7320

Bridge Street LNER, by the Newmarket British Modellers Club. 00. 7321

Bridge Street LNER, by the Newmarket British Modellers Club. 00. 7325

2010 (Tenth Show)

Blagdon, by Bob Hastings 00 0493

Darenth Road, by Ivan Maxted. 0 fine. 7 mm Scale. 0496

Darenth Road, by Ivan Maxted. 0 fine. 7mm Scale. 0497

Sleightholme, by the 2mm Scale Association Ottawa Area Group. P2. 9.42 mm gauge. 0504

Sleightholme, by the 2mm Scale Association Ottawa Area Group. P2. 9.42 mm gauge. 0505

Ingleton Road by the British 0 Gauge Group (BOGG) 7mm scale. 0510

Ardleigh Bitton, by The Buffers. 4mm scale. 00. 517

Ardleigh Bitton, by The Buffers. 4mm scale. 00. 0519

Ardleigh Bitton, by The Buffers. 4mm scale. 00. 0524

Upton-Whent by Brian Fayle 1:43 scale. Narrow gauge Whimsy. 0538

Underneath the Arches, by Brian Fayle 1:43 scale. Narrow Gauge whimsy. 0543

Bridge Street LNER, by the Newmarket British Modellers Club. 00. 0533

Scale 1 end-to-end layout, by the Great Lakes Group. 0548

Glamorgan, by Peter Payne. 00. Rush hour in rural Wales. 0551

Glamorgan, by Peter Payne. 00. A sylvan branch line. 0553

St. Albans LNWR. by Mike Hall and Max Smith. P4 18.83 mm gauge. 0559

Hornby-Dublo 3-rail. 0571

Gauge 1 display, by the Great Lakes Group. 0546

2012 (Eleventh Show)
This was the last GBTS show at which the fabled long-running 7mm "Ingleton Road" layout by the British 0 Gauge Group (BOGG) appeared.

Ardleigh Bitton, by The Buffers. 00. 4015

Ardleigh Bitton, by The Buffers. 00. 4017

Ardleigh Bitton by The Buffers. 00. 4008

Upper Leaside, by Mark Stapleton. P4 4mm scale. 18.83 mm gauge. . 4027

Upper Leaside, by Mark Stapleton. P4 4mm scale. 18.83 mm gauge. Note the "Platelayer" private owner open wagon. 4003

Bridge Street LNER, by the Newmarket British Modellers Club. 00. 4051

Patrick Brompton, by Alan Featonby and Ron Smith. 4mm scale. EM (18 mm) Gauge. Memories of the Wensleydale Railway. 4032

Patrick Brompton, by Alan Featonby and Ron Smith. 4mm scale. EM (18 mm) Gauge. Memories of the Wensleydale Railway. 4034

Patrick Brompton, by Alan Featonby and Ron Smith. 4mm scale. EM (18 mm) Gauge. Memories of the Wensleydale Railway. Taking a whizz. 4035

St. Albans LNWR, by Mike Hall and Max Smith. P4 18.83 mm gauge. 4039

Gauge 1 end-to-end layout, Great Lakes Group. 4106

Bog Hole, NER, by the 2mm Scale Association Ottawa Area Group. P2. 9.42 mm gauge. 4083

Whitford Green, by Mike Watts. S Scale. 4119

Whitford Green, by Mike Watts. S Scale. 4120

Ingleton Road, by the British 0 Gauge Group (BOGG). 7mm to the foot. Note: the last time at exhibition display. 4020

Ingleton Road, by the British 0 Gauge Group (BOGG). 7mm to the foot. Note: the last time at exhibition display. 4021

Ingleton Road, by the British 0 Gauge Group (BOGG). 7mm to the foot. Note: the last time at exhibition display. 4022

Ingleton Road, by the British 0 Gauge Group (BOGG). 7mm to the foot. Note: the last time at exhibition display. 4023

2014 (Twelfth Show)
Attended by David O'Brien of the UK Trix Museum.

Upper Leaside, by Mark Stapleton. P4. 7619

Upper Leaside, by Mark Stapleton. P4. 7620

Triang "Standard track" 00, by Geoff Meakin 7629

Trix Twin 1950s "Universal" 00, by Keith Jones 7635

Hornby 0 Gauge (electric) "Nord" 4-4-2, collection of Kaj Pindal 7650

United States Gauge 0 North East (USGONE) 0 fine. 7652

Allingham, presented by the British Model Railway Club Of Montreal. 00 4mm scale. 7662

Allingham, presented by the British Model Railway Club Of Montreal. 00 4mm scale. 7664

Allingham, presented by the British Model Railway Club Of Montreal. 00 4mm scale. 7666

Allingham, presented by the British Model Railway Club Of Montreal. 00 4mm scale. 7697

Angloshire (a little bit of Britain), by Thom Ritter. 00 4mm scale. The Aidensfield Arms and Scripps' Garage from "Heartbeat" 7671

Angloshire (a little bit of Britain), by Thom Ritter. 00 4mm scale. The Tovis Valley Viaduct 7676

Whitford Green, by Mike Watts. S Scale. 7680

Whitford Green, by Mike Watts. S Scale. 7706

Whitford Green, by Mike Watts. S Scale. 7708

Ardleigh Bitton, by the Buffers. 00. 7715

St. Albans LNWR, by Mike Hall and Max Smith. P4 18.83 mm gauge. 7656

Hornby-Dublo 3-rail "dogbone" layout, by Art Parker 7731

2016 (Thirteenth Show)
Last appearances:
Bricknell 00, by the British Railway Modellers of Victoria BC
Underneath the Arches 1:43.5 narrow gauge, by Brian Fayle

For some background information on Brian Dickey's 7mm fine scale "Roweham" layout, please click here.

Andrew Bossom's Hornby clockwork Gauge 0 Collection

Ardleigh Bitton 4mm scale 00, by the Buffers

Allingham 4 mm scale 00, by the British Model Railway Club of Montreal

00 3 rail Hornby-Dublo, by the Hornby Dublo Group

GWR Hymek Loco 7.25" Gauge, by Steve Moore

Sorven Town 7mm scale fine 0, by Glen Suckling

Bricknell 00, by the British Modellers of Victoria, BC

Trix 00, by the Trix-Twin Railway Collectors' Association

"G Scale", by COGRA (Central Ontario Garden Railway Association)

Angloshire 4 mm scale 00, by Thom Ritter

St. Albans LNWR 4mm fine scale 00, by Mike Hall, Reid Harding and Max Smith

Nether Upton & Upper Leaside P4 4mm scale 18.83 mm gauge, by David Knight (Nether Upton) and Mark Stapleton (Upper Leaside)

Roweham 7mm fine 0, by Brian Dickey

Roweham 7mm fine 0, by Brian Dickey (fiddle yard)

Great Wombledon Railway N scale, by Peter Hughes and John Rowe

Cardmore Halt 00 code 75, by Michael Pearson

Whitford Green S scale 1:64, by Mike Watts

Whitford Green, S scale 1:64, by Mike Watts

Blackpool East N Scale, by Jim Lee

Underneath the Arches 1:43.5 Scale (27" and 15" narrow gauges), by Brian Fayle

Underneath the Arches 1:43.5 Scale (27" and 15" narrow gauges), by Brian Fayle - and the man himself making his own record ...

2018 (Fourteenth Show)

Allingham. 4 mm Scale 00, by the British Model Railway Club of Montreal

Ardleigh Bitton. 4 mm Scale 00, by William Bickley and friends

Brewery Sidings. 0 Gauge (7mm scale), by Peter Cunningham and Martin Lovell.

Seven and one-quarter inch gauge model "City of Truro", by Steve and Brian Moore.

Cardmore Halt. 00 Gauge (4mm scale), by Mike Pearson and Phil West

Navigation Hill. EM scale (18.2mm gauge), by Mike Hall and James Blackadar

Hornby-Dublo. 3-rail (00 Gauge), by the Hornby Dublo Group (Chris Prentice and friends)

Crowsnest Tramway. 1:32 scale narrow gauge, by Craig Parry

Trix Twin Railways. 4mm scale 00 gauge 3-rail, by Alex McQuilkin and friends

Sorven Town. 7mm scale fine 0, by Glen Suckling

Marmadale Wharf. 4mm scale 00 gauge, by Ottawa British Club Derek Uttley and friends

Meccano Enthusiasts CMAMAS, by Colin Hoare and friends

Roweham. 7mm fine 0, by Brian Dickey and friends

Mid Suffolk Light Railway. 0 Gauge, 7mm scale, by Julian Garner

Nether Upton & Upper Leaside P4 4mm scale 18.83 mm gauge, by David Knight (Nether Upton) and Mark Stapleton (Upper Leaside)

Wednesday Night Water Boilers. 32mm and 45mm gauge live steam, by Chuck Lawrence and friends

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