The venue was Market Bosworth station and, on arrival, we found the car park had 'spawned' a dedicated Bus Stop because a free bus service was being provided in connection with the event between Nuneaton Bus Station and Market Bosworth Station, calling at Nuneaton Railway Station.
Dedicated Bus Stop: Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023
The service was being operated by a preserved bus in the azure blue and ivory livery of Midland Scottish, successors to W. Alexander and Son. The vehicle also carried the Bluebird Logo which originated in Alexander's coaching operations.
Near the bus stop, a group of live-steam model traction engines was on parade.
A handsome group of live-steam model traction engines: Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023
For a very modest charge there was an opportunity to ride behind live a steam live steam locomotive on the adjacent 5 inch gauge portable track.
Stephen Wallbank with his vertical-boilered live steam model on the portable track: Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023
The Goods Shed at Market Bosworth had been significantly expanded by erecting a large marquee end-on to the goods shed. Just inside this annexe was the admission desk and the Battlefield Line information and recruitment desk.
The marquee had an interesting mixture of trade stands (including John Sutton Models, Ravenstone Model Railways and Thunderbolt Models), special stands (including the 4-SUB Association and Railriders) and model railway layouts. Some stands also offered a variety of railway books. The far end of the marquee opened into the brick-built goods shed, through the large doorway which originally accommodated a rail siding. The goods shed housed more stands with an absorbing selection of working model railway layouts in various gauges together with the cafe run by the Battlefield Line which offered a wide range of hot food and drinks. In no particular order, I add my notes below.
Pen-y-Bont: Steve Howard's live-steam narrow gauge layout on 32mm gauge, very effectively using live plants for scenery.
Cowley Yard: William Plant's 7mm scale beautifully weathered, compact layout. The first time I've seen wooden shunting scotches appropriately dropped in the six foot.
Snowy River Rail Road: Daventry MRC showed this very detailed American-outline 0n30 layout ('0' scale using 16.5mm gauge track to represent narrow gauge). Full DCC control.
Ella Road: Alan Maclachlan exhibited this impressive modern-image Traction Maintenance Depot layout in 00 gauge with DCC control.
Marston Jabbett: This double-track mainline with a single-line branch in N gauge (1:148 scale) was shown by the Anker Railway Modelling Society which meets in Chilvers Coton, Nuneaton.
Roofers Lane: South Wigston MRC exhibited their N gauge (1:148 scale) layout.
Wheal Kist: Darren Carter's narrow-gauge granite and china clay quarry layout in 009 (4mm to the foot scale using 9mm gauge 'N' track).
North Rokeby: Heart of England Narrow Gause Modellers displayed their interesting steam-outline layout combining standard gauge (00) and narrow gauge (009) lines.
Norman Colliery: Geoff Brain's atmospheric 0 gauge layout depicting the dereliction common to mines towards the end of their lives.
Ashbridge: A Network South East station and yard layout in 00 gauge, carefully detailed with DCC control and some effective locomotive sounds, displayed by Mark Miller.
Rush Green Colliery: This very nicely-detailed colliery layout in 00 gauge was displayed by Alex Rushton.
Hornby Dublo: Ray Poxon and the Hornby Railway Collectors Association showed a third-rail table-top layout.
Triang: David White's layout featured Triang Railways in 00 gauge, Triang Minic Motorways and Triang Model-land figures and buildings.
: Birmingham Railway Museum Layout This very detailed (if a little careworn) 4mm model of the Museum was displayed as a static exhibit. I found it very evocative, having been an operating volunteer at the Museum for many years.
Further attractions included an elaborate layout for young people using sectional wooden track from the Swedish company Brio (now part of the German Ravensburger group), a working 'Thomas and Friends' layout in G scale and a large Lego Harry Potter display (complete with a Quidditch Match in progress). There was even the opportunity to pay for a short drive on the full-size battery electric locomotive 'Spondon No. 1' along the siding opposite the Goods Shed (the 'Turnback Siding' when some services terminate at Market Bosworth).
Finally, the normal Battlefield Line weekend service operated, hauled by a Class 33 diesel electric locomotive. This provided four trips from Shackerstone to Shenton and return during the day, calling at Market Bosworth in both directions. Overall, the various attractions provided a splendid and most enjoyable event.
Previous posts describing modelling events on the Battlefield Line
The 50th Gala in 2019 included a wonderful layout Gauge 1 layout which I briefly describe in my post Shackerstone Railway Society 50th Anniversary Steam Gala. Previously, I'd been to a couple of model weekends at Shackerstone, both enjoyable but neither on the scale of the 2023 event. In June 2017, working a 'split shift' on 'Cumbria' gave me a chance to study the Model Steam Weekend exhibition. My report is here, with links to pictures. During the May 2012 event, I was driving the DMU and I only managed a 'whistle-stop' tour of the models on display. My post is here, with a link to my pictures.
My pictures of the 2023 event
Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023.
