One of Canada’s best events dedicated to UK railway modelling is fast approaching and I’m excited that I’ll be there. The Great British Train Show 2024 takes place the last weekend in April at its traditional home in Brampton. I’m fully logistificated, with plane tickets booked and a place to stay arranged. I just have to decide what trains, if any, I’m bringing with me*.
The last time I attended a GBTS was in 2018, when I helped my friend Brian Dickey exhibit Roweham, his 7mm Great Western Railway branch line terminal layout. I had so much fun at that show. Among other things, it marked the first time I was able to run one of my own GWR locomotives – the 517 Class 0-4-2T in the video, above.
Afterwards, I decided I would build some era-appropriate passenger cars for my beautiful little teakettle to haul, and that I would have them ready in time for the next event. Since the GBTS is held every two years, that would be in late April… 2020.
Yeah: You can guess how that turned out. I finished a rake of three four-wheel Slaters kits with about six weeks to spare. And then GBTS 2020 got cancelled – as did everything else. And then my wife and I moved 3,000 km west. As a result, it’s been six years since I helped Brian at this show, and I’m surprised how much I’ve missed doing that.
Since relocating in September 2020, I’ve acquired a couple more locomotives and built a lot of equipment for them to haul – and shared my efforts via this site. But I’ve yet to embark on a GWR 7mm layout. Maybe two days of running British trains with old friends is just the ticket to get me started.
(*I suspect I’ll leave my own models at home. I’m planning to pack only carry-on, flying seems like a great way to damage models, and I know Brian has plenty of great GWR equipment to fill out the schedule.)
You can attend the Great British Train Show 2024 April 27-28 at the Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre (292 Conestoga Drive) in Brampton, Ontario. Searching “Great British Train Show 2024” will bring up all the details you need. If you attend, drop by and say hi!
The Model Railway Show 