Or a sweep around for a Brush without a Brush!
Slightly earlier in the year than normal, was the ‘Spring’ Big Southern Vintage toyfair at Reading Leisure centre. Not just a toyfair either, but with several operating toy train layouts, including Hornby Dublo two and three rail, Hornby Acho, Triang Railways with Minic Motorways, Trix Twin and gauge 1. Also a nice display of Mettoy train sets, Meccano and Bayko buildings. Plus of course a TCS stand, with an automated 3 track shuttle layout in G, O and OO
Many of the dealer sales tables are also ‘mini display’s...that is until items are sold! Probably half the stalls were mainly trains, pretty much compliant with the pre-1979 dateline. The remainder mainly had ‘boys toys’, but I did spot jigsaws, dolls and boxed games. Your correspondent did buy a Triang Hornby Brush type 2 in very nice condition.....for a very reasonable price...and then discovered back at the layout that it didn’t work. It was missing 1 brush from the power bogie. A search of all the dealers eventually turned up a kind soul who was prepared to sell a single one. The new brush was fitted, the loco oiled, and it ran really well. TCS members were spotted clutching newly prized acquisitions, and others were possibly rubbing their hands at their takings from their sales tables!
A friendly show, with easy parking and reasonably priced refreshments. A swimming pool too if you’re that way inclined!
The next Vintage Reading show is on Sunday 30th October. Thanks to organiser Tony Oakes for allowing the TCS to be present.
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Gauge 1 & G, LGB trams dominating!
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Tri-ang Hornby & Minic Motorways happily co-existing on TCS member David Lyon's layout
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Trix Twin Coronation at a Manyways station
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Some of the Mettoy sets
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Beneath the arches - a view of the Hornby Acho layout
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Overview of the Hornby Acho layout, with some Jouef accessories also on show
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Part of the TCS table, with the Brush brushed!
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View of the TCS table at Reading
Report and photos thanks to Malcolm Pugh
