a roundup of what's been happening over the past couple of years, mainly as published in the Gauge 0 Guild News

August 2026

We seem to be attracting more and more new (and younger!) faces at almost every meeting, and the extra test-track length (thanks to Spencer and crew) is getting well-used. Chris and Ian from Dawlish contacted us via our web site and are really enthusiastic; likewise Ben and Anton are also appearing regularly and Dan is another newbie – welcome all!

At our end-May meet Charlie Smythe gave his 5003 Lulworth Castle a run pulling eight coaches. The loco started life as a San Cheng model and performed beautifully. It was one of a goodly number of GWR locos running that evening – exactly as it should be! Spencer announced the new running powers with a very large diesel with matching ear-splitting sound. In June both the test track and Wedmore were put up for running – leaving little space for members to gather: an enviable situation!

Keith Gowen, member of both this group and the Sidmouth Model Railway Group for several years, has had a trying time domestically in recent years and has finally moved away from the area and we wish him well in his new home, and that he’s able to get running powers in short order. We’ve had a couple of members pass away, both after significant illnesses – Roger Hill – an ex-merchant seaman always happy to give new technology a go – and Tony Pursey, who spent a year as group chairman during the pandemic. They will all be missed. At our first meet in August Byron brought along a huge collection of mainly unused RTR stock to sell on behalf of Tony's widow. Byron cleared a great deal that evening, and deserves our thanks for a relatively thankless task.

In July we flew the flag at both the Exeter Model Railway and the Bridport shows. Our offerings included both members’ layouts and demonstrations and proved an excellent medium through which to engage with potential O-gauge modellers. At Bridport we almost cleared the rest of Tony's stock, so a doubly-pleasing event.

May 2026

We held the annual jamboree that is the AGM back in early February. Everyone seemed happy with the way things are running, and the appointment of officers was uncontentious. Ken Banks remains in post as Chair, General Dogsbody, and Executive Transport Officer. Dave Taylor continues as Scribe; he manages all the records of the group, and makes sure our contact lists are up-to-date. John Cavell has decided to stand down as Treasurer – he goes out on a high as we’ve greatly benefited from sales of deceased members’ items during his tenure. Jim Allwood takes over the hot seat, with a goodly sum in the coffers.

We’re considering extending our test track by about a metre each side. Spencer is largely the driving force behind this extension, but we’ll all benefit. This will just give us a wee bit more running length for when his rowdy diesel and electric models plough round the track. The test track has been in use for about 13 years now, and has withstood extremes of cold and heat in our storage container, as well as being regularly lugged out on club nights. We have recently spent time refurbishing and replacing many of the inter-board connectors, and the resultant improvement in running has been rewarding.

We now have over 40 members in the group, with a wide variety of interests and skill sets, so there’s usually someone to go to if you’ve got problems. Sadly we've lost two members from illness in recent months: Roger Hill, a retired merchant seaman who loved trying new technology, and Tony Pursey who was chairman of the group for a year during Covid.

February 2026

Our modelling competition held back in early October garnered some super submissions. Roy Smeeth swept the board with his stunning model of Moretonhampstead station building, following on from his success with the goods shed in 2024. He scooped the Committee Shield for Lineside Structures and the Peter Goodwin Memorial Trophy for the best overall model. Other awards were made as follows:

President's Cup - best steam locomotive: Dave Harding for his Adams Radial tank.
Chairman's Cup - best coaching stock: Dave Taylor for three narrow-gauge coaches.
Electric & Diesel Rosebowl - non-steam locomotives: no entries.
Martin Philpott Cup - diorama: Paul Holwill, ‘Up to Princetown’.
Mug of the Year - goods vehicles: Keith Cleeve, road roller wagons.
Special Theme Trophy – sound in locos: Keith Cleeve for his GWR Manor.

It was intriguing that the electric and diesel rosebowl category attracted no entries, considering we regularly see so many of these unlovely beasts ploughing their noisy way round the test track! Come on chaps: must try harder!

In early December we held our now-traditional Christmas Bash, this time in the Red Lion at Broadclyst and organised so well by Anna, Paul H’s partner. A good time was had by all, with several wives and partners attending. We weren’t put off in the least by the outrageous shirts sported by Dave Harding and Spencer Barber.

At the beginning of February we held our obligatory AGM where a good number of members turned out to give our long-suffering committee a hard time. Officers have changed a little: Ken Banks stays as Chairman and all-round supplier of transport for the group, Dave Taylor remains as Secretary for this year, but John Cavell has bowed out as Treasurer. He's been most assiduous in ensuring the money keeps coming in and we're well and truly in the black. His successor - voluntarily it must be said! - is Jim Allwood. Jim is also a decidedly up-front member of the 2mm fraternity, yet he clearly harbours a latent interest in O gauge.

We’re continuing to meet weekly for the time being, so there’s no excuse for not paying us a visit if you’re in the area.

November 2025

Our weekly meetings during the summer have been a successful initiative, though by the time you read this we’ll be back to the normal pattern of first and third Thursday evenings of each month. Membership continues to grow, in the main as a result of our presence at various shows. The most recent was the Bridport MRC show back in July, run with a deft hand by our own club chairman Ken Banks, using all the subtlety of a flying brick. A great show with lots of fun for all. Three members – Dave Taylor, Jim Allwood and Richard Frost – brought their layouts along, and created lots of interest in O-gauge. Byron Williams and yours truly were in demo mode for the day. We’ve garnered a couple of new members from these excursions – Matthew Rogers from Exeter and Steve Stubbs from Taunton: welcome both!

The summertime has seen members’ visits to Tim and Suzi Stubbs’ indoor/outdoor layout, Peacehaven, and another visit to the live steam action operated by Exeter Model Engineers.

We held our annual modelling competition on Thursday 2nd October, and a lively night it was too. Gongs awarded as follows:

Mug of the Year (non-passenger rolling stock): Keith Cleeve, for a rake of three wagons.

Chairman's Cup (passenger vehicles): Dave Taylor, for a rake of three scratchbuilt coaches for his Marshwood Vale line.

President's Cup (steam locomotives): Dave Harding, for his Adams radial tank.

Martin Philpott trophy (dioramas): Paul Holwill for his wintry slice of Dartmoor.

Silver Jubilee Theme Trophy (decided each year - this year for sound in locos): Keith Cleeve, for his radio controlled GWR Manor locomotive.

Committee Shield (lineside structures): Roy Smeeth, for his model of Moretonhampstead station building.

Peter Goodwin Memorial Trophy (best model in the competition): Roy Smeeth's station building.

Photos of several of the models can be seen on the Gallery page.

August 2025

Our occasional open day way back at the end of April was a great success, with plenty to entertain the visitors. Wedmore performed well, and the extension has now been completed and looks stunning. It’s funny however well on you get, there are still little details that need tackling.

A goodly number of our crew supported the Exeter M.R.S. show in mid-June. Held on a very warm weekend in the main hall of Exeter Cattle Market, the gentle aroma of cow manure greeted the set-up team. Ken Banks fielded his Brewery Lane layout, and we had by far the largest demonstration display of any scale – everything from sound in locos, courtesy of Spencer Barber, to loco-bashing by Byron Williams, by way of radio control and building construction. Paul Holwill built two laser-cut building kits and succeeded in painting a commissioned ModelU lady to adorn the little diorama he had installed at the top of the new display stand he’s knocked up. He had terrible trouble getting her stockings to dry … We were kept busy fielding questions throughout the two days, and time will tell whether that translates into an increase in membership.

Talking of membership, the enthusiasm of this great bunch of folk knows no bounds; until the end of October we’ll be meeting every Thursday evening at Whimple – numbers are burgeoning and people are really keen to get together.

Our next big gig is at Bridport multi-scale show at the end of July, where we’re presenting a couple of members’ layouts and also more demo stands.

May 2025

The New Year has brought a renewed vigour to the Exegog crowd, with plenty of folk coming along to meetings. In February we held our AGM – with a good attendance as is customary. Finances are in a good state thanks in large part to the injection from the sale of models and accessories from late member Lew Trump last year. There’s no change in the senior ranks: Ken Banks retains his status as Chairman, John Cavell as Treasurer and Dave Taylor as Secretary. Trevor Tew received a vote of thanks for his longstanding and unbidden role of tea-boy. He’s carried out this task tirelessly for many years, and has decided that now is the time to hang up his dishcloth. For the time being we have a new tea-lady – Anna, Paul Holwill’s better half – and whose visage is significantly more appealing than Trevor’s. We’re seeing more new members as well, including Steve from Seaton, whose day job keeps him occupied on the other side of the fence – working for Peco at Beer. At the mid-March meeting he started work on his first 0-gauge loco, the classic Connoisseur Models 0-4-0 shunter.

Like many other groups I suspect the AGM included a debate about banking – which bank to use, whether to invest in card readers etc. The jury is out at the moment, though local closures look certain to force our hand.

Work continues apace on the Wedmore extension. A few hardy types have been beavering away on the tracklaying and scenic work, and a couple of extra sessions at Whimple have proved highly productive. By the time you read this our occasional open day will have come and gone, and we’re looking forward to another enjoyable day engaging with local folk as well as established modellers.

We meet on the first and third Thursday of every month, from around 7pm to about 9.45pm, in the Victory Hall in Whimple – a few miles east of Exeter. Anyone interested in 0-gauge – both standard and narrow-gauge - is warmly welcomed. Give me a ring on 01297 552915, email davidjfouracre@gmail.com, or check www.exeter-gog.net.

February 2025

We held our modelling competition back in October, and what a treat it was: models of all sorts, with high standards throughout. Gong-winners were:

President's Cup - best steam locomotive: Graham Tombs Bulleid Pacific
Chairman's Cup - best coaching stock: Graham Tombs LMS coach set
Committee Shield - lineside structures: Roy Smeeth for Moretonhampstead goods shed
Electric & Diesel Rosebowl - non-steam locomotives: Andrew Howlett's battery locomotive 'Greenwood & Bailey'
Martin Philpott Cup - diorama: Tim Stubbs lineside cottage with garden
Mug of the Year - goods vehicles: Andrew Howlett's Welsh wagons
Peter Goodwin Memorial Trophy - best overall model: Graham Tombs LMS coaches
Silver Jubilee Theme Trophy - entries on a theme: Paul Doran's Dingham setting gear

I see from my previous epistles that our November 2023 meeting had to be postponed because of flooding in East Devon; this year the mid-month meeting also had to be put back a week, this time owing to a hefty dollop of the white stuff across the country. However, attendance the following week proved the stout resolve of group members, with lots going on. Chairman Ken aided and abetted by Paul Holwill, Barrie Colley, Keith Cleeve and several others continue to develop the two new boards to extend the play value of Wedmore. Most of the track is now laid and the wiring started. The boards should certainly be ready for our next Open Day being held at Whimple on 27th April 2025 – see elsewhere on the website for further details.
We rounded off the year with a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas Bash, held this year at the Blue Ball Inn at Sidford. Twenty-four members and guests enjoyed a very good meal at this new venue, with convivial company.

May 2024

At the beginning of March that man-about-the-GWR Amyas Crump gave a fascinating illustrated talk about Westcountry railways, showing some wonderfully atmospheric old slides of this glorious part of the country. He’s promised to dig out another few hundred for us to enjoy…
At the mid-March meeting we had a grand sale of stock items previously belonging to Lew Trump. Lew had been a founder member of Exegog back in the early 1990s and was one of those very rare beings, a truly gentle man. A retired BT engineer, he lived in East Devon with his wife Margaret, and in our early days in Hope Hall in Exeter Margaret had always been queen of the teapot whilst Lew was kingpin of the electrics team for our roundy-round layout, Dawlish Warren. Sadly Margaret developed dementia and died a few years ago, leaving Lew with his railway. Lew had no children or relatives and typical of the man, offered all his 0-gauge stock to our group. Having made this generous offer, he died just a few days later.
During the sales pitch – frenetic as it was - Dave Taylor entertained the troops running a slide show using the hall’s relatively new digital projector system. Meanwhile Chairman Ken and I collected a significant amount of cash for club funds. By the time you read this, members will have had a second bite at this particular cherry. Thank you Lew for your huge kindness to our group.
We’ve been re-jigging the group website in the past few weeks; Chris (Mr 3D Printing) Ward has stood down, and I’ve been daft enough to take on the post of webmaster. Transferring control was reminiscent of herding cats; however, it’s done now and there are a few changes which regular visitors may notice, hopefully giving small improvements. Grateful thanks to Chris for so tirelessly managing it since inception.

February 2024
Christmas has come and gone, and with it our modelling competition. This latter event was slated to be held on the first Thursday in November, but the Met Office down in Exeter didn't do us any favours that evening and East Devon was generally fairly well flooded, and we deferred the event to the beginning of December. The mid-November meet certainly compensated for the missing early-November gathering, with about 23 folk busy chattering and running stock on the test track. The new storage facility has now got superb lighting courtesy of chairman Ken and is really a huge improvement over the original facility.

Our annual modelling competition was well-supported in most categories; we don’t have an external judge, but members all vote on their favourites in each group. Whilst you can of course vote for your own exhibits, this system does mean that any unsuspecting external judge doesn’t get lynched before he can get to the door! A very catholic assembly of models was presented this year, from the sublime and stately (Graham Tombs’ LNER A4 Pacific Dominion of Canada, winning the President’s Cup for steam locos) to the wee and whimsical (Byron Williams’s Simplex 0-4-0 petrol shunter, which took the Diesel & Electric Rose Bowl) via the rightly royal themed Keith Cleeve’s Queen Victoria’s 1867 royal saloon, with delightful internal detail (took the ‘royal theme’ - this year’s special award). The only category with just one entry was the diorama class, where Terry Hodgson took the Martin’s Cup, as well as taking the lineside structures Committee Shield for a GWR searchlight panel signal box with associated relay room. Dave Haines (he of Guild Forum fame) presented a superb group of GW coaches – what else? - scooping the Chairman’s Cup for coaching stock and the Peter Goodwin
Memorial Trophy for overall best exhibit in the competition.

Our now-regular Christmas supper in the middle of December was attended by 18 members and wives, and a convivial evening was enjoyed by all at The Nightjar in Aylesbeare. Mention must surely be made of Dave Harding’s spectacularly seasonal shirt!

November 2023
Without wishing to bang on about it, our ‘Wedmore’ layout is certainly giving us lots of play value. Chairman Ken, aided and abetted by Tim Stubbs and Paul Holwill, lugged the layout up to Stafford for Guildex, which though tiring, they all thoroughly enjoyed. Ken was immensely impressed by the brilliant organisation in place for exhibitors, and the team were particularly delighted to meet Trevor Gibson, who created the original version. Ken has also taken it to Willand (near Cullompton) and Blandford shows, and is already booked for Westbury on November 4 th and Wincanton on November 11th . What a busy boy! Our numbers continue to grow steadily; we’ve recently welcomed Mike Doughty, Jim Allwood and Richard Frost to our merry band. We still have a mix of DC and DCC running, though my absence from an August meeting was heralded by Paul H with the comment “So it’s a DCC (David can’t come) night then gents. Fire up those noisy diesels!”. My disaffection with the over-enthusiastic use of sound is becoming legendary! By the time you read this we will have insulated and racked-out our ‘new’ storage facility at the hall – a shipping container. This will then accommodate both Wedmore and our regularly-used test track in a decidedly more secure facility than at present. All being well we’ll be having our annual Christmas bash at The Nightjar, Aylesbeare, an Thursday 14 th December – strictly pre-booked with me only!

June 2023
The past few months have been rather overshadowed by the sad loss of one of our members, Jim Calverley. Jim had been below par for a while, and it was distressing to see him go downhill. He finally died on 18th May, aged 85. A goodly number of us supported his widow Zena at his funeral, and member Dave Taylor made a splendid job of giving part of the tribute. Jim was a superb modeller – mainly scratch-building –and onetime manager of the Blackburn Show, but above all he was a real gentleman who would always find something good to say about other folks’ humbler efforts. His gentle smile will be much missed by us all. His funeral was a true celebration of him and his passion for railways, and his museum-quality scratch-built 8F was on display beside his coffin before its final journey.

We seem to be enjoying lots of activity at the moment. Without resting on our laurels, we’ve been beavering away continuing to work up our little end-to-end layout ‘Wedmore’ for our own show which took place in Whimple on 17th June. We had a couple of working days at Paul Holwell’s commodious workshop a few miles out in the sticks from Exeter, and several annoying glitches in wiring, signalling and point operation were sorted out, and more scenic tweaks completed prior to the show. Chairman Ken also made a great job of replacing the previous cassette fiddle yard system with a four-road sector plate: much more practical for our purposes. We’ve also got some more storage for our gear thanks to the generosity of the hall committee, so all our kit is now on-site.
The show itself was a great success, with 150+ visitors through the door, and was enjoyed by all who were there. We learnt several lessons, so look out for our next jamboree!

Chairman Ken operating Wedmore at Guildex, September 2023