For the last few weeks it has been “all hands to the pumps” to get both Chitterne and Navigation Road ready for Wilton Railex on the 20th September. It is a long time since we have tried to take both layouts to an exhibition at the same time and our group room has become very crowded as a result.
Efforts on Navigation Road have concentrated on the mammoth task of converting it from end-to-end to round-and-round configuration. Progress has been impressive, but it is going to be touch and go to see if it will be ready on time.
Work on Chitterne has been more restrained as we further develop the additional scenic board which we showed in its initial form at Thruxton. Most of the static grass and hedges have been added by Chris H whilst Clive R has produced some excellent farm buildings.
Meanwhile Richard S and Chris B have been working on a second bridge with Richard also producing some occupation crossing gates. The board won’t be completed for the Wilton show, but hopefully visitors will see a big improvement.
We are delighted that Chitterne has been invited to ExpoEM in Spring 2026 and are determined to have the additional board completed by then!
This report – written by Richard Simpson – appears in issue 245 of the EM Gauge Society newsletter.