KENT COUNTY SHOW 2026 3rd-5th July

GRES layout Windmill Hill made another visit to the Kent County Show this time the layout saw all three of my Maunsell locomotives in action and due to this being an outdoor event it was not possible to run Gordon the big engine or Henry the green engine so both were on display, the first day saw BR S15 30830 on a freight train while Percy the small engine headed the Fruit Choo Choo with Only Fools and Horses locomotive assisting at the rear but because there wasn't many children as they were in school there was no need to run THE GRES EXPRESS. The Heritage Area had many displays with traction engines, vintage cars, vintage buses, classic tractors, military trucks and a traditional funfair with a parade lead by the traction engines followed by the tractors and then either buses or trucks, this happened all three days of the show. The next day saw BR Lord Nelson class 30852 Sir Walter Raleigh continuing to pay tribute and celebrate the 100th birthday of prototype Lord Nelson class 850 Lord Nelson this time with The GRES Express and Edward the blue engine on the Fruit Choo Choo with a class 25 behind, the diesel ran better after it failed at the Birchington Model Railway Exhibition back in May and unfortunately for me everyone kept mistaking Edward and Gordon for Thomas as they were all blue and the other exhibitors enjoyed winding me up. The final day saw 5972 Hogwarts Castle and Thomas the tank engine on the Fruit Choo Choo but unfortunately 5972 Hogwarts Castle failed with a dead motor and had to be taken off to be replaced by BR Schools class 30915 Brighton which was the stand by engine for the remainder of the day, so all in all this was a great weekend and we hope to come back again next year.