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British Model Railway Awards 2015 - The results!


Andy Y

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BMRA_logo_promoters_Helvetica_s.jpg

 

Ben Jones

 

It gives me great pleasure to introduce the results of the revamped ‘British Model Railway Awards’ for 2016, in association with BRM and MREmag. 
 
This year we’ve widened the scope of the awards to celebrate the best retail customer service in the UK trade, exhibition layouts, websites and model railway shows around the country. Thanks to everyone on RMweb who took the time to nominate worthy candidates in each category. I think all of those listed, whether they won or not, deserve our support and congratulations for a job well done in 2015. 
 
As you’ll see from the results in the RTR model categories, Bachmann has once again done very well, particularly in N gauge, where it swept the board again. Wins for the OO Class 43 ‘Warship’ and Hawksworth autocoach were also well deserved. 
 
Despite releasing several excellent new steam locomotives, Hornby perhaps suffered from splitting its own vote and lost out the OO steam division. However, it’s good to see a smaller producer in Kernow Model Rail Centre, and DJModels getting recognition for their work on the Adams O2. 
 
Dapol’s ‘Terrier’ was the overwhelming favourite in the O gauge steam locomotive category, and with good reason. Combining lovely looks with a bargain price tag it should be the entry point for many new O gauge modellers in the years to come. 
 
Lifetime Achievement Award
 
Graham.jpg
 
One final worthy winner must be mentioned too; we couldn’t allow Bachmann Europe founder and recently-retired MD Graham Hubbard to escape without a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award. As many of you will know, Graham set up Bachmann’s UK arm more than 25 years ago and has overseen a remarkable growth of the company. In many ways the entry of Bachmann into the British market in the mid-1990s injected new life into a stagnating hobby and kickstarted a revival from which we’ve all benefitted. Thanks for everything Graham and enjoy your retirement!
 
Congratulations to all this year’s winners. With everything that’s happening at the moment, the 2016 awards look set to be just as closely contested. 
 
Ben
 
 
 
Results
 
N Gauge Steam
 
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N Steam.jpg
 
N gauge Diesel/Electric
 
Farish_31_f.jpg
N Diesel.jpg
 
N Gauge Coaching Stock
 
Farish_Hawksworth_EP_brake.jpg
N coaches.jpg
 
N Gauge Wagons
 
Farish Brake.jpg
N wagons.jpg
 
N Gauge Manufacturer of the Year
 
Farish.jpg
N Manufacturer.jpg
 
 
David Haarhaus, Managing Director of Bachmann Europe PLC thanks their supporters and recognises the importance of the Awards "Bachmann Europe Plc are delighted to once again be named manufacturer of the year and to have gained a clean sweep in the N scale sections. We have also figured well in an even more competitive OO scale market and the awards are just recognition for all the hard work that has been put in by our staff to bring the models to market. Our thanks to everyone who voted for us”.
 
 
OO Gauge Steam Locomotive
 
O2.jpg
OO Steam.jpg
 
Chris Trerise, owner of Kernow Model Rail Centre said "This really is fantastic news!  The whole team at Kernow MRC would like to thank all of our customers for their support and compliments re the Adams O2.  This would not have been possible without them - here is to the next model!" Dave Jones of DJ Models was similarly pleased with the award "I am extremely pleased Kernow MRC have won this award, as designer and manufacturer of this delightful OO gauge model a big thank you must go to Chris for believing in me, and letting me have the chance to get my teeth into this project again after starting up with my own business."
 
OO Gauge Diesel/Electric
 
Royal_Oak_1s.jpg
OO Diesel.jpg
 
OO Gauge Coaching Stock
 
Bachmann Autocoach.jpg
OO coaches.jpg
 
OO Gauge Wagons
 
LMS_Horse_Box.jpg
OO wagons.jpg
 
OO Gauge Manufacturer of the Year
 
Bachmann Logo.jpg
OO Manufacturer.jpg
 
 
 
 
O Gauge Steam Locomotive
 
Terrier.jpg
O Steam.jpg
 
O Gauge Diesel Locomotive
 
Heljan 60.jpg
O Diesel.jpg
 
O Gauge Rolling Stock
 
Heljan O gauge GUV.jpg
O Rolling Stock.jpg
 
O Gauge Manufacturer of the Year
 
Heljan.jpg
O Manufacturer.jpg
 
 
 
Overall Manufacturer of the Year
 
Bachmann Europe.jpg
Overall.jpg
 
 
 
Customer Service Quality Award
 
hattons logo medium 20150324.png
Customer Service.jpg
 
Richard Davies, Hatton's Managing Director thanks their supporters, "Thank you to all our customers who have taken time to vote and support us. 2016 marks our 70th anniversary and this is a fantastic way to start another exciting year. We are always aiming to maximise the convenience and service offered and look forward to continue providing specialist advice and services along with a first class retail experience."
 
Website of the Year Award
 
UK Model Shops.jpg
Website.jpg
 
Exhibition of the Year Award
 
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Exhibition.jpg
 
Layout of the Year Award
 
BCB.jpg
Layout.jpg
 
Thank you to all who took time to nominate entries and vote in the awards!
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It was good to see RAILEX (Aylesbury) come second behind Warley in exhibition, so thanks for those who voted for us. 

 

I thought that was a great result David; well done to you and the team.

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Regarding the Retailer's Customer service award:
I was wondering if it might be possible to weight the votes in this category according to the number of customers each retailer has?
In a "straight fight" for votes, the retailer who has impressed the most customers will get the most votes.  Consequently, if say two retailers were of equal quality, but one sells twice as much as the other, the one with the greater sales will get the greater vote, thus appearing to be twice as good when they're not.
I'm suggesting this out of a sense of fairness and make no inference that the winners were not worthy.
I've been a customer of eight of the ten nominated retailers, have received excellent service from all eight of them and have no hesitation in recommending them.  Unfortunately, given the way the voting currently works, the likes of Acadia and The Hobby Shop are never going to beat the likes of Hattons or Rails.

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Understand completely Bob which is why I tried to ensure the award was for quality of service (and good to hear you've had decent performance from all of those eight) rather than just ask "What's your favourite retailer?". Hatton's have a massive number of customers but they have a lot of very happy repeat customers, in that light I think anyone who has had a conventional runner-up spot can pat themselves on the back anyway for having people who are prepared to vote for their quality of service.

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Wow third place for my amateur photo site. Thanks to everyone whom voted it in. I'll admit it came as a considerable surprise that it was listed, I was away for most of the voting period and off t'internet.

 

UK Model shops is a very worthy winner - Adrian Hall is so helpful to those of us tasked with advertising our clubs shows.

 

As an 0 gauge modellers I do think rather more choice could have been given in most categories, and interesting that the inaccurate Heljan Dogfish was so much more popular than the more accurate Catfish!

 

Thanks again to all

 

Paul

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Yep I like the fact that some of the useful websites get a public thank you. Well deserved for Adrian with UK model shops whos quietly been building a fantastic resource.

Well done to all nominated in all the categories too :)

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Yes, good results all round, but I think a special mention for our own Graham Muspratt is due too.  Apart from his ever helpful attitude with Southern queries on RMWeb his 'blog' is excellent and looked forward to with keen anticipation, not only by me but I know by others too.  Well done that man!

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I thnk there's a clear direction for where to look for steam loco subjects in the OO group.

 

The seven locos in the list that are in largely original as built by pre-grouping company condition appearance wise (rules out heavily modified types like the 700 and D16/3) got half the vote. Make more oldies guys, don't be bullied, riddled or stanierpeded into an excess of obscure late steam classes.

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Layout of the Year Award
 
How about having a link to a website (where applicable) to show these?  E.g. I don't know whether or not Bodmin North has any web presence but I would like to be able to see it if it has - I couldn't find anything with an Internet search.
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Thanks to all the people who voted for DEMU's Showcase exhibition - to come third to Warley and Railex is great!

 

Cheers, Mike

 

 

Echoing Mike's comment! I'm flabbergasted. Thank you to everyone who voted and don't forget this year's show! ... </shameless plug>

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Despite not winning any 'silverware' I imagine that the red box camp will be quietly pleased at having seven finalists in the OO steam loco. section, especially getting #2,3,5 & 7. Also given that the J50 was a very late entrant, a very good showing. I'm a little surprised to see the D16/3 polled so low.

Overall, I'm very pleased for Hornby, Bachmann may have won the cup, but I believe Hornby won the league with consistent year-round performance!

Cheers from Oz.

Peter C.

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Another good poll, although some of the votes were surprising, but that's democracy for you!

 

An interesting stat - the number of votes cast in total for steam and for diesel were almost the same in 00, and diesel votes were not far off the total of steam in N gauge. Does this reveal change from previous years, or has that not changed much?

 

Similarly, the quantity of D&E layouts voted for (although that may reflect the balance of layouts currently on the circuit, which in itself is significant).

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I think Paul's website should have been higher, as all the work it entails from him and allowing us to use it for free. I just wish the manufacturers who use his site would give it more thanks.

 

As to BCB in the list, and it's placing. How much would this be down to it being a excellent layout, combined with the documented progress of its development on this site, allowing us all to see it from its birth to (currently) final stage, along with the fun and interaction of the people involved, and the many and varied people's input?

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As to BCB in the list, and it's placing. How much would this be down to it being a excellent layout, combined with the documented progress of its development on this site, allowing us all to see it from its birth to (currently) final stage, along with the fun and interaction of the people involved, and the many and varied people's input?

 

It's no exaggeration to say that the layout would not exist without this forum and its members.  We've said before that everybody who contributed (whether that be comments and info shared on the forum or by making something for the layout) helped to make the layout what is is today.  To satisfy the project brief what we needed to do was build a layout to exhibition standards; collectively what we actually hoped to do was to encourage others to look more closely at the prototype in their own modelling (plus have a bit of a laugh and maybe a few beers along the way).  Documenting progress both here and in the pages of BRM was our attempt to do that (the encouraging others bit, not the beers).

 

Personally, I believe that what an individual gains from a forum like this in advice, encouragement and friendships is proportional to what you are prepared to put into it in progress updates, sharing knowledge with others and a bit of banter along the way.

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Disappointed to see warwickshirerailways.com not do better, but it is a very specific niche site.  However, sometimes by advertising such an effort it could be possible for other counties to be as well represented on the internet.  All credit to Dave Munson and collaborators for even getting on the poll.

 

OK, as a Warwickshire born "bear" I am biassed, but thank you for including the site on the poll.

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Well there's a turn up for the books.
I have just discovered that the Directory has been voted 'Website of the Year 2015' in the British Model Railway Awards.

What can I say but a big thank you to everyone who voted for the Directory in the poll.
And a special thank you and mention to the following members of RMweb for their compliments:
hmrspaul - "UK Model shops is a very worthy winner - Adrian Hall is so helpful to those of us tasked with advertising our clubs shows."
PaulRhB - "Well deserved for Adrian with UK model shops whos quietly been building a fantastic resource."

To receive such an award and the compliments of ones peers is praise indeed.
I'll try not to let it go to my head and will continue to offer the best service I can to all the Retailers, Manufacturers, Clubs, Societies and Events that also deserve our support.

Best Regards,
Adrian Hall
----------------------------------
THE UK Model Shops Directory
----------------------------------
The LARGEST Online resource for
British Model Railway enthusiasts.
http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk

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