Chiltern Model Railway Exhibition - Stevenage 13/14 Jan 2018

[RichardS]

Does anyone remember what the catering was like last year? The CMRA or Leisure Centre websites don't provide any clues for what we might expect. Is "take your own" a better option?

 

If I recall there was a temporary servery - doing sandwiches etc in the corner of the main hall with a few (ie small number of tables) nearby. Don't know if there was a proper café in the leisure centre. Take yer own will be cheaper undoubtedly.

Although having said that we're not. 

 

Edit: Just found this on the advert on the website.

"Refreshments will be available in the exhibition and there is a seperate coffee bar in more relaxed surroundings adjacent to the venue's Box Office."

 

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Edited January 12, 2018 by RichardS

[O-Gauge-Phil]

Well i am looking forward to it but last year the hot food ran out about 10:30 ish and all they had was crisps and the like. So I would take your own, don’t know what the town has to offer?

One ticket office open so the queue went right down the road think it was way over an hour to get in.

I don’t think the venue was expecting the numbers just for a train exhibition, hopefully this weekend they will sort it out.

 

Exhibition itself was very good

[polybear]

Edit: Just found this on the advert on the website.

"Refreshments will be available in the exhibition and there is a seperate coffee bar in more relaxed surroundings adjacent to the venue's Box Office."

 

​

 

I'm guessing this refers to the station coffee bar next to the ticket offices and barriers. A dozen people in there and it's crowded....

[robertcwp]

Looks like there will be major disruption to train services from King's Cross on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.

[2mm Andy]

I'm guessing this refers to the station coffee bar next to the ticket offices and barriers. A dozen people in there and it's crowded....

 

I doubt that it's the station coffee bar given that it is on the other side of the dual-carriageway footbridge. I rather suspect it's the coffee shop listed on the venue's website below;

 

https://www.gordon-craig.co.uk/the-coffee-house

 

(the bistro also listed on the website looks very much like the room where the exhibitor's catering was last year).

 

Andy

[47137]

If you are travelling by car, do not park at the Leisure Park, which is the retail area across the footbridge from the station and the venue. The meter maids wait and watch for people leaving the site (: going to the show) and issue tickets, the charge is £100 reducing to £60 within 14 days.

 

- Richard.

[sb67]

Nightmare getting there this morning from London, ended up having to go to Luton Airport and get a bus to Stevenage. That was more than made up for by a fantastic show, great layouts and a good selection of traders and demos. The star of the show was, for me at least, Arun Quay. I thought it was just stunning although the forth rail bridge was really impressive to. Massive thank you and well done to everyone involved. I'll post a few pics when I get the chance.

Steve.

[robertcwp]

I delayed my journey by a couple of hours, by which time the trains had recovered. Some good layouts at the show and lots of people there. 

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

Likewise had a good afternoon at this show. Many excellent layouts being operated, and if it was McChuck that most strongly grabbed my attention that was because I could have sworn that I have driven through that very location in the Pennsylvania coalfield. Circulation good, aircon working really well, good specialist trade support. My wife appeared to be holding a reunion with ex-colleagues, the conversations commencing 'So you are another one who never mentioned this interest...'.

[Portpatrick]

I went this morning though the need to get home to Watford for another commitment meant I could not stay as long as I would certainly have liked.  I had bought tickets for 3 of us in advance.  The entry at ground level worked well and we got our wrist bands and programme immediately.  So the farce of early Saturday last year had been sorted.  Well done.

 

A well balanced and excellent show in my view. with useful trade and many fine layouts,  As an N gauge modeller I appreciated the number and variety of 2 mm based layouts as compared with last year.  Plenty of other good ones as well.  Between the 3 of us the booking fee and credit card fee meant the cost for each of us was £8.  Money well spent.  Roll on next year!

[brightspark]

Last year I walked into town for lunch.

The shopping centre isn't far. It has great architectural interest for those moved by 1960's pedestrian precincts.

See you on Sunday. I am looking forward to seeing Arun Quay.

 

Andy.

[PenrithBeacon]

I arrived at 1300 on the ground floor. I had to traipse up to the first floor to get a ticket and then down to the ground for the show.

 

That aside it’s a very good show well worth a visit

[great central]

Hope the organisers don't mind me pointing out an error in the guide? It shows Ally Pally exhibition as being on the 16th and 17th March, as does the MRC ad also in the guide.

According to the pinned thread at the top of the exhibtions page it's 24rd and 25th March. Might be worth putting a note somewhere about it?

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/129277-the-london-festival-of-railway-modelling-ally-pally-24-to-25-march-2018/

[greatcoleswoodhalt]

A work commitment meant I had to be at Stansted yesterday evening, thus swiftly made arrangements to visit the exhibition.

 

Although the venue was a little difficult to (initially) navigate, a great exhibition with a nice variation of layouts; Arun Quay and Lower Exbury particularly stood-out for me, but needless to say all very impressive!  I also had the pleasure to chat with Mr Muspratt, whilst being transfixed by Fisherton Sarum - a keen follower of his blog, I didn't appreciate just how 'involved' he his with the RTR manufacturers!

 

The complimentary colour show guide, free for paying visitors, is very good as well - in-depth reviews of each layout with track-plans too.

 

 

As can be seen on the attached, I also paid Alan Buttler of Modelu a visit - who recognises me loitering?

Edited January 16, 2018 by jafcreasey

[tc]

Hope the organisers don't mind me pointing out an error in the guide? It shows Ally Pally exhibition as being on the 16th and 17th March, as does the MRC ad also in the guide.

According to the pinned thread at the top of the exhibtions page it's 24rd and 25th March. Might be worth putting a note somewhere about it?

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/129277-the-london-festival-of-railway-modelling-ally-pally-24-to-25-march-2018/

 

You beat me to it - not sure how it happened but the guide is incorrect. I asked our MRC stewards who are there today to take some Tippex and a pen to correct the programmes for today, but got some rather rude responses.

 

Tom

[bcnPete]

Visited the show yesterday with my youngest son - only had 90 minutes as we had to be back in London for another appointment.

 

As always, a good quality show and at 11:00am it was pretty packed so I didn’t have time to see much in detail. Bought some flux and spray paint so that ticked off the shopping list

 

Nice to have a quick catch up with Julia, Jerry and Kim on the 2mmFS stand and nod to Nigel Ashton who was pretty busy on his layout.

 

My fave layout was, not surprisingly for me, Shelvington and Rydes Hill as am always happy to see some BR Blue The indicator board was a nice touch bringing back memories of hearing the flicker whilst awaiting your train.

 

Big thanks to the organisers - will definitely be back next year and hope to be able to stay longer - a few pics of the above mentioned layout...Lee thanked me for asking before I took them...which for me as both punter and exhibitor is normal courteous behaviour...

 

Pete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Nile]

I think this year has proved that the move from St.Albans has been a positive one, the show has gotten even better. Sitting around in the café upstairs waiting for the show to open is definitely better than queueing outside in the cold. Everyone I spoke to thought it was a good show, I quite agree.

[wamwig]

I'll agree with that, having been to the show many times at St Albans the move to Stevenage has been very positive, it really helps all being on one level, spent a good three hours at the show today and have to say all the layouts were superb, my own favourites being Arun Quay, Ynysybwl and The Bridge at Remagen, but they are purely personal choices, can't wait for 2019 now!

[Anglian]

I've just returned home. I had a fantastic day out. A hugely enjoyable show with some superb layouts. I ran out of time even though I arrived shortly after the doors opened. I really needed at least another two hours. There were three layouts I enjoyed watching so much that I felt as if I could have spent three hours watching any one of them and each in a different scale.

[Guest 47107]

My only complaint is that there was absolutely no signage outside the building to say that there was an exhibition on or how to get in. When we arrived just before 10am there was quite a few other people wandering around looking for a way in, and when we did find the entrance we had to confirm with the girl taking the money that there was a railway exhibition taking place.  One of the stewards we asked said that they were not allowed any signage.   

[RichardS]

Good exhibition, some fine exhibits. But there was one I can find no mention of in the brochure, the CMRA website, or in this thread. This was a smallish 7mm china clay terminus and I cannot remember it's name. Perhaps it was a late substitute.

If anybody could tell me the name I'd be grateful.

Many thanks 

[Lambton58]

Went today with Flying Pig and we thought it was a crackingly good show.   Best yet and agree with the comments about the move from St Albans being a generally good thing.  As last year, we had absolutely no problem parking and again easily found a space in the carpark immediately outside the venue.  

 

Favourite layouts were Keiper Colliery, Arun Quay and Hambleden Valley.  The latter because right at the end of the day we were invited to have a go driving, which was absolutely brilliant! (Many thanks to Steve Howard if you're reading this).  Also enjoyed Ynysybwl, Kingswear and Mauch Chuck.  Some good chats too with the some of the operators, demonstrators and traders.   

 

All in all a good show, so thanks and well done to the CMRA team.

 

Ralph

 

Lambton 58

[westerner]

Had good day at Stevenage. Stand out layout for was Arun Quay. Everything about the layout went together so well due to the slightly muted colour scheme from the backscene to the buildings and the stock.

[Flying Pig]

Lambton58's appreciation and thanks are duly seconded. I can't remember when I've enjoyed a show more.

 

Favourite layouts were Keiper Colliery, Arun Quay and Hambleden Valley.  The latter because right at the end of the day we were invited to have a go driving, which was absolutely brilliant! (Many thanks to Steve Howard if you're reading this).

I'm currently sitting with a glazed look and making chuff chuff noises, like a less handsome Mr Toad. Sadly (or perhaps fortunately), the cloisters of Pig Hall wouldn't run to live steam, even if the coffers would.

[bcnPete]

Good exhibition, some fine exhibits. But there was one I can find no mention of in the brochure, the CMRA website, or in this thread. This was a smallish 7mm china clay terminus and I cannot remember it's name. Perhaps it was a late substitute.

If anybody could tell me the name I'd be grateful.

Many thanks

 

Sorry not sure of the name either but I did hear the exhibitor say to someone he had been called the night before as a trader was taken ill at last minute, hence the brochure I guess.

 

Am sure Adrian can provide the name...