Tim,

In the current financial climate, I doubt if there'll be much expansion of the canal network in the next few years, however beneficial it may be.

As for 14 plus exhibitions, how on earth do you find that mant decent ones to attend?

My list for 2010 is something like:

Leamington (local)

Scalefour North

Derby - one off visit helping on Amlwch

Railex

Scalefour AGM - exceptional visit so I could see Barrow Road

Scaleforum

Warley NEC

So that's 5 regulars plus 2 one-offs, still well short of 14 and leaving plenty of time for helping restore 35006 and visiting Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland Railways and monitoring progress with Lyd (replica Lynton & Barnstaple 2-6-2 tank being built at Boston Lodge by FR).

Happy canalling (is that a verb?)!

Dave.

Did I say "decent"!

They weren't bad shows, a lot were quite good but I've decided to get out to see railways and canals, and I've ended up with a list that looks like:

S4N

ExpoEM

Railwells

Scaleforum

Warley

I omitted Railex, as it was very close to ExpoEM, and I haven't included the S4 AGM as I was working there!

Have you seen they are converting the Gloucester - Ledbury line back into a canal!

Yes Andrew I know about your ten shows with your layout, but what about the ones you went to as a punter!

Have a look at http://www.coalcanal.org/

They don't intend reopening it, though anything is possible...