Chris Nevard's Blog

Handsome chap that operator on Combwich I recall that he was feeling as green as his T shirt that morning .......

Dunno how you missed him - The Commentator was at Railex late Saturday afternoon, I passed him on the opposite side of the hall from you near Wheal Elizabeth. No doubt he had earlier been entranced by the possibilities of through traffic to Engine Wood, but perhaps you were sitting behind Combwich puling faces/having a nap/imbibing a sneaky beer/lobbing parsnips at Tim at the time?

Lets not forget some of the nerks behind the layouts. The loud, bigheaded ones that think that their layout is the best thing ever 'cos its been in a magazine. The ones that are too arrogant to answer polite questions, believing that we should all be expert modellers and can recognise, for example, Smiths couplings when we see them. The ones that seem suprised that someone under 50 or who doesn't fit into the modeller stereotype could ask an intelligent question or show some knowledge about, well, anything. The ones that are too busy chatting to their mates to run anything, even though there's a crowd in front of their layout wanting to see trains move. And the ones who insist on boring you to death, usually unprompted, when all you want to do is move on and grab a brew.

Posted in the interest of balance!

 

Paul.

Dunno how you missed him - The Commentator was at Railex late Saturday afternoon, I passed him on the opposite side of the hall from you near Wheal Elizabeth. No doubt he had earlier been entranced by the possibilities of through traffic to Engine Wood, but perhaps you were sitting behind Combwich puling faces/having a nap/imbibing a sneaky beer/lobbing parsnips at Tim at the time?

Oh, I clocked him, don't worry....! I think it was one of the few occasions that I swanned off for a wander....

I think I saw him rather than heard (this time), him at Alley Palley this year. I recognise him as he used to come into the shop I worked at, and seen and heard him many times on the southern circuit. He does appear to know his stuff too, not just random transmissions.

 

If you want to get a good look at a layout just follow him, ten paces behind.

Lets not forget some of the nerks behind the layouts. The loud, bigheaded ones that think that their layout is the best thing ever 'cos its been in a magazine. The ones that are too arrogant to answer polite questions, believing that we should all be expert modellers and can recognise, for example, Smiths couplings when we see them. The ones that seem suprised that someone under 50 or who doesn't fit into the modeller stereotype could ask an intelligent question or show some knowledge about, well, anything. The ones that are too busy chatting to their mates to run anything, even though there's a crowd in front of their layout wanting to see trains move. And the ones who insist on boring you to death, usually unprompted, when all you want to do is move on and grab a brew.

Posted in the interest of balance!

 

Paul.

 

You clearly attended the same exhibitions as me then...nothing worse than a cold shoulder from the operators; you have paid money to see their offerings so why they are so reticent to engage with the great unwashed?!

It is a mystery...but there are exceptions (see first post !!)

Oh, I clocked him, don't worry....! I think it was one of the few occasions that I swanned off for a wander....

 

How typically strategic of you!

 

At least you and Chris always have a layout to disappear off behind on the pretext of some emergency. I just remain nobbled!

 

 

 

How typically strategic of you!

Well, it's a case of providing some practical experience in Public Relations for Mr Harrap, isn't it?!

It is a mystery...but there are exceptions (see first post !!)

 

I should point out that my little rant isn't aimed at Chris, who I have yet to meet.

 

Paul.

Mostly I am quite friendly and very happy to chat to anyone who is interested enough to want to look at my 'Hornby'. I'd rather do than that play with the trains to be honest being keen to pass on any knowledge I have. But from time to time one has to take cover - actually, I don't think I needed to at RAILEX - it's not that kind of show. A couple of years ago I did have a follower for a bit who tracked me down for about 3 shows (I was not even exhibiting) in a row and once latched on wouldn't go away. We've all come across them, you know, one of those ones that gets inside that natural comfort zone we all have. The black teeth didn't help.

The black teeth didn't help.

Was the shoe polish difficult to remove, then, Chris?

I doubt I'll ever forget the horror that attended Railex 2004 (the last one at the old venue).

 

Needless to say, the specimen that turned up to the demo stand me and a couple of pals were manning was a prize one. "Traffic lights" and "ten car voyager with the engine in the front" were only part of the monotonous spiel that was delivered deadpan to the wall behind us......

The Commentator was honing his skill in front of New hey for a fair spell at railex, Mark also got a full commentary on Portchullin. Ive got to admit to sending the same train round a few times to see how he copes, but he's always well up to the task!

 

He's obviously a quite knowledgable bloke so I do wonder what his condition is never seen anyone like it before. End of the day he's a harmless soul and if attending shows keeps him happy, brilliant.

Taking Chris' first point concerning exhibitions in sports centres, I wonder if personal trainers use the opportunity to point out some of us to their clients with the phrase 'too many pies and too few miles on the treadmill and you'll end up like that!' (I'm one that could do with losing a few pounds...)

 

Paul.

I do wonder what his condition is never seen anyone like it before. End of the day he's a harmless soul and if attending shows keeps him happy, brilliant.

Probably well up on the Autistic Spectrum (as,indeed, are quite a few railway enthusiasts). However, autism can be used to advantage as there are often personality traits which can be fully utilised. Only a couple of days ago I was listening to a radio article about an employer who actively recruits those with Autism because of their ability to focus on a specific task and handle detail.

It's not just model railways that he commentates on.

 

On the way back from the Tonbridge show a few years ago, CK, Re6/6 and myself sat on the platform eating our fish and chips whilst waiting for our train. The Commentator walks past and said something along the lines of " and there's some gentlemen eating fish and chips, I prefer battered sausage myself"

Yes he's a gem and I'd agree with Steve definitely autistic, although a little perplexed with the Swiss layouts as he's reduced to red train or freight train as it's obviously outside his reading. Classic at Woking when a young girl asked why he was pointing out what was in front of him and dad turned as red as the trains.

Our club has a similar autistic but far less vociferous chap who comes along with a carer and it's priceless when someone who thinks they are a bit expert gets corrected.

As to hiding Chris, taller backscene and periscope

Ah yes the commentator, one of those characters that you always saw, well when i used to go to exhibitions in the south east.

 

And as Pugsley has mentioned, trains was not the only thing he commented on from what i remember at dartford years ago and tells how it is, if its a good cup of tea he says then he's not wrong!

 

Are the nasal twins still around?

A Rumbelows plastic bag! Ye Gads! Naw, it was a very battered Eames carrier bag, still being toted as a badge-of-honour long after the hallowed portals had closed and been re-developed into an office block.

Some years ago the MRC exhibition was held at Wembley on the same day as a country and western event. I turned up with my wife wearing a fringed suede jacket ( that was me not the missus - god 70's gear!) Had to practically figth with the guy directing the crowd he just didn't think I could be interested in the model trains.

 

Regarding the audience at shows. My operators decided they would rather work the layout from the front i.e amongst the viewers. Seemed to get less trouble with the viewers.

 

Don

Oh WOW!

 

I didnt realise he was a bit of a celeb at model railway shows, I have come across him a few times at shows and I know others from the 2mm gang have too. Its always one of the things we talk about afterwards. I know that one guy operating a 2mm layout in the past got into a bit of an argument with the poor guy as he commentated about a class 47 diesel moving on the layout when it wasnt and the guy operating was determined to let him know!

 

Missy

I know that one guy operating a 2mm layout in the past got into a bit of an argument with the poor guy as he commentated about a class 47 diesel moving on the layout when it wasnt and the guy operating was determined to let him know!

 

I'm sure I know who you mean and would be surprised to find out that it wasn't his prize winning class 48 that was wrongly identified.

Blimey this is as PC as Jeremy Clarkson ..

 

The commentator isn't too good at identifying dinosaurs when we had one on Saffron St at Railex though he did know what type of car it was eating.

 

I'm thankfully still in the asked for my gym card category at the moment..