Stafford Railway Circle 2016 Exhibition

[br2975]

"D'ya hear there ?"

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I don't put my hand in the fire, because I know it is hot, and it will hurt.

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I also know it has rained almost continuously since October.

 

Therefore I don't need a volunteer in a brand new yellow tabard to tell me not to park on the grass, I can work that out for myself.

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Hence we didn't get bogged down.

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As a repeat exhibitor at Stafford, I must say it is well organised and we are well received by the hosts.

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The show has an excellent cross section of layouts, scales and gauges and a very good variety of traders.

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My brother (naturol) and I enjoyed the show, we enjoyed Saturday evening's impromptu meal and putting faces to even more RMweb; from "the man who only models yellow painted rolling stock" to a Merseyside modeller with an unhealthy attraction to sixteen tonners and a pedeller of pies from Shropshire (formerly from Cardiff).

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Organisers willing, we hope to be back next year.

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Brian & Paul R.

[newbryford]

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My brother (naturol) and I enjoyed the show, we enjoyed Saturday evening's impromptu meal and putting faces to even more RMweb; from "the man who only models yellow painted rolling stock" to a Merseyside modeller with an unhealthy attraction to sixteen tonners and a pedeller of pies from Shropshire (formerly from Cardiff).

.

 

 

Errrrrr - I prefer "mostly" instead of "only"

 

Good to chat yesterday.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[MarkSG]

I had an excellent time at the show today. I drive a 4x4, so I parked on the mud - I knew I'd get out, and it meant I was leaving the less sticky spaces for other people.

 

As usual, there were many top-notch layouts there, as well as a good selection of trade stands. I came back with a bag full of mostly bits and bobs, plus a loco from the club second hand stall.

 

Here's a selection of some of my better photos of the day. Note that the absence of a layout from this doesn't mean I didn't like it, it simply means that I didn't get a photo of it that's good enough to be worth sharing!

 

The coal yard at Much Murkle. This was one of my favourites, I think it captures the essence of a small country station very well.

 

I really love these two entirely unmatched vans in the Much Murkle cider brewery. It's the sort of thing which is likely to cause tremors in the OCD-inclined, but to me this quirkiness is what makes the railways so much fun.

 

At completely the opposite end of the spectrum, my favourite diesel-era train of all time - an HST at Alderford.

 

Toby <cough> shunts the upper level at Helmthwaite and Chapel Lane

 

As a change from the close-ups, this is an end-on overview of Old Elms Road. From the detail in the foreground to the broad sweep of the track through the station, every inch of this layout oozes quality. You can see from the crush at the barrier how popular it was.

 

The photo-realistic background on Kieper Colliery really works. As, indeed, does the entire layout. 

 

Another photographic background, this time on Crinan. The water in the canal is some of the best I've seen, too.

 

Finally, another overview shot. Lytton CPR is the ultimate "train in a landscape" layout - just a single line of track along one side of a massive canyon.

[br2975]

Errrrrr - I prefer "mostly" instead of "only"

 

Good to chat yesterday.

 

Cheers,

Mick

In fairness Mick, you did say on Saturday that you modelled things that are NOT yellow.

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Keep it up.

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Brian R

[chrisf]

Some random thoughts from Saturday:

 

It was good to see Vapok Barry Docks in the flesh at last.  It is different, inspired, well observed and finely executed and I forgive the brothers Rolley for running [yet] another inspection saloon!  The backscene is particularly fine and I am grateful to Paul and Brian not only for evoking memories of my youth - I had grandparents in Barry - but for pointing out the street wherein lies Uncle Bryn's house in 'Gavin and Stacey'.  If they had played their cards right the silly people at Cow Dorning could have garnered useful publicity instead of causing grief.

 

There were plenty of other good layouts too. I was quite taken with Chard Creamery, save for the milk tanks which I fear were too clean, with Much Murkle where the horse drawn dray caught my eye, and with the very natural grouping of buildings on Old Elms Road.  I found a few bits and pieces and a couple of books to help empty my wallet.  What I did not find was most of the other inmates who I now know were there.  I now await a rebuke from someone past whom I may have walked without realising.

 

Did anyone else admire the photograph of Clifton Suspension Bridge in fabulous light on Don Bishop's stand?  I might have had the necessary £199 when I arrived but I certainly did not when I left.

 

As for car parking, I arrived in sufficient time to park on some tarmac.

 

Chris

[gismorail]

Attended the show on Saturday and had an excellent day out at a wonderful show which in my humble opinion is fast becoming one of the best. Travelled on the train and used the bus service so did not have the problem of parking. I would say at this point that this is not really the fault of the Stafford Railway Circle but the owners of the show ground having been to other events there in the past when it is a major headache. The problem that the traders have with the wi-fi  / mobile link issues on card purchases is again down to the venue management and I cannot believe that this problem STILL exists in this day and age. It must surely de-value the cost of a 'pitch' for the exhibition organisers. 

 

This year there were some excellent layouts and a nice selection of traders that  would have put a large hole in most  modellers wallets mine being no exception but what the hell you can't take it with you 

 

For those that were not able to attend here is a small selection of layouts that you missed out on :

 

Broom Junction 0 gauge Warley MRC

 

 

Ian Futers Lochty Lane 0 gauge depot

 

 

Cheddar S&DJR 18.83 gauge Simon Challis 

Best in show for me 

 

 

Wansbeck Rd 2mm finescale Mick Simpson

 

 

Roll on next year I say 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ELTEL]

If it's their club don't ask for volunteers just tell them... it's for their benefit after all.

 

Sorry - Telling members is a very quick way of losing all good will in a club.

 

 

I must admit that I didn't bother partaking once I saw the rain. Got bogged before there and have no wish to repeat the experience. I blame Mr.York for his weather forecast

[BobM]

First ever visit....congratulations to all concerned....wonderful show.....took the train from Wolverhampton to Stafford....shuttle bus..Can see from comments on here regarding parking..

 

..maybe some of the more selfish folks on here should consider and appreciate the poor rain soaked blighters who volunteered  to be there to assist anyone who may have potentially got stuck a little more...grass rain and vehicles do not mix easily - they were out in that wet stuff all blinking day poor sods!

 

 

first stop in venue was for breakfast (priorities first ) thanks to the girls and guys here for looking after us..... 

[andyram]

Blog now posted. Great show. Congrats to all who organised it.

Car park was muddy but not the organiser's fault!

[southern42]

Fantastic show.  Congratulations and thanks to all.

 

My phone-camera seemed to like the 'soft focus' look (grainy or out of focus due to low light levels) so I decided to go with it, zoomed in even closer, and even turned the clock back for some black and white ones to make the most of the best!  So, a trip down Memory Lane.

 

Helmthwaite and Chapel Lane - O

 

82G Templecombe Road Shed - O

 

Bonnington Goods - OO

 

Pick Purse Yard - O

 

Bowleggett Manor - OO9

 

Old Elms Road - OO

 

82G Templecombe Road Shed - O

 

Crimson Road - OO

 

29th Street Wharf - HO

 

Old Elms Road - OO

 

Helmthwaite and Chapel Lane - O

 

Alderford - OO

 

Brighton East - EM

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

I went yesterday (Sun) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

Can't see the problem with the mud in the car park, in fact spent so much time wallowing, I nearly stayed overnight!

[wagonbasher]

Does anyone know who did win best visiting layout?

 

i share GIsmorail's view that Cheddar was the best in show.. So does Mrs Basher

 

Andy

[Jock67B]

Morning all,

A big thank you to Mark, Martin and Polly for the lovely images - important to someone who like me is disabled and unable to travel to such events. Looks like a success for the organisers this year, off to look at Andyram's blog now!

Thanks again,

Kind regards,

Jock.

[Bodmin Bob]

A word of praise for Old Elms Road.

A high percentage of big club layouts tend to be quite patchy because they are built by people with varying degrees of skill and differing interests.  Because they are club layouts a lot of them also try to be all things to all people but end up being not a lot to anyone.

Old Elms Road, on the other hand, was very consistent in quality and hung together very well in every respect.

 

Another word of praise for the Virgin girls at Rugby station.

My connection meant a wait of over three-quarters of an hour and having never got off there before I'd never realised what a miserable, bleak, cold, windswept station it is.  Yet the Virgin girls were pleasant, helpful and conscientious to all, despite the fact that they were having to work in an icy wind tunnel and only one of the five trains that stopped while I was there was a Virgin so most of the people and trains they were dealing were those of a rival company.

Many thanks for your kind remarks Mike. 

 

We had a great time at the show with Old Elms Road and it seems to have landed very well with the viewing public. 

 

Regards

 

Bob Hoskins

Bodmin & District MRC

[nickwood]

The Much Murkle crew had a great weekend. We were well looked after by the Stafford Club and the event was very well organised from our perspective.

 

Much Murkle seemed to generate a lot of interest and we had many unsolicited compliments. Being a little out of GWR territory we didn't encounter any rivet counters of the railway kind although we did find out that apparently our Herefordshire cattle are too tall (they were shorter in the 1930's apparently) and our sheep are too wooly. The later is probably true, the former may possibly be true but it made for an Interesting discussion with the gentleman concerned

 

Thanks to those who have taken the trouble to mention Much Murkle in dispatches. I hope that you weren't disappointed.

[griffgriff]

 

If it's their club don't ask for volunteers just tell them... it's for their benefit after all.

Sorry - Telling members is a very quick way of losing all good will in a club.

I must admit that I didn't bother partaking once I saw the rain. Got bogged before there and have no wish to repeat the experience. I blame Mr.York for his weather forecast

 

Sorry but only if communicated badly.

 

Griff

[Stuart]

Lankyphil and I ventured yesterday (we've been going since GEC days) and weren't disappointed.

No problem with parking...

Chollerford and Kepier Colliery drew my attention, Lankyphil, being a Southern enthusiast, made a beeline for Freshwater,

but we were impressed with everything - a good mix of layouts.

Good trade support from our point of view.

 

Overall, another good Stafford Show, and thank you to all the members, exhibitors and traders who made it so.

[MarkSG]

Much Murkle seemed to generate a lot of interest and we had many unsolicited compliments. Being a little out of GWR territory we didn't encounter any rivet counters of the railway kind although we did find out that apparently our Herefordshire cattle are too tall (they were shorter in the 1930's apparently) and our sheep are too wooly. The later is probably true, the former may possibly be true but it made for an Interesting discussion with the gentleman concerned

 

Never mind the height of the cows. I have to say that I was very impressed, not only that the cows were the right colour - not just for the era, but for the location - but that your coal staithes were the right way round. Two of my personal bugbears on many otherwise very well-detailed layouts!

[Dave Searle]

The Hinksey Yard team had a great weekend at the show, with lots of interest in the layout.

 

Many thanks to the Stafford Club for inviting us and putting on an excellent show.

 

Cheers,

Dave

[Nobby (John)]

Sorry but only if communicated badly.

Griff

AND even if communicated well, you will still not get the numbers you need for various good reasons.

As with any club, model railway, Rotary, Lions, social it will always be 20% do most of the work.

 

Others can't due to family, health, holiday, and other various reasons.

 

How do I know.........I am an exhibition manager myself and a member of several service clubs.

[Argos]

The Much Murkle crew had a great weekend. We were well looked after by the Stafford Club and the event was very well organised from our perspective.

 

Much Murkle seemed to generate a lot of interest and we had many unsolicited compliments. Being a little out of GWR territory we didn't encounter any rivet counters of the railway kind although we did find out that apparently our Herefordshire cattle are too tall (they were shorter in the 1930's apparently) and our sheep are too wooly. The later is probably true, the former may possibly be true but it made for an Interesting discussion with the gentleman concerned

 

Thanks to those who have taken the trouble to mention Much Murkle in dispatches. I hope that you weren't disappointed.

 

If it is any consolation I overheard the operators of the superb Rumbling Bridge bemoaning a spectator who had complained the leaves on their Cauliflowers were wrong!

I don't know what the vegetable inspector was going on about, it was clearly the cabbages that were incorrect (wrong shade of green   ).

I very much enjoyed Much Murkle, thanks for bringing it!

[ELTEL]

STAFFORD RAILWAY CIRCLE EXHIBITION UPDATE

 

Well it's all over for another year and despite the continuous rain it certainly did not dampen the great atmosphere of the visitors.

 

Yes the car park was a concern and there was a team which included SRC, Bowmans Antique Fares and Showground staff on hand to help the visitors that got stuck in the mud.

 

So negatives out of the way.

 

A big thanks to all the exhibitors, traders and all the SRC membership who put on yet another great exhibition, and of course the hundreds of visitors on both days.

 

We should not forget also to thank POPS the Preserved Bus Society, St Johns Ambulance, J J Security and our caterer Doris (who retires at the end of March)

 

The positive comments from the visitors and splendid photographs coupled with the thanks from exhibitors make it all worthwhile.

 

I look forward to seeing you all again next year when we do it all again.

 

Terry

[ELTEL]

 

A funny thing happened on the way to the Exhibition...........

 

Stafford Railway Circle wish to apologise for the lack of (colour light) signals on their layout Stackton Tressell during the weekend’s show. The operating team believed they were packed at the clubroom ready for use, however upon assembling the layout on Friday afternoon, said signals could not be found. Members were dispatched back to clubroom twice on Friday evening and again early Saturday morning but to no avail. As the signals are actually interlocked with pointwork their absence made life rather hard for the operators. However, all was not lost as one member found a box that had been laid aside on a window shelf and asked for its contents to be inspected. The show closed at 4-30 on Sunday; and when was the box discovered? On Sunday at 4-27pm! Sorry folks.

 

 

Terry

[PMP99]

If it is any consolation I overheard the operators of the superb Rumbling Bridge bemoaning a spectator who had complained the leaves on their Cauliflowers were wrong!

I don't know what the vegetable inspector was going on about, it was clearly the cabbages that were incorrect (wrong shade of green   ).

I very much enjoyed Much Murkle, thanks for bringing it!

 

I expect the imminent announcement of a new range:  Vegmatch Paints  

[Geoff Endacott]

Stafford Railway Circle wish to apologise for the lack of (colour light) signals on their layout ...

 

That's not much of an apology. This is how to do it properly: 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdzqTGmEcZE .

 

Geoff Endacott