RMweb Premium Reorte Posted September 10, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 10, 2018 The issue is that, despite the quality of layouts and loyalty of traders, the attendance is not good enough. As someone said in an earlier post, a show must ‘wash its face’, this location probably makes a biggish loss. We need to find a location convenient for more people. Obviously there's an issue with attendance but I don't understand how the location is inconvenient, near a motorway near a major city. It's not in a prominent location, tucked away in an unattractive bit of Manchester hanging on territory, but it's not the sort of show that'll rely on passing visitors to notice it. It's certainly less hassle to get to than Wigan (a show well worth the hassle). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardbealach Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Whithorn now back to its shed after a great weekend at ExpoEM North. Thank you to all who voted for it and for giving Whithorn not one, but two awards - Best in Show and Best Scratch Built building for the creamery. I am most humbled. It would have been honour enough for me at the weekend when Geoff Kent was heard to say that he was most impressed by the layout. (AM) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Scalefour North at Wakefield Grammar School is similar. Good train and bus links. On site and off site parking. In many way an ideal venue. Maybe the EMGS could talk to them. As they alternate the periods of the year it seems good to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete55 Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Scalefour North at Wakefield Grammar School is similar. Good train and bus links. On site and off site parking. In many way an ideal venue. Maybe the EMGS could talk to them. As they alternate the periods of the year it seems good to me. I've been saying exactly this for a couple of years to some EMGS board members...…. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 We do have records going back several years, to and including the 'Slawit' shows. I haven't got them to hand but clearly recall that attendances fell significantly following the move and haven't really recovered. George Carnell attendances have been higher than those at Partington but we are unable to use that venue as the British Gymnastics Association use it for coaching every Saturday morning. We feel constrained by the fact that September is as busy month for shows so it's not a simple matter of moving to a week earlier (GOG at Telford) or a week later (Shipley) or the week after that, S4um. Now that might not impact too much on all potential attendees but we have our friends in the trade to consider. At the moment five possible options are being considered, or very soon will be: A. No show. B Stay with the present situation at Partington, with all the disadvantages of the situation of the venue. C Consider a different venue in the Greater Manchester area. D Look for other venues outside the the north west areabut still in the north, maybe on 'tother side of the Pennines. E A radical (for us) alternative about which I can say no more at this juncture. If any reading this has any other ideas about how we can get an attendance to match the size and quality of the present exhibition, then let's be hearing from you. C. How about the venue used in Spring for the 0 scale event, in Leigh Sports village? Decent sized venue, good facilities, easy to get to, well signposted and plenty of parking. I priced this up for my local club a few years ago now, it was fair at that time but still beyond our means however that may be very different now of course. I can't give any further details right now as I'm not at home but no doubt, google will help. Hope this helps, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leander Posted September 10, 2018 Author Share Posted September 10, 2018 one exhibit is always from a different scale so why not some more As far as I know this is the first time we've had a 'guest' layout in the expo. We pinched the idea from the Spring show. Martin Stringer doesn't like the hassle of exhibiting but he was keen to come this weekend as he knows many of the people involved with the show, is very local and we were able to transport his layout to and from Partington thereby saving him having to hire a separate vehicle. It's certainly an idea we may well continue with and we would like to have a 3mm F/S or S gauge layout at expo EM Autumn, not exactly scales which are abundant with quality exhibition layouts in the north. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardbealach Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Like the idea of other gauge finescales being included - especially to specialist audience that would appreciate the skills and workmanship that went into them. As far as I know this is the first time we've had a 'guest' layout in the expo. We pinched the idea from the Spring show. Martin Stringer doesn't like the hassle of exhibiting but he was keen to come this weekend as he knows many of the people involved with the show, is very local and we were able to transport his layout to and from Partington thereby saving him having to hire a separate vehicle. It's certainly an idea we may well continue with and we would like to have a 3mm F/S or S gauge layout at expo EM Autumn, not exactly scales which are abundant with quality exhibition layouts in the north. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Reorte Posted September 10, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 10, 2018 As far as I know this is the first time we've had a 'guest' layout in the expo. We pinched the idea from the Spring show. Martin Stringer doesn't like the hassle of exhibiting but he was keen to come this weekend as he knows many of the people involved with the show, is very local and we were able to transport his layout to and from Partington thereby saving him having to hire a separate vehicle. It's certainly an idea we may well continue with and we would like to have a 3mm F/S or S gauge layout at expo EM Autumn, not exactly scales which are abundant with quality exhibition layouts in the north. Lucky us who went then, a fine layout it was and I'm glad I got the chance to see it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leander Posted September 10, 2018 Author Share Posted September 10, 2018 Thanks to all who've 'liked' the posts in the run-up to expoEM Autumn and contributed to the subsequent discussion. Your comments are duly noted! One layout I missed posting earlier as I didn't have any photos of it on file and it happens to be the Manager of expoEM Autumn is Kinmundy, sorry Martin! To make amends here are a couple taken this weekend by 'woodenhead'. Thanks for posting the layout pics from the weekend. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Scalefour North at Wakefield Grammar School is similar. Good train and bus links. On site and off site parking. In many way an ideal venue. Maybe the EMGS could talk to them. As they alternate the periods of the year it seems good to me. Sounds like an excellent idea to me! But then I'm slightly biased....................... THREE top shows in Wakefield? Wouldn't matter to me in the slightest if two of them were at the same venue - but it seems to matter to some people for some reason. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 What is the issue with the Partington location? Toilet! (note singular) Scalefour North at Wakefield Grammar School is similar. Good train and bus links. On site and off site parking. In many way an ideal venue. Maybe the EMGS could talk to them. As they alternate the periods of the year it seems good to me. And the Crocodile Sisters (Catering) might come with the deal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted September 10, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 10, 2018 And the Crocodile Sisters (Catering) might come with the deal. Purveyors of sandwiches and make it snappy? Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PMP Posted September 10, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 10, 2018 Just to clarify my earlier post from o’dark hundred hours, bi ennial! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Purveyors of sandwiches and make it snappy? Suppliers of good bites to eat, something to get your teeth into. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 First visit down to Expo North in several years, but the layout list overcame my reluctance to risk getting lost in back streets and housing schemes, the thought of which on top of a long slog on the motorway had put me off in the past few years. The layout line-up was second to none, at least for my taste. With my parochial tastes for Galloway and its railway, Alisdair's Whithorn was just a superb rendition of the Machars countryside. Tollesbury Quay I've been keen to see since the MRJ article, and Hartburn is a delight - nice to get time to stand and study it... to name but thee. Really enjoyed my day out at the show - thanks to all involved. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leander Posted September 10, 2018 Author Share Posted September 10, 2018 (edited) These are the competition winners from expoEM Autumn 2018 held over the last weekend. The winner of the Malcolm Crawley Trophy for the best scratchbuilt loco was a North Staffordshire Railway B class Clare 2-4-0T no.1447 in LMS livery, by Clive Baker, using mainly plasticard for the body structure and seen on Dave's 'Rolleston-on-Dove' layout. The Eileen's Emporium prize for the best use of scratchbuilding materials was won by Alisdair MacDonald for the Creamery on 'Whithorn'. 'Whithorn' was also the deserved winner of the Vice-President's Trophy, being voted the best layout in the show. Thanks to Karl Crowther for taking the photographs. Edited September 11, 2018 by Leander 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Devil Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 As a first time visitor to the show in Partington I enjoyed my vist, I regularly attended when it was in Slaithwaite as it was almost in walking distance for me there. I do think the scare stories of sluching about the back streets of South West Manchester put a few off but in reality it's an easy run in, personally I just headed down the Irlam/Cadishead bypass and paid my extortianate toll fee to go over the ship canal (12p each way!) and headed in that way, nice easy quick run. Parking, yeah bit chaotic when I landed there, but no worse than dropping the wife at the Trafford Centre or something! Show itself, well worth the visit for both layouts and trade, and my first as a fully paid up member of the EMGS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon4470 Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 It was my first visit to an EM show - although I do go to Scalefour North ( it’s nearer to me). I enjoyed the show, great standard of layouts, friendly demonstrators and great trade support. I managed to buy a good number of things that I “needed” and I learnt a few new things to try out. My, hopefully constructive, comment about the venue would be that there was very little signage - I wasn’t even sure that I had the correct door to the hall at first! Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leander Posted September 10, 2018 Author Share Posted September 10, 2018 It was my first visit to an EM show - although I do go to Scalefour North ( it’s nearer to me). I enjoyed the show, great standard of layouts, friendly demonstrators and great trade support. I managed to buy a good number of things that I “needed” and I learnt a few new things to try out. My, hopefully constructive, comment about the venue would be that there was very little signage - I wasn’t even sure that I had the correct door to the hall at first! Jon Pleased to read your comments and to hear you enjoyed the show. For your information, A4 sized printed signs were put up on the outside entrance to the venue near Reception and on the end wall adjacent to the rather small unprepossessing entrance door. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 I had fun trying to find my way from Partington to the outside world but managed eventually. Damn good show, by the way. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted September 10, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 10, 2018 I had fun trying to find my way from Partington to the outside world but managed eventually. Damn good show, by the way. Chris So does everybody who lives there! Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Devil Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 I had fun trying to find my way from Partington to the outside world but managed eventually. Damn good show, by the way. Chris Wouldn't worry about that, most folk from Partytown have the same problem! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 So determined are the folk of Partington to escape that the good people of Irlam had to put containers across the old Partington line over the Ship Canal to keep the tide of Partington refugees out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 And diesel at £1.40 a litre. Ouch! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 £1.29 at Asda by the Trafford Centre, I wouldn't be paying Partington prices Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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