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Chiltern Model Railway Exhibition - Stevenage 11/12 Jan 2020


adrianmc
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An unfortunate thing to ask, but is everyone who attended on Sunday feeling ok?

 

I've just had a rather explosive stomach upset, and the only thing I can think of that I ate yesterday that the other members of the household didn't was a steak bake from the exhibition.

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We had a very enjoyable day at the exhibition on Sunday. Parking easy, at £2 all day very good value and next to the exhibition venue, which is very good, even carpet under foot!

 

The layouts were all of an overall good standard, some excellent and our party managed to find a few things to buy.

 

Lunch was at Wetherspoon's, a very short walk from the venue as catering wasn't as good as at some exhibitions.

 

We'll done for a very good show and hope to attend next year.

 

Paul

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7 hours ago, ELTEL said:

Perhaps a visit to the Stafford Railway Circles Exhibition on Saturday & Sunday 1st & 2nd February should be a exhibition that we believe has a good mix of both specialist traders and a few box shifters.

 

We try very hard to accommodate the smaller trader and often turn down box shifters as we want to try to appeal to all.

 

Please see our list of Exhibits & Traders full details and pictures of ALL the layouts attending. PLUS FREE CAR PARKING FOE 2000 cars and free complimentary preserved buses from Stafford Stn on both days

 

PUT A DATE IN YOUR DIARY NOW 1st & 2nd FEBRUARY 2020 

 

Full details are on our website www.staffordrailwaycircle.org.uk/exhibition 

 

But to wet your appetite please see below.

 

Exceptional Value at £10 admission YES £10

No Charge for accompanied Children under 16

Free Preserved bus service from Stafford station on both days

Free car parking for around 2000 cars 

Includes show guide while stock last 

 

Layouts

ADDISON PARK 3mm

ALDGATE HILL & NORTON FOLGATE 3mm

APPLETON JUNCTION OO

AVYN-A-LLYIN OO9

BILLTON GOODS  3mm

BLUISH 3mm

BURDALE QUARRY O

CANALSIDE IRONWORKS 9mm

COLINTON P4

DACONBY TOWN 3mm

DEADMANS LANE OO

DUNCRIEVIE FUELLING POINT EM

EFFINGHAM STREET OO/OO9 

EVINGTON ST JOHNOO

FARMERS DROVEN

FOXHAMPTON OO

FRANKLIN I/2"

FRIARSGATE DEPOT OO

GRAVELLY OAK N

HARLYN PIER O

HEWISBRIDGEOO

HEYBRIDGE WHARF 3mm

HOGSMEAD ON SODOR OO

HOPE UNDER DINMORE EM

KINLET ROAD SHED OO

LINDHURST 3mm

NEUBURG HO

NINE MILLS N

PORTWAY - WESSEX TRAINS OO

ROLLESTON-ON-DOVE EM

ROLVENDEN P4

ROSSISTER RISE OO

SOUTH TOWN OO

SMALLWOOD Oo

UNDER THE CHANDELIER OO/HO

UPPER CWMTWYCH N

UPPINGHAM 3mm

WESTCLIFF BREWERY OO

WHITEACRES OO The club layout for the first time will be running BR Steam & Green Diesels 

WHITECROSS STREET OO

WICKWAR N

 

Traders

Along Classic Lines

Booklaw

Brushes 4 Models

C & L Finescale 

Country Park Models

D & E Videos DC Kits

Digitrains

Eileens Emporium

Elaines Trains

Footplate

Gramodels

Grainge and Hodder

Greenscene

Grimy Times

H & A Models

Handbourn Cabinets

Hanham Hobbies / ATP

Hobby Holidays 

Invertrain Model Railways

KS Laser Designs

Loco Fleet Shop

Locomotion Models NEW 

Made in Manchester Models NEW

Megapoints Controllers

MMRG Exclusives Ltd NEW 

Modellers Mecca

N Brass Loco

Nick Tozer Books

Petite Properties

Railroom Electronics

Severn Models

Scale Model Scenery NEW 

Shawplan

Skytrex

Stevenson Carriages

Sweets of Yesteryear

Talylln Railway (East Midlands)

Ten Commandmaents

The Model Tree Shop

Tools 2000

Topp Trains

Train - Tech

TTC Diecast

Wrenn Specialist

 

Demonstrators

David Wright

Tony Wright

3mm Society

Chris Hewitt

MERG

MIOG

 

Club Stands

York MRC

Warley MRC

Leamington and Warwick MRC

Alsager MRC

Sutton Coldfield MRC

Macclesfield MRC

Bala Lake Railway

 

News update to follow.........

 

 

 

 

 

I think that your list of traders clearly indicates that this local show isn't attractive/viable for the majority of the specialist kit suppliers despite the benefits you outline. For those "scale independent" suppliers of tools and materials such as Greenscene, C&L, Eileens, Hobby Holidays, etc. then there is presumably sufficient trade to justify attending. However, with the exception of Stevenson Carriages and DC KIts I can't see any of the usual kit and specialist bits suppliers such as Brassmasters, Alan Gibson, LRM, Roxey, PPP, High Level, Mousa Models, etc.

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14 hours ago, bart2day said:

 

What’s wrong with St Albans? It is a much nicer city than Stevenage and has good road and rail connection. Furthermore there are no other model railway exhibitions or model shops along the southern section of the MML compared to many on the WCML and ECML making it unique. The organisers should have just found a bigger venue in the St Albans area rather than moving 15 miles away.

 

15 miles and you're complaining, really??

 

Mike.

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8 hours ago, Andymsa said:

 

As to venues places like the NEC and possibly ally pally could take a leaf from the great electric show and peterbourgh , no parking charges. But there is no perfect show but  if the negatives out way the positives that will now affect what shows to attend in the future. But one thing I really do notice is the younger generation are a minority who demonstrate at these shows which was really noticeable at this show.

I don't recall paying to park at Ally Pally. I am surprised that they don't charge here, given its location.

NEC parking is expensive. I can see why they charge: the car park is so big that a bus service is required, so someone has to pay for it & you can't really expect this who get there by rail or air to do so. Is the fee currently £16? That sounds very expensive for what it is, but it is the NEC who charge it, not the show.

There is simply nowhere else in the whole country which could manage to host a show of this size so the only option would be to move the show & make it smaller, but then it wouldn't be the Warley show we have come to know & expect.

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I didn't go to this show because I was too busy over the weekend - shame because there were a few layouts I would like to have seen.

 

Regarding small traders at shows. You have to consider that they will have to not be working (and therefore losing revenue) on the Friday before the exhibition and probably the Monday after. They will have the cost of getting to the show which may include hiring a van and possibly have to pay for two nights in a hotel. They may have to pay for an additional helper over the weekend or at their shop if they have one. Its not just the cost of the trade space at the show which is an issue. Many of these specialist suppliers are only just eking out a living and simply cannot afford the luxury of attending exhibitions.  I don't think you can blame show organisers or small traders for their absence from exhibitions - its just the economics of the situation.

 

Looking forward to Stafford in a few weeks. It is a very good show which is well worth visiting but it is not quite as perfect as suggested. Even the best of shows have some issues.  If it is wet then cars get stuck in the mud which looks a lot like grass until you put your car on it. I'm picky where I park but my brother got stuck a few years ago. Unless things have changed there isn't much in the way of phone signals in and around the halls which means trying to contact people you plan to meet is a pain as is buying anything by card from the trade stands. The exhibition centre owners really should get this sorted. Finally it goes very cold in the halls overnight. The heating is very effective and the temperature rises  quickly to a very comfortable level by opening time. This makes it great for exhibitors and visitors but I reckon some of the layouts get gremlins due to this sudden change in temperature. Nevertheless, always an excellent show and well worth a visit. Good bunch of lads running it as well.

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21 minutes ago, Pete the Elaner said:

I don't recall paying to park at Ally Pally. I am surprised that they don't charge here, given its location.

NEC parking is expensive. I can see why they charge: the car park is so big that a bus service is required, so someone has to pay for it & you can't really expect this who get there by rail or air to do so. Is the fee currently £16? That sounds very expensive for what it is, but it is the NEC who charge it, not the show.

There is simply nowhere else in the whole country which could manage to host a show of this size so the only option would be to move the show & make it smaller, but then it wouldn't be the Warley show we have come to know & expect.


I did say possibly ally pally, they are looking at introducing parking fees, see show thread. Actually I would say the Peterborough show is the same size as warley once you take out the space not used at warley

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2 minutes ago, Andymsa said:

Actually I would say the Peterborough show is the same size as warley once you take out the space not used at warley

 

Really! You must be attending a different show at either venue.

 

Can we keep the topic on the Stevenage show as this is their thread. It was already cheeky enough advertising another show within but this is too far off topic.

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Just now, Andymsa said:


Actually I would say the Peterborough show is the same size as warley once you take out the space not used at warley

It can feel like it when you are at the Peterborough show but walk into Warley & you get struck by how large it is. It is wider & goes back further.

Without a guide, I always get lost around Warley, trying to re-find a trader I bookmarked for something. I have never done this elsewhere.

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7 minutes ago, Chris M said:

I didn't go to this show because I was too busy over the weekend - shame because there were a few layouts I would like to have seen.

 

Regarding small traders at shows. You have to consider that they will have to not be working (and therefore losing revenue) on the Friday before the exhibition and probably the Monday after. They will have the cost of getting to the show which may include hiring a van and possibly have to pay for two nights in a hotel. They may have to pay for an additional helper over the weekend or at their shop if they have one. Its not just the cost of the trade space at the show which is an issue. Many of these specialist suppliers are only just eking out a living and simply cannot afford the luxury of attending exhibitions.  I don't think you can blame show organisers or small traders for their absence from exhibitions - its just the economics of the situation.

 

Looking forward to Stafford in a few weeks. It is a very good show which is well worth visiting but it is not quite as perfect as suggested. Even the best of shows have some issues.  If it is wet then cars get stuck in the mud which looks a lot like grass until you put your car on it. I'm picky where I park but my brother got stuck a few years ago. Unless things have changed there isn't much in the way of phone signals in and around the halls which means trying to contact people you plan to meet is a pain as is buying anything by card from the trade stands. The exhibition centre owners really should get this sorted. Finally it goes very cold in the halls overnight. The heating is very effective and the temperature rises  quickly to a very comfortable level by opening time. This makes it great for exhibitors and visitors but I reckon some of the layouts get gremlins due to this sudden change in temperature. Nevertheless, always an excellent show and well worth a visit. Good bunch of lads running it as well.


all very true regarding traders, I was just putting it in a very basic form. Or as one trader put it to me “I could be getting on with other things than sitting on my a**e” 

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1 hour ago, Chris M said:

I didn't go to this show because I was too busy over the weekend - shame because there were a few layouts I would like to have seen.

 

Regarding small traders at shows. You have to consider that they will have to not be working (and therefore losing revenue) on the Friday before the exhibition and probably the Monday after. They will have the cost of getting to the show which may include hiring a van and possibly have to pay for two nights in a hotel. They may have to pay for an additional helper over the weekend or at their shop if they have one. Its not just the cost of the trade space at the show which is an issue. Many of these specialist suppliers are only just eking out a living and simply cannot afford the luxury of attending exhibitions.  I don't think you can blame show organisers or small traders for their absence from exhibitions - its just the economics of the situation.

 

Looking forward to Stafford in a few weeks. It is a very good show which is well worth visiting but it is not quite as perfect as suggested. Even the best of shows have some issues.  If it is wet then cars get stuck in the mud which looks a lot like grass until you put your car on it. I'm picky where I park but my brother got stuck a few years ago. Unless things have changed there isn't much in the way of phone signals in and around the halls which means trying to contact people you plan to meet is a pain as is buying anything by card from the trade stands. The exhibition centre owners really should get this sorted. Finally it goes very cold in the halls overnight. The heating is very effective and the temperature rises  quickly to a very comfortable level by opening time. This makes it great for exhibitors and visitors but I reckon some of the layouts get gremlins due to this sudden change in temperature. Nevertheless, always an excellent show and well worth a visit. Good bunch of lads running it as well.

First of all thanks for your positive points about the Stafford Exhibition and for supporting us.

 

Regarding parking I would agree one year car parking due to the weather was a huge issue having had very cold weather after snow and it the temperature rise melted all the snow on the Friday prior to the exhibition.

 

Since that year the following has happened 

 

1. The Showground has extra draining added and more tarmac car parking.

2. More car park stewards helping you park 

3. Up until 3 years ago a large Antiques Fair was on the adjacent building the same weekend, this does not take place, so a lot more tarmac parking for our exhibition (about 2000 Free Spaces)

 

We have a club member with a Land Rover who is there assist you should you need it.

 

In the last two years I don’t believe we have towed anyone of site, other than flat batteries as they left lights on arrival.

 

But please Do park in the areas the car park marshals 

 

More importantly please enjoy the exhibition.

 

Kind regards 

 

Terry 

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10 hours ago, ELTEL said:

Perhaps a visit to the Stafford Railway Circles Exhibition on . . .

 

Is hijacking another exhibition thread to blatantly promote your own show in such detail not considered to be bad form and extremely rude?

 

Perhaps it smacks of desperation to get publicity at any cost. 

 

I suggest a little more respect for other exhibition organizers, please. 

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1 hour ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

, and some would prefer that.

 

Mike.


There is a clue in the name Warley 

 

Warley Club is based  just off J2 of the M5 so it’s members and other local clubs support the Warley Exhibition each year.

 

Yes the NEC has its issues but it is far the best exhibition venue in the UK

 

Terry 

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I thought it was a generally good exhibition. Plenty of variety in the layouts and a good selection of traders.  Well done CMRA.

 

Having pre-booked tickets, I stupidly forgot to bring them. The box office was very efficient as I was able to show them the receipt on my phone which enabled them to issue replacements.
 

We also dodged a bullet with the A1 traffic holdup, the accident which closed the road must have happened just a few minutes behind us. It was pretty serious, involving a rider & pillion on a motorcycle and two air ambulances. Hope they recover OK. 

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Well I had an excellent weekend at the show and, as usual, was very well looked after by the host club. I thought the selection of layouts and traders was good, stand out for me was Burntisland, in particular the magnificent roundhouse which is now pretty much complete.

 

many thanks to all those involved in organising and running the event.

 

Jerry

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1 minute ago, Bonafide said:

 

Is hijacking another exhibition thread to blatantly promote your own show in such detail not considered to be bad form and extremely rude?

 

Perhaps it smacks of desperation to get publicity at any cost. 

 

I suggest a little more respect for other exhibition organizers, please. 


I’m sorry you feel that way but as Chilterns Association Club member all I am doing is promoting another CMRA exhibition 


I am a supporter of Chilterns Association and Stafford Club is a member of the association and I personally look after the Chilterns Association’s Northern stores, which supports Warley, Derby, DEMU exhibitions.

 

Terry 

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16 hours ago, bart2day said:

 

Says the man who lists his location as being in... Stevenage! :scratch_one-s_head_mini:

 

And I would say the same, wherever I lived, facts are facts!

It is between 1 & 2 miles from the motorway junction to the venue, depending on which

direction you are coming from (north or south) will determine which junction you take,

and that will all be on dual carriageway roads (can St. Albans offer that?)

 

I will confess to living in Stevenage, but the show wasn't a deciding factor, I was here for

25 years before CMRA saw the light!

 

I also confess to being a member of the local club who assist in setting up, stewarding

and breaking down the show. I spent 11 hours there on Friday (only sitting down for lunch),

wandered round for 7 hours on Saturday (trying to look useful) and 12 hours yesterday, in

fact I was the last 'team member' to leave the venue at 8:15 (after helping organise the

loading of traders and exhibitors, as well as helping clear the hall and load the equipment).

 

Finally, the feedback from the traders that I spoke to was all positive, many saying they would

want to come again, and it had been worth it for them.

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As a layout exhibitor at the show my grateful thanks to all the CMRA organising team and army of volounteer helpers who made this weekend one of the best and friendliest shows you could hope to attend.

It is disappointing to read the negativity expressed on this page.  Reference back to St. Albans is a re-hash on grumbles expressed previously and largely irrelevant to to the actual CMRA 2020 exhibiton.  I have exhibited at St. Albans once and Stevenage twice, but as nice as the town of St. Albans is, I would not have exhibited at that venue a second time.

Of this years layout list, 'Johnstown Road' would be enough to get me running ten miles along the A1M to see it again. Likewise 'Burntisland' - superb,  at the other end of the size scale 'Freshwater'  and 'Heybridge Wharf ' are beautiful examples of skilled and attractive railway modelling. T o be honest, every layout in the show had very worthy and individual reasons to justify it's inclusion.

The trade support for this show was also very good and although I might not have been able to buy e.g. an etched '0' scale Highland Railway haggis van, had I wanted one, the spread of trade and association support was comprehensive and our thanks to them for the advice and help that they so freely give.

Steve W.

 

Edited by steve W
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