Wigan Model Railway Exhibition 2010

[Eaton]

I think you are doing the organisers a great dis service there, the whole point of the exhibition date is that it doesn't clash with a home match, I think they are aware of the folly of that.

 

This is always a problem and a clash or not is really a matter of luck. All our layouts, trade, accomodation and the hall are all booked well before the football fixtures are published in July.

The possibility of staging an exhibition in the better weather in September / October or April / May / June at this moment sounds very attractive but there are not as many free weeks as you might imagine. However it may be something the Exhibition Management may look into in the Post Exhibition aftermath.

On the weather front we do know that there are serious problems particularly for layouts coming from the north and east and no doublt they and our Exhibition Manager will be in close contact over the next few days. We are in the lap of the Gods. However in Wigan the sun, although weak, continues to shine. The real difficulties, as we are all to well aware are elsewhere.

We will try and keep everyone posted with developments as they unfold. What is certain is that the Exhibition is going ahead.

[vitalspark]

We are hoping to have the group meet tonight at the clubrooms and start the preparation. Things are still very difficult up here and one of our problemsn is our club is located semi rural and while normally an advantage for travelling at the moment its quite the reverse.

 

I have just received a kind offer of help from a fellow RMweb member which is greatly appreciated however its really a matter of access to premises rather than bodies..thanks very much all the same.

 

As said hoping to make progress tonight..still planning to travel at moment.

 

btw..my comments re the Wigan fc fixtures are I think valid.

I known the organisers will do their best to avoid clashing but fixtures change and a couple of years ago we were down by train visiting when Wigan were at home to Blackburn. There were battles in the station and police and dogs everywhere.

We were herded onto a train to Preston with about a thousand others to clear the platforms and had to make arrangements for connections there...never again.

 

Its just such a pity that the venue is where it is as the Wigan show is rightly regarded as one of the best shows in the UK..imo.. it is the best and certainly has the highest quality exhibits. You don`t need to attend specialist finescale shows..just come to Wigan.

So.. apart from the venue well done to the organisers and keep up the standard.

 

Dave

 

Dave

[Richard_S]

 

[

I for one think there is a lot to be said for more shows being scheduled for late Spring ..there are big gaps in the calendar around May/June so why not spread the shows more evenly and make it easier on everyone..remember if the weather is that bad the public will stay away too...it might also avoid clashing with a home game for Wigan FC..which I`m sure is also a deterent for many.

 

 

 

Its worth pointing out the DW Stadium is also home to the Wigan Warriors Rugby League team, whose season now runs from February to September and who attract the same size crowds as their football counterparts, around 15,000 average attendance. Data taken from the respective club websites.

 

I don't think there is an easy answer to this one and if you are unable to make it you have my sympathy; we in the 'other' WFRM missed our weekend away in Darlington because of the weather. For those of you who do make it to Wigan I feel sure your journey will have been worth it.

[RedgateModels]

I for one think there is a lot to be said for more shows being scheduled for late Spring ..there are big gaps in the calendar around May/June so why not spread the shows more evenly and make it easier on everyone..remember if the weather is that bad the public will stay away too...

 

Speaking as one of the organising committee for the Mansfield Show - we took a bit of a hit on numbers this year and one of the factors was probably the switch to a later date in April. The weekend was lovely and warm and the feeling is that a LOT of locals went to the park etc etc instead of visiting the show.

 

There's a lot to be said for a cold gloomy weekend with nothing else to do - two foot of snow excepted of course

[Enterprisingwestern]

This is always a problem and a clash or not is really a matter of luck. All our layouts, trade, accomodation and the hall are all booked well before the football fixtures are published in July.

The possibility of staging an exhibition in the better weather in September / October or April / May / June at this moment sounds very attractive but there are not as many free weeks as you might imagine. However it may be something the Exhibition Management may look into in the Post Exhibition aftermath.

On the weather front we do know that there are serious problems particularly for layouts coming from the north and east and no doublt they and our Exhibition Manager will be in close contact over the next few days. We are in the lap of the Gods. However in Wigan the sun, although weak, continues to shine. The real difficulties, as we are all to well aware are elsewhere.

We will try and keep everyone posted with developments as they unfould. What is certain is that the Exhibition is going ahead.

 

My apologies to Dave, I erroneously assumed a inside feed, I see it was just luck.

[Eaton]

My apologies to Dave, I erroneously assumed a inside feed, I see it was just luck.

If only we had the influence you assumed, life would be somewhat easier.

 

We have recently been informed that 'Gala Water' from the East Kilbride MRC is unable to make the journey which reduces the layout list to 39, still a big show. We also know of another Scottish layout in difficulties who are making a decision this evening if they can manage to get to the layout. Will keep all Rmwebbers updated.

 

As to the football, moving dates and the venue all that can be said is that nothing is completely perfect. If we moved dates we would have to avoid any of the large national shows as we attract the same trade and similar layouts. So that means we would need to be at least 2 weeks away from York, Doncaster, Manchester, Wakefield, Ally Pally, Warley, Peterborough, Glasgow and Railex. We would also need to avoid smaller shows in our own area, such as Leigh, Warrington, Southport, Preston, Macclesfield and Blackburn. I am sure there will other shows that would not wish us to encroach on their week that I have overlooked. Please forgive any ommision. This hastily put together list numbers 15, so that removes 30 weeks out of a possible 36. Take out the holiday period of December and early January and you can now see the problem.

As to the football, to solve this problem we would have to move venue, or trust to luck and the fact that if the Latics play on our Saturday, that leaves Sunday free.

As to the venue which we admit has some short comings, access, public catering, and car parking being acknowledged, it also has many advantages. Firstly the size, we could if we so wished hold an exhibition with 60 layouts without having to resort to using only small exhibits. There are three halls, we use the largest and the smallest. It is very flexible and suitable for further development. Whilst the public catering may still need improvement the catering for exhibitors is superb. But most importantly is the relationship we have with the centre, built up over a period of years. Being such a small organising band ( there only 9 off us, although like the mafia we are drawing in to this team members of the WirralFRM) we need to be confident that venue will be completely supportive and aware of our needs and those of our exhibitors and traders, and in this respect they are faultless.

The final consideration would be financial as the risk we nine take is considerable. Could we afford a different venue of a similar size, if indeed there is one. If we moved weeks how would that affect our supportive traders. Would our attendance increase or decrease. At the moment we have December very much to ourselves ( there may well be a reason for that) but I have been involved with exhibitions in Wigan in December for 31 years and only once before has the weather been a problem, causing an early close to the exhibition in 1981. True it was a close call last year and it is not ideal this year, but such is life. Visitors will still see a quality exhibition with the largest number of layouts in the Northwest, they will just have to understand that it may be physically impossible for some layouts to get here, but there will still be many that do and well worth seeing.

We very much hope that our regular visitors will stay supportive and make every effort to attend, to enjoy the layouts, to learn and wonder at the demonstrators, to gain information from the specialist societies and to buy from the trade. Your attendance would be very much appreciated.

[woodenhead]

Only 39 layouts, well that's it, I don't think it's worth 30 minutes in the car to the free car park on a slightly chilly day.

 

I do like the fact you have a 'spare hall', perhaps you could save on exhibitor accommodation and put some camp beds in. Promise free pies and ale and I am sure a lot of them will jump at the chance

 

That said, for those up in Scotland clearly it is a different matter and I wouldn't want to make light of their situation, so it's fingers crossed that some of our Scottish exhibitors do find the situation conducive to travel but at the end of the day it is just a model railway and not worth risking life and limb.

[Coombe Barton]

I'm coming up on the Saturday with a stocked wallet. It's the finescale that attracts.

[87023Velocity]

For those of you who may be travelling quite a distance to Wigan, you can check on the Highways Agency website for realtime information regards traffic flow, hold-ups and also view the cctv images which are located at various places along most major motorways, these are usually updated every 10 seconds or so.

Highways Agengy Traffic Info

 

These are for motorways and certain major A roads only. It does not show local road information for example if travelling in from Bolton, Leigh etc using the local roads.

 

Cheers

 

Simon

[Mike Turner]

STOP PRESS!!!

 

Simon Howard of Darlington Model Railway Club will now be on hand demonstrating the dark arts of DCC.

 

Mike

[russellwar]

A quick question, is there plenty of parking at the venue?

[Savoyard]

Last year I parked on the Retail Park car park next to the venue, from memory there was no restriction except I think on match days.

 

Peter

[newbryford]

There is a simple solution to the football/rugby/shopping issue.....

 

Arrive before the match crowds - say before 1030am, before the main shopping crowds descend and then leave at 4.30pm, just before the footy crowd kicks out!

 

Looking forward to taking Blackmill to Wigan back since it was there 3-4 years ago - it's now much longer/wider and noisier!!

 

Cheers,

Mick

[Southernman46]

There is a simple solution to the football/rugby/shopping issue.....

 

Arrive before the match crowds - say before 1030am, before the main shopping crowds descend and then leave at 4.30pm, just before the footy crowd kicks out!

 

Looking forward to taking Blackmill to Wigan back since it was there 3-4 years ago - it's now much longer/wider and noisier!!

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

 

Absolutely sensible advice - it beggers me why people get worked up about issues such as "clashes with football matches etc" - no doubt the post show posts will contain the usual "lack of chairs" moans too. The fact is that people work really hard to put these shows on and there are many facets that they have no control over and the rest of us should appreciate that and be prepared or modifiy our plans to suit............anyway........... planning to travel up from Wilts by XC trains and based on last year am really looking forward to the show

[Sam - WFRM ADMIN]

A quick question, is there plenty of parking at the venue?

 

 

 

on our website we have a plan marking all the FREE parking and also other car parks that can be used.

 

http://www.wiganfrm....n/parking_.html

 

the GREEN areas are FREE parking

 

YELLOW areas are restricted parking and you may have to pay

 

RED areas are NO PARKING as you will get clamped!

 

why not print off a copy and bring it with you to the show. as that way you will know which are the FREE car parks.

 

i would also advise getting there early to avoid not finding a FREE place to park.

[Nobby (John)]

- it's now much longer/wider and noisier!!

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

 

Is that the layout or the operator!!!

 

see you Tomorrow evening Mick........

[Eaton]

Unfortunately 'Alloa', travelling from Kirkintilloch in Scotland has had to pull out of the exhibition. The decision was taken late last night after a valiant attempt to dig the layout out of its storage. Snow and Ice finally defeated them. We down here on the Wigan Riviera really appreciate your efforts and I believe our Exhibition Manager has invited 'Alloa' for 2011. We hope to see you then.

 

The weather down here is warmer today which should remove the last of the icy footpaths.

Will keep everyone informed of any new developments, but we are off to collect the lorry to bring the barrier and all our gear to the Sports Centre ready for set up tomorrow.

[LNWR lives on]

Come weather, football matches, pay for parking (do not agree but it is the age we live in) whatever, I do not give a monkey’s

 

This will be my first time going to Wigan and everything I have read which is written in a positive manner is not just positive but glowing, discount the negative as it is 9/10 the same complaints each time

 

I for one salute the Wigan nine (and the additional mafia support) and I am thoroughly looking forward to the show

 

Great effort Gents, see you Saturday!!

[Sam - WFRM ADMIN]

Come weather, football matches, pay for parking (do not agree but it is the age we live in) whatever, I do not give a monkey’s

 

This will be my first time going to Wigan and everything I have read which is written in a positive manner is not just positive but glowing, discount the negative as it is 9/10 the same complaints each time

 

I for one salute the Wigan nine (and the additional mafia support) and I am thoroughly looking forward to the show

 

Great effort Gents, see you Saturday!!

 

 

 

Thanks for your positive words..... but just one thing i need to point out....... yes there are 9 wigan members and help from the Wirral Lads. but speaking as part of the Wigan FRM and part of the 9 who put on the exhibition..... they are not all men....... maybe this is just a general assumption but myself who is in charge of all the Admin and the Website am actually female!!!!...... (i know it comes as a shock to many people)!

 

i get digs at all the shows as Wigan have a female member in their club!......

 

but with all that said..... enjoy the show!

[Eaton]

ANOTHER UPDATE

 

Our sponsor 'British Railway Modelling' will not have their stand as usual at this years exhibition. Not a problem with the weather but more a staffing problem. So there will be a missing Stand 51 and you will not be able to buy the 2011 BRM Annual. Rather disappointing.

Hopefully Tony Wright and John Emerson will still be demonstrating.

 

Now that space has become available the Merseyside OO9 Group have enlarged their stand and Stan Williams and Roger Christian, both regulars at the Wigan Exhibition, are bringing, as we understand it a layout that is at least part operable.

 

There is a steady drizzle falling at the moment and the temperature is well above freezing. Much more typical of Wigan in December.

 

All our gear is at the Sports Arena ready for set up tomorrow. If you are coming over the weekend please follow the BROWN SIGNS TO ROBIN PARK, they are all over the Borough. As you get near the venue you should pick up the 'MODEL RAIL SHOW' signs with a little black loco on them. These will direct you to the Sports Arena passing on the way all the car parks.

[Mr.S.corn78]

 

There is a steady drizzle falling at the moment and the temperature is well above freezing. Much more typical of Wigan in December.

 

 

After the past 14 days of sub zero temps over here in Darlington thats positively tropical in Wigan ;)

 

Looking forward to the show, as has been mentioned i will be there practising the 'dark arts'

 

If you have any questions that you would like answering or if there is some aspect that you cant just quite get your head around please stop by and i will do my best to help.

 

see you all at the show

 

cheers

Simon

[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]

I live on the Costa del Skelmersdale about 7 miles from the venue.

 

As has been already stated the weather has improved today, a fine drizzle and a balmy 5 deg C.

 

Regarding the posts about the exhibition, as a regular visitor to latics home matches, the crowds they are getting at the moment, would hardly fill the car park, I have also never witnessed any violence in or around the stadium either before or after matches.

 

This is a very good, well organised exhibition with plenty of room to walk around and view the layouts on show and a good selection of traders to take your money.

 

I shall be there on Sunday, as I have an appointment in Manchester on Saturday with some fellow Falklands Veterans and a few stalls at the Christmas Market (mainly those proffering liquid refreshment)

 

Shame that some exhibitors have had to cancel because of the weather, perfectly understandable for their safety and the safety of the layout, but, I don't think that will detract from a great list of layouts on display.

 

Thanks to all the guys AND Gal for Wigan for working so hard to make this a excellent annual event.

[ScRSG]

As a member of the group who hoped to bring "Alloa" down to the show, can I please express our exasperation and disappointment about having to pull out of this years event. We managed to clear a path through the snow on Sunday last and hoped that would give us a chance at preparing the layout for transit. We cleared a depth of nearly two feet of snow that day, only to see it replaced just as thickly by the incredible fall of snow on Monday morning, which has caused absolute chaos in this part of the country. This would have meant that we would have had to go out on Wednesday evening to clear all that again, working in temperatures of about minus twelve degrees and then dismantle the layout and carry it to another location suitable for van loading on the Friday. I regret that this was just not feasible.

 

Once again can I state our disappointment at being unable to attend and we appreciate your understanding of our situation and we will certainly try and attend next year. (weather permitting!!!)

[Eaton]

As a member of the group who hoped to bring "Alloa" down to the show, can I please express our exasperation and disappointment about having to pull out of this years event. We managed to clear a path through the snow on Sunday last and hoped that would give us a chance at preparing the layout for transit. We cleared a depth of nearly two feet of snow that day, only to see it replaced just as thickly by the incredible fall of snow on Monday morning, which has caused absolute chaos in this part of the country. This would have meant that we would have had to go out on Wednesday evening to clear all that again, working in temperatures of about minus twelve degrees and then dismantle the layout and carry it to another location suitable for van loading on the Friday. I regret that this was just not feasible.

 

Once again can I state our disappointment at being unable to attend and we appreciate your understanding of our situation and we will certainly try and attend next year. (weather permitting!!!)

 

We really appreciate all the efforts you put into trying to get to Wigan and fully understand that in these circumstances there is only so much you can do before the task just becomes impossible. We would love to see 'Alloa' next year and we will order the good weather down here if you will do the same north of the border.

[Alex]

looking forward to the show,

will be there saturday, taking my grandson to his 1st exhibition so wallet is going to get a good thumping