allan31956 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 As a York resident, I've not missed a show since 1977 and this year's show was one of the best. I also noticed that a certain EM layout was for sale. Does anyone have any contact details? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiesta Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Ha the English - we're good at queuing and good at moaning! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverlink Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Went on Sunday with friends arriving at 9-45am very helpful staff had us parked up close to main entrance (thanks lads) queue only small so got in after ten minutes. Layouts very good but have to agree with previous comment seemed to be quite a few with big landscapes & little track still good though. Favourites got to be Gresley Beat & '0' gauge was it 89G engine shed but again for sheer brilliant detail Peter Goss's 'Rowlands Castle'. What a nice guy, always willing to have a chat with you, hope you got your trees made Pete! As mentioned trade seemed down a bit but found some good specialist stands who were only to willing to give you advice. Thanks to Gary on 247 Developments, the guys on Digitrains and all on Dart Castings who managed to relieve me of some cash! Well done all at York look forward to seeing you next year. silverlink Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktuk159 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Hope these images appear - I'm still trying to work out how to do this correctly ! These first images are of Boot Station on the 3' gauge R&ER Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktuk159 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 7mm Scale Maristow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLD Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 As a York resident, I've not missed a show since 1977 and this year's show was one of the best. I also noticed that a certain EM layout was for sale. Does anyone have any contact details? I presume you mean Bonchester Bridge, Left hand side of the ground floor? If so, a PM to Pennine MC on the forum is your best way to make contact. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted April 9, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 9, 2012 7mm Scale Maristow I spot a Welsh Gibbon - John top be precise the joint owner of the O Gaude Ybyswbl Fach layout,.. spent today helping on Herculaneum Dock and catching up with old friends. Interesting listening to the public on the outside of the layout - it would appear that the statement "if it isn't RTR it can't exist" is common as people move away from building railways..... "you mean the track is hand made!!" I also heard something I had missed for may years -"Its not EM or P4 so it can't be any good"........ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted April 10, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 10, 2012 Copenhagen Fields Crumley & Little Wickhill Gresley Beat Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomag Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 The fact that last time you went you managed a refund because it was busy and not enough was moving for your (or your Mum's) liking suggest to me that there was always going to be something that was not good enough!!! I am not certain if that was a question or a statement. To misquote F. E. Smith on Churchill she is easily satisfied with well presented exhibitions and well run layouts. For people with limited mobility, walking 100m and queuing for up to 30 min is likely to leave them distressed or in pain. In this case neither of us would have enjoyed the visit if we had waited. We specifically avoided the first two and a half days to minimise this potential problem If there is plenty of parking I can see no reason not to dedicate parking within 50m of the entrance to disabled parking if that is needed to accommodate the demand. Also the issue with queues is not the length but how fast it is moving; a 100m queue moving at 10m a minute is no problem. A 25m queue moving at 1m every 6-8 minutes is, in my opinion, not acceptable. It may be that people who want to pay by card and take extra time or, given the larger number of families than mentioned on previous days, there were uncertainties in cost but that is no reason for a show of this size not to be able react to limit the build up of queues. Many people have diverse hobbies and interests; we had a thoroughly enjoyable time doing Plan B. The most successful preserved railways are normally the ones which can give the public an easily accessible 'experience'. Although I am no particular fan of the Bluebell and Severn valley railways they have skilfully organisation their 'package'. For exhibitions the Saturday morning rush of the modellers can be a problem; however, if a show wants to regularly attract families I would suggest they need to be accessible at other times. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Line Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 I am not certain if that was a question or a statement. For people with limited mobility, walking 100m and queuing for up to 30 min is likely to leave them distressed or in pain. In this case neither of us would have enjoyed the visit if we had waited. We specifically avoided the first two and a half days to minimise this potential problem If there is plenty of parking I can see no reason not to dedicate parking within 50m of the entrance to disabled parking if that is needed to accommodate the demand. Also the issue with queues is not the length but how fast it is moving; a 100m queue moving at 10m a minute is no problem. A 25m queue moving at 1m every 6-8 minutes is, in my opinion, not acceptable. It may be that people who want to pay by card and take extra time or, given the larger number of families than mentioned on previous days, there were uncertainties in cost but that is no reason for a show of this size not to be able react to limit the build up of queues. I was working the front traffic gate each day during the opening (7.45 to 10am) period so can speak first hand. Without exception the committee, stewards, exhibitors and traders were parked out of the public's way allowing visitors the nearest possible parking space dependent upon 'when they arrived'. The entire building frontage parking area inside the gates was dedicated for blue badge holders only. Space by the entrance doors is for emergency vehicles only....they take priority over everyone. well done to Malcolm and the York team, especially the 'brew crew' "I think he'd of been proud' cheers Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Line Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Is York the only three day show now? Ed COMM-RAIL Poynton - 7-9 DECEMBER/2012 cheers Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium t-b-g Posted April 10, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 10, 2012 Some very strange comments on here! A railway modelling exhibition, organised for many years by Mike Cook, who was a very good modeller in his own right. I think it is fairly natural that the show reflects Mike's own interests and those of the team he has worked with for quite a while. Are there really people, who want to travel to a show, pay to get in and then look at RTR stuff on trade stands? I am frankly astonished! I can do that for free at several model shops. There are plenty of exhibitions, some very large ones, where there is plenty of RTR on show, either on layouts or on trade stands. But I (and I suspect many others) would much rather go to a show to look at what people have made, rather than what they have bought. Looking at the layouts at York, it is a long time since I visited a show with so much modelling on display. I didn't get to see all the layouts (I was supposed to be working!!) but all the ones I looked at seemed to be running mostly kit built or scratchbuilt locos and stock. Perhaps this is why there was so little modern image stuff there, as it doesn't often (I know there are exceptions) feature kit and scratchbuilt locos and stock. I know that everybody is entitled to their own viewpoint and not everybody wants the same things from a show as I do but I reckon that York was one of the best shows I have been to for quite a while. That goes for layouts, demos and trade. So Mike Cook's 50th and last show was right up there with the best. I wish his team all the best for the future and I hope they put on many more shows just as good as this one was! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stuartp Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Went on the Monday and had a fantastic time, despite having to try to do the lot in 2 hours (this being the limit of wife's and 3 yr old's attention span). Gary at 247 even managed to separate me from some cash. I'd like to apologise to the operators of Herculaneum Dock though, the shouts of 'Rubbish' coming from said 3 yr old while you were dealing with some electrical glitch weren't aimed at you, they were aimed at me because I wouldn't let him have an ice cream. You looked a bit too busy to try to explain at the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLD Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Having spent the last three days in the cockpit of the Stealth Bomber, I thought that from an exhibitors perspective it was a really good weekend with that undefinable atmosphere that makes a show so enjoyable (even more so than recent York shows). A fine demonstration of Mike Cook's organisational skills and a fitting tribute to the man himself, such a shame he didn't quite make it, but I'm sure he would have been keeping a eye on us from above. As for comments about the content of the show, remember this was always planned by Mike as a special for the 50th show, including many popular layouts from previous years returning. On the trade side, the only obvious weak area I noticed was N-gauge R-T-R, caused by the late withdrawal of a trader due to ill health... R.I.P. Cap'n Cook, you will be a hard act to follow... Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 A big thank you to all the organisers. I had a great 3 days exhibiting Chris Hewitt's Angelbank, lots of nice comments and questions from the public, was nice being alongside the Cardiff lads with Ynysybwl. we set up early on the Friday, as its a small layout it doesnt take long to set up then we went round the NRM, had a good few hours there and Chris had some luck in the NRM archive for his new project, then went off to sample York's real ale pubs and yorkshire fish n chips I had plenty of time over the weekend to have a good look at all the layouts, every one was superb! i bought all the bits and bobs I wanted from 247, squires etc and bought a new Bachmann ROD at a bargain price from Tower models. highlight had to be the Sunday evening exhibitors social in the NRM, superb food and drink, walking round the hall in the evening with the Hull lads and admiring city of Truro outside simmering away in the dark, a huge thank you to all those who organised that. Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 I am not certain if that was a question or a statement. To misquote F. E. Smith on Churchill she is easily satisfied with well presented exhibitions and well run layouts. For people with limited mobility, walking 100m and queuing for up to 30 min is likely to leave them distressed or in pain. In this case neither of us would have enjoyed the visit if we had waited. We specifically avoided the first two and a half days to minimise this potential problem If there is plenty of parking I can see no reason not to dedicate parking within 50m of the entrance to disabled parking if that is needed to accommodate the demand. Also the issue with queues is not the length but how fast it is moving; a 100m queue moving at 10m a minute is no problem. A 25m queue moving at 1m every 6-8 minutes is, in my opinion, not acceptable. It may be that people who want to pay by card and take extra time or, given the larger number of families than mentioned on previous days, there were uncertainties in cost but that is no reason for a show of this size not to be able react to limit the build up of queues. Many people have diverse hobbies and interests; we had a thoroughly enjoyable time doing Plan B. The most successful preserved railways are normally the ones which can give the public an easily accessible 'experience'. Although I am no particular fan of the Bluebell and Severn valley railways they have skilfully organisation their 'package'. For exhibitions the Saturday morning rush of the modellers can be a problem; however, if a show wants to regularly attract families I would suggest they need to be accessible at other times. Your experience of parking was unfortunate. I'll admit I didn't volunteer to go outside on a wet Monday! One til two on Saturday I had 4 disabled parking places available, and an instruction if it did fill up use the cross hatch area immediately across from the entrance to the disabled car parking. I only had one disabled parker come in during my hour. Sunday is, as is well known, the quiet day at York. Monday I suspect more of the reserved parking was taken by traders vans etc. as they would need to be on site for a get away, whereas Saturday and Sunday some, at least, park near their accomodation. I also helped disabled go through the car entrance to the site, which is easier than the main pedestrian entrance. Queues were very variable, on Monday there was none by 10.20 (I was internal door steward) but at 11.15 the queue stretched through the main site entrance - presumably a bus had arrived. Monday also seemed to have more families - this is what is variable about York, the weather dictates whether locals go to the beach or moors/dales or go to a local venue - so a wettish Monday saw Yorkies coming in. I understand attendance every day was greater than last year. It may have seemed less crowded as most of the bottlenecks were removed by careful floor planning (although there was a mistake made on the first floor mezzanine). What would be great would be for York to have a venue in town, but there is nothing suitable. The Council and developers seem incapable of getting agreement on what to do with the largest brown field development potential site in Europe - I've lived in York 17 years and there were plans for the site the first month I lived there! This is the back of the station, right over to the old Sugar works. A really big conference-music stadium & centre linked to the NRM would be brilliant but it looks like the stadium will be built out of town! In town the council just wants more and more small houses and flats. Paul Bartlett Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 I didnt take many pics, but here they are Stoke summit Herculaneum Angelbank Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted April 10, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 10, 2012 So Mike Cook's 50th and last show was right up there with the best. I wish his team all the best for the future and I hope they put on many more shows just as good as this one was! I have just have just hi- jacked my husbands computer to write this comment. Firstly, let me say that I am a railway widow as in as much my husbands time spent playing trains! But I do like a good exhibition, and in my opinion York is the very best. Mike Cook and his colleagues have done a stonking job and they should all be very proud of themselves! I too hope it will continue in the same vein. Regarding the comment about trade stalls, I am in total agreement with the person whose quote I have hooked onto. My husband took me to Ally Pally exhibition and apart from one layout, I found it totally boring for the huge amount of trade stalls scattered around in huge abandon. If you want to shop, go to a shop !!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 I have just have just hi- jacked my husbands computer to write this comment. Firstly, let me say that I am a railway widow as in as much my husbands time spent playing trains! But I do like a good exhibition, and in my opinion York is the very best. Mike Cook and his colleagues have done a stonking job and they should all be very proud of themselves! I too hope it will continue in the same vein. Regarding the comment about trade stalls, I am in total agreement with the person whose quote I have hooked onto. My husband took me to Ally Pally exhibition and apart from one layout, I found it totally boring for the huge amount of trade stalls scattered around in huge abandon. If you want to shop, go to a shop !!!! Maybe we're slightly missing the point, or two to be more precise. I agree the primary role is to showcase the output of the hobby, and York did this in outstanding fashion this year, and we can all thank the organisers for a job extremely well done. I'm maybe guessing but I suspect that the foundations which shaped the event were largely down to Mike's planning and a super job it was, he'll be sadly missed. The trade has always been an integral part of any show, giving many who have limited access to model shops, at least the kind which provide the smaller items, kits etc, an opportunity to stock up in one hit. My "local" model shop for this type of thing is 80+ miles away and there will be others even worse. RTR items seem to be dominating this discussion, and I'd agree that they are probably the least of most people's concerns on this front, the things most people want to see are the smaller parts which are harder to judge from photos or which you actually want to talk to the vendor about, these are the things most folks want to see at exhibitions. RTR items are reviewed to death in the press and on various websites so it's easy to judge whether they're good, bad or indifferent. Specialist items are less well covered and it's usually a great benefit to be able to talk to someone and see them for yourself at first hand. Of course the trade play a much more important role in the eyes of the organisers, a source of revenue and an attraction for just those visitors who are unable to access the retail trade except via the internet. Without them, most shows would be unviable, and given the cost of staging a show like York, I suspect this is one which would be unsustainable, not something which we would want to contemplate. Face it, the trade is an important element in the mix of attractions which make a good show, Ally Pally has been quoted as being too heavily trade biased and as I've never been, I can't comment, but I firmly believe York has generally been good at getting the mix right and the balance does need to be maintained if we are to still be talking about York as the oldest of the big shows in 10, 25, even another 50 years time. I wonder what the trade line-up will look like in 2062? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted April 11, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 11, 2012 Got back last night. Enjoyed the show although very strange being there without Mike. With my Show Information Team hat on Keeping you informed over the weekend - This year we posted updates onto facebook as being away from home with the lap-top running on the SLS stand I had no wi-fi access but facebook can be done instantly by mobile phone. If you haven't already added the link that will be repeated next year too. Bus link - Not sure what went wrong with the bus link this year but the issue was posted on facebook as soon as we were made aware and it is noted for follow up action. However please note this link is supplied by a third party commerical operator and not by YMRS. I did recieve some independently supplied updated info' by email but it was not sent to us until 21:40 on the Monday - nearly five hours after the show closed!!! Lost property - almost everything handed in was reunited with the owner so only five items were left at the show end and those are now with the Racecourse Office. Sat nav errors - Complaint made over the weekend about attendees getting lost on route and ending up in a housing estate. For next year please note the address on the posters is clearly stated as being that for obtaining advance tickets it is NOT the postcode for the Racecourse venue which is correctly given on the Show website. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butler Henderson Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Amazing - presumably the same people who follow a sat nav down a dead end farm track - never realised the racecourse was small and unsigned !!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Hat Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Hello all My first visit to York and I thought the mix between trade stands selling the various stock compared to layouts was spot on. I like how there was the very highly reputable companies in attendance, each selling the best products, from shops hard to visit, or catalogues online, at the best prices to the public. Layout selection I thought was both good and bad. There were some marvellous big layouts, some with depth and some with action. Gresley Beet and Stoke summit were both similar in terms of stock but also in operation, but were both interesting. I liked some of the novelty layouts more, the GWR broad gauge O gauge was one that was different as too was the one set during WWII for the mix of engines and stock being used. Best locomotive seen was a small industrial tank on the brewery themed 00 gauge layout. Was slightly disapointing to see no real modern image, although did notice the odd Diesel layout there. Nothing of sectorisation or privitisation there. Got the feel that this was an established show, featuring established themes of traditional modelling, ie steam transition period anagloue layouts. Despite being in York - didnt see one NER machine turn a wheel. Venue was sensational, with brilliant facilites. Organisation and stewards were freindly, clear and helpful. Price seemed fair and loved the stools for the kids to borrow/hire. No doubt will return in the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Looking at the layouts at York, it is a long time since I visited a show with so much modelling on display. I didn't get to see all the layouts (I was supposed to be working!!) but all the ones I looked at seemed to be running mostly kit built or scratchbuilt locos and stock. Perhaps this is why there was so little modern image stuff there, as it doesn't often (I know there are exceptions) feature kit and scratchbuilt locos and stock. I agree with the level of modelling on display - York isn't a show with layouts displaying parades of untouched RTR! I suspect that the layouts on show reflected what appealled to Mike Cook - he was very much a modeller so 'proper modelling' would have appealled I suspect. Maybe this is why D&E subjects haven't featured as much? It could be that as you say some people put less work into layouts set in this era and three road TMD layouts are just boring and unconvincing in my opinion! Previous years have attracted comments of 'anti-modern' sentiments at York but despite having had a huge 'battle' to get DEMU's space extended from 6' to 12' I think there was an appreciation of good modelling regardless of era! (The stand's extension was willingly granted once it was shown it would be filled with modelling!) As an aside, I think to produce D&E modelling to a high standard requires just as much effort, and more in some cases, than steam era modelling. I base that on my split of 1990s and circa 1913 modelling! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted April 11, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 11, 2012 Just got back from York about half an hour ago having extended our visit to do the tourist thing -a comfortable five hours to get back compared with a grissly seven and half to get up there! We had a great weekend. I thought the show was superb with some fantastic layouts. We managed to get a good look around on monday as I had my chief operator, Kim, back from helping out the previous two days making kits with the kiddies. As an exhibitor, the organisation, food and accomodation was first class and we would certainly do it again. Thanks to all my guest operators who helped over the weekend, particularly the extras I knabbed at the last minute due to Kim not being around for most of saturday and sunday. Visiting locos turning up on Highbury is becoming a bit of a tradition at shows now and the weekend was one of the most varied we have had with some realy beautiful locos doing a turn on the North Somerset over the weekend - we also did a little bit of exchange running with Copenhagan Fields. I will be adding some photos to my thread and the CF thread in the 2mm section over the next few days so watch this space. Jerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterl Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Thank you for your comments, all will be considered before the 51st Show, now less than 51 weeks away! The number of visitors was up over last year but we haven't worked out the financial position yet! This was a special Show organised by Mike before he passed away. Just hope 'the team' can keep up the standard. Again many thanks for visiting the 50th York show and suporting us. Peter For the Friends of the York Model Railway Show Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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