Great Central Model show

[Crantock]

Sorry Andy but this is the second time in a month that you have said "Good Show" but ££££££££££££££.

 

Both were within the area you live, some people have had travelling expense far greater than the cost you mentioned and just said "What a great day out".

Bit harsh, live and let live. "Good show" doesn't add much to the sum of human knowledge.

 

Personally I was cool with £5 once I knew it went to the gcr.

[Steve Purves]

Without sounding like a ‘me too’ I will add a few points and pictures…

 

I’ll start with the positives, Wow, was not expecting a show of this calibre for a ‘first’ effort. This is definitely a format to be reckoned with. The 9F looked superb (and I can confirm to the purists out there, despite the colour is still sounded and went like a 9F should, and the world didn’t end…) The event seemed busy but with a large number of people split between areas and on the trains it was never crowded (I was dreading going with my 15 month old son) and was able to get close to view everything. Certainly the model engineering area at Rothley could have been developed some more, this being my other interest. I was aware of the parking charge before I set off (only because a friend who went on Friday told me) so went to park on street at Loughborough as I was on a very tight budget. I only had my ticket checked once all day going into the marquee at Quorn. I encountered friendly positive staff in all areas and the quality of layouts and traders were superb. Some say there was a lack of specialist suppliers over box shifters, I saw a few specialists (like BHE) so I think this may be a case of you can’t please everyone all of the time. I have heard rumblings of the show having a 3 year contract so I expect more of the same next year, I’m not sure if the figures I heard for the costs were correct (45k for the marquee alone) but I hope the railway has washed its face on this one and it can continue to grow…

 

Heres some photo’s I took of (some) the layouts that caught my eye…

 

Lowbeck Hall East by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

Loch Tat by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

Tanybwlch by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

Roundtrees Sidings by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

T Scale by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

Netherwood Sidings by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

Netherwood Sidings by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

Oulton TMD by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

Oulton TMD by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

St Marnock Engine Shed by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

Annston by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

20140622_143035 by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

 

I missed the name of this layout but it really stood out for me…

 

20140622_145003 by Steve Purves, on Flickr

 

Looking forward to the next one already!!!

[55016]

Sounds like a good weekend, unfortunately work got in the way of being able to attend.

 

With regards to the comments about D9016, the owner is committed to restoring the loco to how it should be.

 

The loco was purchased from HNRC with one operable power unit, which after a short period (including some work at ELR) was then removed and swapped with a defective unit in 55022, to allow the latter to take up it's mainline work. The plan was, at this stage, IIRC, to withdraw 16 from traffic and commence an overhaul programme, with the intention of returning 'Gordon' to the mainline. The engineering team then managed to put the defective unit purchased with D9016 back into working order, and it was decided to keepthe loco in traffic for the 50th year of the production deltics in 2011, with key events at Shildon & the ELR. The economic downturn has no doubt had an affect on both the owner's business and the reduction in work for 55022 on the mainline, i.e. less time and money available to spend on 16. Throw in a lack of suitable workshop/covered accommodation being available at the ELR and you get an understanding of why work has not progressed as planned. Once 55022's commitments with GBRF have finished in Scotland then I would expect things will become clearer as to when D9016 will be taken out of traffic for bodywork repairs etc.

 

The oil 'streak' will no doubt be the usual issue of a build up whilst being stood/not being used in the collector drum which is then 'thrown' when used again. It became common on the latter days in service with long layover times on the York semi-fasts!

 

Poor Gordon could certainly do with some covered accommodation, think in it's 30 plus years from retirement from BR it's only had a small amount of time under cover!

[298]

I was there on the Sunday as a guest operator on the two Woodhead Route layouts, so didn't get to see much else of the show or what was at the other stations. But I thought the whole concept of the show was a revelation, it certainly presents a more acceptable face of the hobby than a rainy hall in January where every layout is a dreary unlit branchline with glum looking operators, and any profit generated only goes towards making more gloomy layouts and buying more club polo shirts. We were in the far end of the Marquee with a big fan behind one of the layouts so weren't too baked, and the slightly bouncy wooden floor didn't seem to cause too many issues as neither did the dust (I'm not sure whether this was blowing in from outside, through the floor, or whether the marquee had been used previously for a Shot blasting trade show.

 

I hope the figures add up for the organisers, it was a big space to fill and coupled with the wide aisles meant the show didn't seem busy to the point of heaving like we're used to. I'm presuming they can measure the upturn in visitor numbers due to the event, either way I'd have gladly paid a premium to access the show over the top of the gala rover price although this might not have ensured everyone who visited the railway would have looked at the layouts. As others have said, at least you know where the money for entrance and parking is going, on the subject of the latter I'd have expected a slightly smoother field but it ticked the boxes for being staffed and not having the car crammed into a tiny space or being a muddy bog (I'm not sure what would have happened if we'd have had typical British summer). Doing a car park is probably the worst Exhibition-related job I can think of, so all credit to the volunteers for enduring this job, at least in the knowledge that they are collecting extra revenue for the Railway.

[The Stationmaster]

I didn't go (plenty of other things occupying the family at present) but it sounds as it if was a great day out.

 

As far as the car park charge is concerned I wouldn't have been surprised  by one - for such a large event at a bargain price it is hardly unexpected I would have thought.  However I would have thought that layout entrants would be well aware of it (it seems from the foregoing posts that some were) and that it would be up to them to tell their operators etc what to expect (assuming the event organisers had informed them).  Any matter of passes would be something between the layout owners and the organisers although it seems from Andy's posts that the communication might not have worked as it should, but we don't really know where it didn't work.  So - something to sort for the next event and hopefully the organisers are now aware of it (otherwise nowt will change for next year).

 

Right to raise it here?  Well Andy was clearly sufficiently unhappy with what took place so that was his prerogative;  his post was otherwise very positive about the event.  When I talk on here about shows I attend I invariably mix the rough with the smooth as do many others so we can hardly take exception to Andy expressing his views.  Far nicer of course to have wholly positive views and 'ways & means' of saying things about the rough bits but in the end not a big deal I think.

 

So how was the show for you Mrs Lincoln?  comes to mind.

[ray76]

I'll throw in my penny'oth regarding operator parking. I booked for three operators, and was provided with a Quorn yard pass plus a carpark pass. Job done! Ray

[roundhouse]

As an aside, the Bluebell have been doing soemthing similar for the past few years although at am uch smaller scale by using their carriage shed loco workshops and waiting rooms at Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes.

 

They do charge for parking on top. (exhibitors had free parking).

 

Not sure if they are doing it this year as its often a fairly last minute invite when we have been.

 

I have enjoyed this sort of show which is also along similar lines as the Midland Railway Centre as it makes a change from the normal sports hall and similar venues.

 

However the weather can have a big impact on the venue such as condesnation if its raining or the heat.

 

We always take some clip on fans with us  (even in middle of the WInter where some venues have the heating on full) and in the height of the summer if its forecast to be really hot we will take a tall freestanding fan with us.

[Ryde-on-time]

I visited yesterday on a coach trip with other members for the club i belong to. The club helped a couple of times with a similar show put on at the north Norfolk railway a dozen or more years ago, and I have enjoyed other similar events since at the Midland railway etc. since

 

I should start by saying I really enjoyed the day. Did think the marquees are Rothley and Loughborough were under used and the sign posting to the attractions are Leicester North could be more prominent. The main disappointment for me was that I returned to Quorn after lunch to spend the afternoon admiring the exhibits there but I think because it was a 3 day show many exhibitors looked like there were clock watching and slowly losing the will to live. I have helped run an O gauge layout at some busy 2 day shows (Warley, Telford, Doncaster etc) and think that 3 days in a hot Marquee would be too much for me!

 

The highlights for me were the Woodhead layouts and Roundtree sidings. I would definitely go again and would thoroughly recommend it, just not on the Sunday

 

R-O-T

[andyram]

Sorry Andy but this is the second time in a month that you have said "Good Show" but ££££££££££££££.

 

Both were within the area you live, some people have had travelling expense far greater than the cost you mentioned and just said "What a great day out".

 

And your point is?

 

When describing the DEMU show I agree I stated that I thought the price was expensive for the size of show and I stick by those comments.

 

I was NOT criticising the price of G.C show Clive....read and check!! I am not going to spell it out for you again. Not for the first time you have completely missed the point!!

[woodenhead]

Andy, you are the one coming across aggressively.

 

I did post a response to your last post last night but deleted it having decided it was better to let the matter drop because it was going to dominate this thread and we had all made our points whether we agreed with them or not.

[andyram]

Andy, you are the one coming across aggressively.

 

I did post a response to your last post last night but deleted it having decided it was better to let the matter drop because it was going to dominate this thread and we had all made our points whether we agreed with them or not.

I thought it was negative?

Now I am aggressive.

Which is it to be? Make your mind up!

 

I am going to post no more on this thread because whatever I say is being twisted by some people on here who cannot accept a piece of constructive criticism.  I do not want the fact that I made an innocent comment about my experience at the event, which has been taken wildly out of context by some, to detract from what I said all along. The show was excellent and the organisers deserve praise for providing a superb event and one that will certainly grow into another major model railway event and one that will act as another fundraiser for the Great Central Railway! End of!

[slowshunt]

went to the show on sunday, what a great day out. hope this is on next year? at £15 it was a bargain for the day. p.s the bottom pic of steve's pics above was ALFORD YARD regards steve.     

[BECMAYE]

I thought the whole thing was an excellent idea and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have always wanted to visit the Great Central but was put off because it would have been too long a journey for a day trip. This event was ideal because there was enough to make a weekend out of it. I attended Sat and Sun and stayed in a hotel overnight. On the Sat I parked at Quorn and travelled behind the Deltic to Leicester and back in the morning. Then I looked around the layouts and then visited Rothley in the late afternoon. On the Sun I visited Loughborough and then finished the day looking at the layouts again. I thought the ticket price was very good value and the car park fee is fair enough as the funds go to the railway. The layouts were very good, the staff I spoke to were very friendly and I enjoyed the atmosphere. I liked the 9F in green, it looked right, (even though it isn't - I know).  I will definitely like to do the same next year.

[griffgriff]

BTW 'Friends' got a discount. I didn't get to go because I couldn't commit to more than a couple of hours* but a ticket would have cost me £8.  Now there's an advert to join up and support the 'bridge to the future'

 

*but it's in the diary for next year.

[Horizontal]

After unloading RHYDWYN FAWR into the railway room here on sunny Anglesey, a day of rest has followed.

 

On behalf of our team, I would like to thank the organisers for inviting us to what was a truly wonderful event, and, as it was their first  attempt at holding such an event, we must take our hats off to them for the high standard of their organisation.

 

It was an extremely friendly event, and it was great to meet and work alongside the Exhibitors around us, and more than anything, it was a real pleasure to rub shoulders with the Operators of 'Iron Mould Lane', the layout that inspired me to build RHYDWYN FAWR.

 

My advice to any Exhibitors who are invited to attend any possible future events here is 'GO FOR IT'!

 

:-)

[fluff]

despite the heat, Meg and I enjoyed our weekend operating Great Western RR.  Thanks to all involved. 

 

We thought the organisation was good and very friendly. 

 

As requested, I'll let the organisers have more detailed comments in early course.

 

Off to Perth now with one of our other layouts.

[it's-er]

I see from the Bachmann thread on here that Bachmann had a fully painted LMS Inspection saloon in their cabinet at this event. Does anyone have any photo of this, or of other models they were showing for the first time? LMS 1F in painted form? Similarly BR CCT for Invicta Models? Or first unpainted samples of the SR CCT/PMV or Birdcage coaches?

 

John

[dagrizz]

I see from the Bachmann thread on here that Bachmann had a fully painted LMS Inspection saloon in their cabinet at this event. Does anyone have any photo of this, or of other models they were showing for the first time? LMS 1F in painted form? Similarly BR CCT for Invicta Models? Or first unpainted samples of the SR CCT/PMV or Birdcage coaches?

 

John

 

 

I didn't take too much note of what was there apart from the  three livery versions of the met-cam 101 (green/whiskers, green/SYP, blue/FYE). I still can't make up my mind if it looks right or not.

 

Graham

[trains12]

Arrived back safely after the excellent show, Glen Gillie now stored ready for its next outing and make-over.

Many thanks to Michael Stokes for putting on the event and also to Paul and Barry and the rest of the team for doing the model railway side.

Looking forward to next years show.

 

Peter

[Phil Bullock]

I see from the Bachmann thread on here that Bachmann had a fully painted LMS Inspection saloon in their cabinet at this event. Does anyone have any photo of this, or of other models they were showing for the first time? LMS 1F in painted form? Similarly BR CCT for Invicta Models? Or first unpainted samples of the SR CCT/PMV or Birdcage coaches?

 

John

That'll be post 39 in http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/76502-inspection-saloon/page-2

 

Didn't see owt else to photograph

 

Cheers

 

Phil

[Andy Y]

THOUSANDS OF MODEL RAIL ENTHUSIASTS MAKE TRACKS TO
GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY EVENT

 

The Great Central Railway’s inaugural giant model railway exhibition, ‘The Model Event’, has been declared a stunning success by organisers. The award winning Leicestershire heritage line staged the event over three days in June. Over 4,500 of visitors enjoyed a mix of more than sixty layouts and trade stands. 

 

“We were overwhelmed by how quickly the event took off,” said the line’s Marketing Manager, Kate Tilley. “We had invested substantially in staging a quality event which would genuinely be a full day out and it paid off. We had many visitors who have never been to the railway before. So many people said how much they enjoyed the event, where everyone could get close to many different layouts of all shapes, sizes and gauges.”

 

Unusually the event wasn’t concentrated on a single site, with visitors able to take steam train rides between the line’s stations and visit different displays. Full size locomotives were also on display alongside the main exhibition halls and there were displays from model engineers too.

 

The Great Central is now taking on board comments from visitors to prepare a repeat of the event to be staged in summer 2015. The line has thanked the many sponsors who enabled the event to take place and the huge support from the Soar Valley Model Railway Club whose well-honed exhibition expertise meant everything went smoothly.

 

David Haarhaus, Bachmann’s Sales & Marketing Manager said ‘Bachmann Europe were delighted to support this successful new event, to call it a model railway exhibition does not reflect the size, number or diversity of the attractions that were offered over the three days. Having worked closely with Kate and her Great Central Railway team for many years, we were confident that it would be executed to a very high standard. Feedback from our Bachmann Collectors Club members was very positive, and so pledging our support for the next event was a simple decision.’

 

One of the highlights was the unveiling of a brand new model of the GCR’s reunification project featuring a new bridge across the Midland Main Line. The project, one of the largest in railway preservation is now moving ahead. For more information and to donate, see www.gcrailway.co.uk/unify