Warley NEC Exhibition November 26th and 27th 2016

[OldNick]

Getting back to the exhibition, not real world railway politics...

 

I made my usual Sunday visit, arriving at about 1pm. No hassles, saw plenty of friends, spent a little money, took quite a few photos.

 

Here are some...

 

 

Larger images are available at my Flickr page  https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicks_railways/albums/72157675830507410

 

 

[Penlan]

....... Hasslelt was standout but others impressed including Johnstown Road, a Cambrian 4mm layout which was really three linked cameos.

Agreed on 'Hasslelt 2002', though it's certainly not my normal taste.

'Johnstown Road' is 7mm FS. Some thought it clinical, I liked it.

 

I have a query on signals on 'The Summit', but will post that on the 'Signalling' part of the Forum later.

[Orange Cat]

When I went to Warley a few years ago I left my car at Dublin airport. After a short flight it was just a short walk to the exhibition.!!  Simple.

 

 

Never thought of that. I doubt anyone bothers putting flights on between Manchester and Birmingham though, but may be worth a look next year.

 

 

No. That's why you have to drive to Dublin.

[gwrrob]

Mara Harbor

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Nevards new one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Eaton]

A good exhibition and I think the quality gets better year on year. Hasslelt was standout but others impressed including Johnstown Road, a Cambrian 4mm layout which was really three linked cameos.

Johnstown Road is 7mm but it may have looked like 4mm as when I visited it, several times, I could only see it from a distance over the crowd.

[Eaton]

From the point of view of an exhibitor it's a very grueling weekend, operating 9am to 6pm on Saturday in particular. I'm shattered today having unloaded, driven back from Birmingham and taken the van back. Having to park the van a mile from the hall wasn't ideal, and if it had been wet it would have bene even worse. Getting in and out of the NEC by road is a nightmare, I detest the place.

 

This is a personal view by the way, I'm a Warley club member but we were exhibiting as private individuals.

 

Peter

I would agree, as an exhibitor it is not a user friendly place and you have certainly got to love a queue as you will get a lot of practise. The shuttle bus from the car parks is not a lot of use if the traffic is at a stand still it being far quicker to walk. It is obviously a logistical nightmare and I would suspect completely out of the control of the Warley organisers but nevertheless it does taint the experience.

[Mike]

I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend, Sunday breakdown at 17.00 saw Wellington Street down and everything packed away by 17.15 carried out to the van, loaded and home by 17.58. This was my 10th year as an exhibitor with 9 different layouts, Mount Pleasant attended twice, so from experience I don't find the NEC daunting.

[Nelson Jackson]

I haven't seen it mentioned here yet, but a huge congratulations to the Northern Counties team for brining the prize of best 4mm layout back to Northern Ireland. I am very pleased that a NI layout has been recognised and hopefully this will boost people's interest.

 

Layout : http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/63243-the-bleach-green-project/page-3&do=findComment&comment=2515900

[PMP99]

The bit I missed was the gauge 1 live steam. How could I have managed to miss something that size!

 

You must be the sort of person who could ignore the 'Workplace Pension'. 

[surfsup]

There are significant events going on at the NEC most weekends and it should not be beyond the wit of the TOCs (especially Cross Country from my POV) to strengthen appropriate services - those that arrive and depart BHI around opening/closing time, at least on the Saturday.

 

Warley usually coincides with the even more popular Motorcycle Show and a single Voyager, full from Basingstoke and crush-loaded from Reading, just isn't good enough.  

 

The thought also occurs that, if the regular TOCs have part of their fleet out of service over the weekend and are running a reduced frequency, there should be paths available for charter operations. 

 

John

The NW/SE Route problems really do lie heavily with Arriva & Virgin XC and unfortunately I fear that it's going to remain bad for some time to come. I used the 07:52 XC from Basingstoke on the previous Saturday morning to head up to Wolverhampton, despite arriving into Reading 5 minutes after the first Newcastle had left we were still picking up a good load there and standing from Oxford all the way into New Street. The following return journey on the Sunday - The 19:04 was equally as bad with passengers standing all the way down to Oxford - This despite the Reading terminator departing 5 minutes before us due to delays, both journey's being on 4 car 220s. This Saturday wasn't as bad for me as I bailed off at Banbury for one of Chilterns 68s but returning in the evening was just as bad as the previous weekend with another full 4 car 220 on the 21:04. Of course the return on the Saturday evening hadn't been helped by the signaling issues but still picked up a fair load from the Birmingham Christmas Market / NEC /Airport traffic as well.

 

Might be worth suggesting something to XC in their new timetable consultation, I will be as I feel that the NE/SW route is being treated as a form of Cinderella Route with the 221s potentially shifting across to that side, and nothing new (bar 1 service running in the opposite direction in the morning) for the equally as busy Birmingham to South Central route.

 

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/media/1470/crosscountry-future-timetable-consultation-document.pdf

 

 

Despite the travel chaos, I certainly enjoyed Warley this year - Thanks to all involved. I actually managed to go there with a shopping list and purchase only a few of those items that I required too!

 

And a big thumbs up to the team from Squires as well, I think that's one of the best laid out exhibition shops I think I've ever come across. Plenty of space, easy to find things and a very helpful team to boot.

[phil-b259]

There are significant events going on at the NEC most weekends and it should not be beyond the wit of the TOCs (especially Cross Country from my POV) to strengthen appropriate services - those that arrive and depart BHI around opening/closing time, at least on the Saturday.

 

Warley usually coincides with the even more popular Motorcycle Show and a single Voyager, full from Basingstoke and crush-loaded from Reading, just isn't good enough.  

 

And where do they get the stock from - or Crews. Its very easy to stand at the sidelines saying "they should" but Cross Country are not a Charity - they are a company set p to run a franchise ACCORDING TO THE DfTs SPECIFICATIONS and based on a certain level of costs. Running longer / more frequent trains at weekends will increase costs - which need to be compensated for and that requires the DfT take a hit, not just Cross Countrys shareholders.

 

If you wish a more frequent Cross Country service then start hassling the DfT and you might get something done when the next franchise is let in three or four years time (the recently announced 'management contract' entered into by the DfT so as to not have several franchise tendering competitors running at once having already been exposed as offering pretty much no help on that score).

 

In the meantime, the overcrowding on Cross Country services north of Basingstoke may well be unpleasant - but in a word TOUGH. The railway industry is structured in a certain way by the politicians which precludes doing anything to change that - If you don't like the sardine can experience than either don't go or if you have access to a car, drive.

 

[terry.ecmr]

Although I have been many times as a visitor to Warley Show this was the first time I had ever exhibited.

 

I have to say that Tony & Harry (co-operators) and myself thoroughly enjoyed the weekend with 'Earl's Court'

 

The Warley organisers, stewards etc., were all very helpful and friendly. We were very well looked after......well fed, (including breakfast provided Saturday & Sunday), good accommodation, etc. The vast majority of the NEC staff were also very friendly and helpful.

 

As with any event of this size there is always a logistical puzzle of getting so many people (trade or exhibitors) in and out. Apart from being held for about an hour on Friday afternoon in the arrival car park everything else was remarkably speedy. Unloading was easy and I then parked in East 1 car park which was only a short walk back to the hall. On Sunday afternoon we were packed-down by 5.15. I went and got the van, got into the hall easily and quickly and was back home in Witney by 7.30.

 

I've been to many smaller venues where laoding/unloading has been a nightmare.

 

Thanks to everyone involved.

 

Terry

[phil-b259]

I would agree, as an exhibitor it is not a user friendly place and you have certainly got to love a queue as you will get a lot of practise. The shuttle bus from the car parks is not a lot of use if the traffic is at a stand still it being far quicker to walk. It is obviously a logistical nightmare and I would suspect completely out of the control of the Warley organisers but nevertheless it does taint the experience.

 

That is merely a symptom of allowing the NEC to get so big. Extolling the use of public transport is all well and good but given the sites location slap bang next to the SW / NE and SE / NW motorway routes it is obvious that for many, getting there by car is going to be the preferred option and traffic congestion is going to be an issue whatever the NEC do. You just need to factor this into your journey times and act accordingly. The only way the Warley organisers can do anything about it is not use the NEC - which causes all sorts of other issues.

[newbryford]

Never thought of that. I doubt anyone bothers putting flights on between Manchester and Birmingham though, but may be worth a look next year.

 

Nooooo..................

 

Another gripe to add to the list.

Expensive plane tickets (after all the cheap seat have been booked)

 

Cheers,

Mick

[Ian Hargrave]

And where do they get the stock from - or Crews. Its very easy to stand at the sidelines saying "they should" but Cross Country are not a Charity - they are a company set p to run a franchise ACCORDING TO THE DfTs SPECIFICATIONS and based on a certain level of costs. Running longer / more frequent trains at weekends will increase costs - which need to be compensated for and that requires the DfT take a hit, not just Cross Countrys shareholders.

 

If you wish a more frequent Cross Country service then start hassling the DfT and you might get something done when the next franchise is let in three or four years time (the recently announced 'management contract' entered into by the DfT so as to not have several franchise tendering competitors running at once having already been exposed as offering pretty much no help on that score).

 

In the meantime, the overcrowding on Cross Country services north of Basingstoke may well be unpleasant - but in a word TOUGH. The railway industry is structured in a certain way by the politicians which precludes doing anything to change that - If you don't like the sardine can experience than either don't go or if you have access to a car, drive.

 

Added to which,NewStreet is the choke point of our beloved rail network. Things ...if they go wrong,have an uncomfortable habit of going wrong there.Sorry but we are where we are and we have for the foreseeable future to endure it.In practical terms this means getting up close and all too personal (including personal telephone conversations) with one's fellow travellers in Voyager 221's in areas not designed for comfort .

[royaloak]

Secondly, weekend working is also expensive for TOCs in terms of staff wages - thanks to the various T&Cs the Unions have obtained over previous decades staff usually get enhanced pay at weekends.

Do we, I never knew that, I always thought Saturday was just another day of the week and was paid at normal rate, Sundays we do get time and a quarter.

[caradoc]

Why do we have to suffer 4/5 car Voyagers when in the past most XC trains were at least 9 to 12 coaches ?

 

Because it allowed service frequencies to be doubled; On the core XC routes from Birmingham to Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Reading the service is half-hourly 6 days a week. There are simply not enough Voyagers to allow double sets to operate.

[big jim]

I must have been lucky travel wise, table seat from crewe to new st on a desiro, at new st watched everyone cramming into a 4 car voyager (that I could have caught from stafford) while I wandered off to the adjacent platform and got on an empty desiro that came in from Euston and departed back towards there 10 mins later then coming back caught a 10 car voyager direct back to crewe with yet another window table seat all the way back!!

[Redkiterail]

Here are my pictures from Warley Show 2016:

[Jol Wilkinson]

I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend, Sunday breakdown at 17.00 saw Wellington Street down and everything packed away by 17.15 carried out to the van, loaded and home by 17.58. This was my 10th year as an exhibitor with 9 different layouts, Mount Pleasant attended twice, so from experience I don't find the NEC daunting.

 

 

Although I have been many times as a visitor to Warley Show this was the first time I had ever exhibited.

 

I have to say that Tony & Harry (co-operators) and myself thoroughly enjoyed the weekend with 'Earl's Court'

 

The Warley organisers, stewards etc., were all very helpful and friendly. We were very well looked after......well fed, (including breakfast provided Saturday & Sunday), good accommodation, etc. The vast majority of the NEC staff were also very friendly and helpful.

 

As with any event of this size there is always a logistical puzzle of getting so many people (trade or exhibitors) in and out. Apart from being held for about an hour on Friday afternoon in the arrival car park everything else was remarkably speedy. Unloading was easy and I then parked in East 1 car park which was only a short walk back to the hall. On Sunday afternoon we were packed-down by 5.15. I went and got the van, got into the hall easily and quickly and was back home in Witney by 7.30.

 

I've been to many smaller venues where laoding/unloading has been a nightmare.

 

Thanks to everyone involved.

 

Terry

You were both very fortunate.

 

Having collected and loaded the hire van on Thursday for a 10 a.m. start on Friday, I finally got home at 9:30 on Sunday and unloaded by 10:10 so I could take the van back by 9:00 this morning.

While most of the delays at the venue stem from the NEC's organisation and rules, some access preference for those with larger exhibits and/or longer journeys would be nice. We had the layout broken down by 5:45 but, despite leaving the rest of the team to do it and going to get the van from E1 car park at 5:20 I was 62 in the queue and didn't get in to the hall until 6:25 and out again at 6:50.

 

It's the first time we have exhibited at the Warley show, although I used to assist one of the Small Suppliers for several years until he gave up about fifteen years ago because it wasn't viable. I also used to attend as an "exhibitor" at the Motor Show when it first moved their from Earls Court. The NEC  organisation doesn't seemed to have moved forward since then.

 

We enjoyed showing the layout and three of the operators spent a little money (usually picking up stuff from the Small Suppliers section that they had ordered in advance). Quite a few visitors were keen to know how certain things had been made/done, varying from making the track, through the materials used to construct the buildings,  to how we paint and line carriages. Hopefully we were able to help them to have a go at some model making. We even had young six year old Maxwell operating the control panel (under guidance!) for a short while. What else could we do, he had dragged his Grandad back several times, as it was his favourite layout.

 

Lots of people took photos, much more than we see at the specialist shows. It was the same at the St Albans show in January. Perhaps creating photo albums/records is some peoples primary interest, rather than modelling

 

I've never been to the Warley show as a visitor. Would I ever go as one? The answer is definitely no as the show is aimed at the the "hobby" in general and therefore contains much that doesn't really interest me, especially the hordes of red/blue box retailers. I am able to find what I want/need at the specialist  "finescale" shows where access is easier, the atmosphere is more relaxed, etc.

[JohnDMJ]

Used to be great when British Midland operated LHR-BHX & return. I could use my BA staff discount and be at the NEC in less than an hour door to door!

 

HS2 - LHR - BHI (yes, the station, now there's a thought!) in even less without the 2 hour airline checkin first

[Colin_McLeod]

Here are my pictures from Warley Show 2016:

Warley001.jpgWarley002.jpgWarley003.jpgWarley004.jpg

Some great looking layouts there. Thanks for sharing.  

 

That WCML layout looks very realistic!!

 

 

Edit as I seem to not know my left (west) hand from my right (east).

[jwealleans]

Would that be the ECML which runs down the, er, West Coast, Colin?

[Ely_South]

 there should be paths available for charter operations. 

 

 

I'm sure I caught sight of a WCR charter at the platform at BHI when I drove past around 08:40 on Sunday morning. Anyone else see that, or was I dreaming?

 

I suspect It was coincidental timing. I've not seen 'Arrive at Warley after a four course breakfast, with champagne on return' advertised anywhere. That would be quite an experience....

 

Cheers

Rob

 

(Edit - Having Googled, I see it was going the other way - Welsh Marches to Cardiff. The irony of train enthusiasts getting away from Warley for the day :-)

[newbryford]

I'm sure I caught sight of a WCR charter at the platform at BHI when I drove past around 08:40 on Sunday morning. Anyone else see that, or was I dreaming?

 

I suspect It was coincidental timing. I've not seen 'Arrive at Warley after a four course breakfast, with champagne on return' advertised anywhere. That would be quite an experience....

 

Cheers

Rob

 

(Edit - Having Googled, I see it was going the other way - Welsh Marches to Cardiff. The irony of train enthusiasts getting away from Warley for the day :-)

 

44871 and 45407 with 47802 on the back... It arrived at BHI about 2030 on Saturday night and was stabled there until Sunday morining

Departed about 9am to Cardiff via BNS

 

Cheers,

Mick