WIGAN 2018 6th & 7th October

[26power]

My transport driver parked in this car park on Saturday gratis. Plenty of spaces and space and hardly any further away than the ones closer to the door. Especially when you factor in not needing to queue up to buy a ticket and take it back to your car. However, leaving at about 5 there was a pretty big queue to get out towards the town centre, not helped by roadworks at the big gyratory/roundabout. Might be worth considering if you can come in from the north.

 

The queues at about 1pm were far worse though - the tail end of the queues in both directions were at about the roundabout north of the venue!

That is the Car Park. Please check that they are not charging before you leave your car as they are a bit unpredictable with their charging policy.

[ELTEL]

I really enjoyed the Wigan exhibition with a terrific range of layouts in all scales, all of which were first class

 

I felt it was much better using the two halls with a great atmosphere, the traders put a big hole in my wallet as well.

 

 

I caught the bus from the exhibition just after 15:00 to catch my 15:28 train back to Stafford

 

We arrived at the station at 15:40 (almost 40 minutes for about a 1 mile journey ) I know I should have walked....

 

The local authorities really need to sort this issue out as it’s a joke with a Asda, a retail park , sports centre and a football ground all seem to be having to leave the same way out.

 

Please can I make it clear that in no way am I laying any blame on the Wigan Exhibition it’s is totally out of there control

 

A good note to end on as I waited to catch the next train home was it gave me time for cracking pint in the bar under the Station and Stoke managed to win away from home

 

A great dat out

 

Thanks to Steve and all the team at Wigan

[Coach bogie]

My transport driver parked in this car park on Saturday gratis. Plenty of spaces and space and hardly any further away than the ones closer to the door. Especially when you factor in not needing to queue up to buy a ticket and take it back to your car. However, leaving at about 5 there was a pretty big queue to get out towards the town centre, not helped by roadworks at the big gyratory/roundabout. Might be worth considering if you can come in from the north.

 

The queues at about 1pm were far worse though - the tail end of the queues in both directions were at about the roundabout north of the venue!

You can park for free on Stadium road by the gym and walked around the side of the stadium. There were spare spaces when I arrived and when I left. If you are prepared to walk a bit further there was lots of parking in the industrial estate and you avoid the traffic farce getting in and out as you exit to jnc 26 via Kitt Green Road.

 

Mike Wiltshire

[APOLLO]

Just back a while ago from the as usual excellent Wigan Exhibition, a very big well done to all concerned from me.

 

I didn't (daren't !!) spend a lot, 3 books from Book Law (what an excellent stand), some materials & parts for projects (repairs mainly) and a couple of Dapol Wigan area colliery wagons.

 

Best layout for me was Grindley Brook O gauge, some superbly modelled and weathered  trains and (nearly) always something running. The Dub Dee clanking slowly out of the tunnel with a rake of scruffy coal wagons made the day for me - what wonderful atmosphere !!.

 

The other big O scale layout Newchaple Jcn was superb also, I liked being able to walk & view "inside" the layout. Hospital Gates (also O) superbly detailed and nice running, as was the German layout Klinkerhofen.

 

A very good selection of layouts, traders and displays, I viewed every one, and all had their merits however I must admit I like big O scale exhibition layouts !!!

 

Looking forward to next year - perhaps some N American please ?.

 

Wigan Council need to sort out the signage re parking - is the exhibition an event or not ? - nothing to state yes or no- pay or free Being a local I know the area and parked alongside the Police station I subsidise the council quite enough already.

 

Again thanks and well done.

 

Brit15

[woodenhead]

Sadly I never made it this year, as soon as I got out of bed this morning I knew I still wasn't fit.

 

Here's hoping I am fit for next weekend, but it's only 52 weeks to Wigan 2019

[brittannia]

I went today, all the layouts were very good and did not see any having  running problems, as APPOLLO mentioned the O scale layouts were all excellent, also liked how the layouts were grouped,I would also say the Swiss RHB  Layout was small but well presented..

[Deltic Man]

I will go against the grain I’m afraid as a modern modeller and as it is advertised as the nw diesel/electric show I was disappointed more steam layouts than I could count

 

In previous years it has been a great show but this year not fof me but I’m probably on my own with this thinking looking forward to next years

[E3109]

I attended both days and thoroughly enjoyed it, what I will say though is that there seemed to be fewer trade stands compared to last year which I found rather sad.

I know that many businesses prefer the online route these days and I do understand the reasons for that, but in my opinion, nothing beats show attendances and hats off to those that continue to attend shows.

 

Shows allow a personal touch with the various vendors and that counts for a lot, if I were a vendor of model railway kit I wouldn't be looking at the costs of attending, I'd regard it as a necessary expense and thanks to all the stallholders who have a similar view.

 

My mate who has a bookstall there was saying I just missed meeting Andy Y, would've been a pleasure but there's always next year.

 

Well done to the show organisers.

Edited October 7, 2018 by E3109

[E3109]

I really enjoyed the Wigan exhibition with a terrific range of layouts in all scales, all of which were first class

I felt it was much better using the two halls with a great atmosphere, the traders put a big hole in my wallet as well.

I caught the bus from the exhibition just after 15:00 to catch my 15:28 train back to Stafford

We arrived at the station at 15:40 (almost 40 minutes for about a 1 mile journey ) I know I should have walked....

The local authorities really need to sort this issue out as it’s a joke with a Asda, a retail park , sports centre and a football ground all seem to be having to leave the same way out.

Please can I make it clear that in no way am I laying any blame on the Wigan Exhibition it’s is totally out of there control

A good note to end on as I waited to catch the next train home was it gave me time for cracking pint in the bar under the Station and Stoke managed to win away from home

A great dat out

Thanks to Steve and all the team at Wigan

Hi Eltel

 

I'm 'sort of' involved (at a distance) with the Wigan Transport Trust who provide heritage bus transport for the Wigan Beer Festival which takes place at the same venue, so I'm more than aware that Saddle Junction can be a nightmare even on a Sunday, due to the proximity of Asda and the Robin Park shopping complex.

We've sometimes used a different route to the venue which avoids the dire congestion, the St Helens Transport Museum provide the vintage buses for the model railway show and as 'Sintellinsers' they probably aren't aware of this particular rat run.

I know a couple of guys down there and given the circumstances re people missing trains and so on, I'd be more than happy to give them the alternative route for next year.

[southern42]

We made the trip to Wigan, today and found the Show exceeded expectations.  

Needless to say our piggy bank savings quickly changed hands, both of us acquired much info in our respective fields from traders and exhibitors, alike, and there was plenty of time to drool over what were really terrific layouts.

Well done and many thanks to all for a great show.

 

Polly and Ray

[Eaton]

[fluff]

Klinkerhofen packed away until its next outing at Leamington in March.

 

Thanks to all at the Show for the weekend. Hope it went well financially.

[gismorail]

A Cracking show 

[woodenhead]

Don't all rub it in, back almost fixed but three days late for Wigan.

 

Oh well, Milton Keynes beckons this weekend and I will be on my pills to ensure I make this one.

[Guest teacupteacup]

I will go against the grain I’m afraid as a modern modeller and as it is advertised as the nw diesel/electric show I was disappointed more steam layouts than I could count

 

In previous years it has been a great show but this year not fof me but I’m probably on my own with this thinking looking forward to next years

It does have the layout list on the first post of this thread

[Eaton]

I will go against the grain I’m afraid as a modern modeller and as it is advertised as the nw diesel/electric show I was disappointed more steam layouts than I could count

 

In previous years it has been a great show but this year not fof me but I’m probably on my own with this thinking looking forward to next years

Whilst we always try to have a high proportion of D&E layouts, usually at least 50%, this year we where unable to meet this target. We are always at the mercy of what layouts are available and what layouts are financially viable.

 

I had an interesting conversation with the husband of our Lady Mayor as I was escorting them around the show. He was interested in how the Exhibition was financed. He reasoned that we charged traders a stand rental and that as few of the layouts that were on display could be set up in a family home he presumed that we also charged the layouts a rent for the space they occupied. When I corrected him and explained that as our guests we paid all out of pocket expenses including van hire, petrol, hotel accommodation and we also feed them at the exhibition, he was slightly taken aback. His retort was " I'm surprised you make any money as it must cost you thousands".

Interestingly, this is not the first time I have had this conversation and some people see exhibitions such as ours as a goose that lays a golden egg. Our Sports Centre Manager was talking to a colleague who runs a similar centre in the midlands who wonders if our team would like to come and organise a similar exhibition at his venue. We have only just stopped laughing.

[26power]

Thanks. Will bear in mind if football on at same time as exhibition in future years.

 

For this year the big car park advised of (and I commented on) was perfectly suitable - we weren’t aware of it previously as we had always found in earlier years parking on way to venue after turning right at traffic signals at Asda. My comment was really to try and help others be aware of this big car park and to confirm that on Saturday it was free, and therefore was also, presumably, free on the Sunday.

 

I see now from mapping that from Anjou Boulevard there looks to be a route to M6 junction 26 via Montrose Avenue and City Road. Will consider that in future years, although hopefully the work at the big roundabout/gyratory will be finished by time of next exhibition here!

 

You can park for free on Stadium road by the gym and walked around the side of the stadium. There were spare spaces when I arrived and when I left. If you are prepared to walk a bit further there was lots of parking in the industrial estate and you avoid the traffic farce getting in and out as you exit to jnc 26 via Kitt Green Road.Mike Wiltshire

[26power]

Just wondering if the lucky person who bought the Scottish Region freight working timetable from a stand in hall 1 (Aspire gifts and models?) on the Saturday is on here?! Given the vintage of the passenger working timetables and the other few freight working timetables on display on this stand assuming this might hae been late 1950s/early 1960s?

 

I didn’t look at this stand until early afternoon by which time I was only able to get a couple of passenger working timetables, and even then not for my greatest interest of Dumfries area! The owner advised of the sold freight one mentioned above. Would be interested to know more about it, if at all possible.

[SP Steve]

Just wondering if the lucky person who bought the Scottish Region freight working timetable from a stand in hall 1 (Aspire gifts and models?) on the Saturday is on here?! Given the vintage of the passenger working timetables and the other few freight working timetables on display on this stand assuming this might hae been late 1950s/early 1960s?

 

I didn’t look at this stand until early afternoon by which time I was only able to get a couple of passenger working timetables, and even then not for my greatest interest of Dumfries area! The owner advised of the sold freight one mentioned above. Would be interested to know more about it, if at all possible.

I was the vendor in question but I'm not a trader (Aspire Gifts & Models didn't make it to the show) - I was there to dispose of a close friends collection of books and WTTs

 

The item in question was similar to the one listed with British Railway Books:

 

https://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/wtt/scregion/br31009-abcde-070964.php

 

If you browse through the other Scottish Region timetables that Gary offers then there are a few for your chosen area, see:

 

https://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/wtt/scregion/scregionindex.php

 

I think the one I sold was for 1956 and judging by the buyer's accent it is now residing north of Hadrian's Wall - there are always a good number of Scottish modellers at the show so most of the WTTs for the area went on the Saturday. The only ones I have left are for Section C covering passenger services out of Glasgow Buchanan Street.

 

I should add a very big thank you to Steve Roberts and the other WFRM members for allowing me to set up shop over the weekend - your time and effort in accommodating me were very much appreciated.

[26power]

Hello, thanks for your reply and the information. Thanks also for the links, a new website to me. Kind of thought that the stand name given in the guide didn’t match what you were selling.

 

I bought the Section B and Section E passenger timetables from you on Saturday afternoon. Will just have to keep my eyes peeled for ones that are of greatest relevance/interest to myself!

 

I was the vendor in question but I'm not a trader (Aspire Gifts & Models didn't make it to the show) - I was there to dispose of a close friends collection of books and WTTs

 

The item in question was similar to the one listed with British Railway Books:

 

https://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/wtt/scregion/br31009-abcde-070964.php

 

If you browse through the other Scottish Region timetables that Gary offers then there are a few for your chosen area, see:

 

https://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/wtt/scregion/scregionindex.php

 

I think the one I sold was for 1956 and judging by the buyer's accent it is now residing north of Hadrian's Wall - there are always a good number of Scottish modellers at the show so most of the WTTs for the area went on the Saturday. The only ones I have left are for Section C covering passenger services out of Glasgow Buchanan Street.

 

I should add a very big thank you to Steve Roberts and the other WFRM members for allowing me to set up shop over the weekend - your time and effort in accommodating me were very much appreciated.

[Eaton]

After getting back from assisting setting up the Exhibition on Friday evening I managed to watch 'The Great Model Railway Challenge'. As a consequence I quickly checked all the layouts on Saturday morning and none of them seemed aware of the scratchbuilding potential of a high heeled shoe. Suitably enlightened I wonder if we are not taking advantage of this new trend and therefore missing an opportunity to demonstrate our collective 'creativity'.

Your thoughts would be most welcome before I tune into episode two and get to carried away.

[E3109]

26power, if you're coming from the north then it's far better to come off at junction 27, just be sure to follow the signs for Shevington rather than Standish. It's B roads but straightforward enough.