Warley National Exhibition 26th & 27th November 2022

[009 micro modeller]

I particularly liked Neuberg and the concept behind it; twin Swiss layouts with the same scene modelled 100 years apart (1913 and 2013). This is my attempt at a ‘past and present’ style photo:

 

 

[rogerzilla]

Another couple that stood out for me were the German one with the cutaway U-bahn station underneath, and the Rule 1 British layout with the huge multi-level spirals at each end.  Clever engineering - a slow train would take many minutes to reappear if just left to chase its tail.

[rab]

Well I'm back in my hotel room after my first, and probably only, visit to Warley at the NEC **.  As it was a first visit I can only draw comparisons with what I've read about previous exhibitions, but I was pleasantly surprised that I could get to see most things.  I hope that doesn't mean the number of visitors was down too much this year 

 

I am modelling (should probably say attempting to model) in N gauge and made the N layouts a priority so some of what follows may seem biased.

 

Saturday I gradually made my way around the hall, getting a feel for the exhibition. I liked the way it was laid out, there seemed to have been an attempt to get most (perhaps not all) of the layouts of a particular gauge/scale in the same area.

 

Yes there were a lot of traders, but, as has been said elsewhere, that's where the show gets quite a bit of the finance from. As with the layouts, it was good to see 'in the flesh' trade items I'd only previously seen on line.

 

Saturday evening was spent going through the show guide picking out what looked particularly of interest.

 

Sunday began with a chat with Phil Parker, after which I worked my way round the stuff I had picked out.

 

By the time I'd finished and had a lunch break it was time for a final quick circuit, ending with a master class in weathering from Barry Oliver. I've always kept  away from this, but now have enough confidence to at least have a go.

 

So highlights for me, bearing in mind my N bias, were:

Waverly Valley, Broadwater Junction, Ambleton Vale and Yoxton.

 

What encouraged me:

The hand of God appears everywhere, even on the best of layouts.

 

What inspired me: Good slow running can be achieved even without DCC.

 

Will I be back? I'd like to think so, but that very much depends on finances and health.

 

**I live in Plymouth in deepest Devon and the cost of getting to Brum, and back, together with a hotel stay to make the visit worthwhile, meant this was a 'bucket list' trip for me.

Edited November 27, 2022 by rab

[009 micro modeller]

34 minutes ago, rab said:

**I live in Plymouth in deepest Devon and the cost of getting to Brum, and back, together with a hotel stay to make the visit worthwhile, meant this was a 'bucket list' trip for me.

Yes, I also find that Warley is very much something that I quite like to do but don’t necessarily want or have to do every year. I think next time a hotel might be the answer even if I’m only there for one day, as it will allow me to stay close by and get in early (on a slightly different note it’s a very long day for the exhibitors if the show is open to the public from 9:15 to 6). Despite making my way reasonably well round the whole exhibition I seem to have missed some things. Doing it over 2 days isn’t something I’ve considered before, but I notice this year the advance ticket price wasn’t that much more than for one day so that might be a good idea actually.

[locoholic]

Oh well...

For various reasons I didn't get the usual early start today, so when I approached the vicinity of the NEC on the M42 there was well over a mile of almost stationary traffic just trying to get off the motorway. I sat in the queue for ten minutes and hardly moved, before giving up, as I didn't fancy spending so long just getting to one of the most expensive car parks in the UK, to be followed by a lengthy hike to the exhibition itself. Even though I live deep in rural Herefordshire (hence not using the train - we don't have one), I suspect I was back home before I would have got in to see the models. Of course, I might have made a different decision had I bought an advance ticket.

 

I think I'll try one of the other big shows next time - one that doesn't have half the population of England trying to get into the venue at the same time.

 

Thanks to everyone who has posted photos, so I can see what I missed.

[009 micro modeller]

1 hour ago, westcountryman said:

There was one layout which took my breath away, Rockcliffe. 

A compact N gauge layout displaying such levels of incredible detail.

The numerous cameos were utterly spellbinding.

Finally, I'd like to say full marks to the operators, who chatted freely, pointed out many hidden details, and really made us welcome. 

Thanks guys, it made the long drag up from North Devon well worth it. 

I liked Rockcliffe as well. The only bit that was slightly odd for me was the ‘narrow gauge branch line’, which seemed to use the same N gauge track as the standard gauge lines (and possibly 009 locos?). I liked the mountain scenery though and also just the general atmosphere created.

[richard brown]

More videos from me this time my top 11 layout from the show

Warley model railway show my top 11 layouts 2022

 

richard

trains in the attic 

[ikcdab]

Drove up from somerset this morning and joined the M42 queue at around 0945... got into the hall at 11am. Need to leave earlier next year.   I do like the traders and started browsing them, then soon realised that it was 1230 and I hadn't even seen a layout by then.  I thought there were fewer larger layouts which was disappointing but the ones which were there were great. There was a large o gauge layout with block bells that was particularly excellent, Newchapel Junction.

What I like is being able to compare the different traders.  I wanted to buy a static grass applicator and was able to see demos of several before I bought one, and negotiated a good deal on it.  It's  also valuable to be able to pick up pieces from the niche traders. 

Talking to one trader, he told me his takings were down,  others were very pleased. I do know what the hall hire alone costs, and based on that,  the admission cost is reasonable. Very much looking forward to next year.

 

Edited November 27, 2022 by ikcdab

[adb968008]

Day 2…

 

Lots of layouts 

by far the one drawing the crowds was Deadman’s lane… you could sell tickets for this today, similarly you needed to evict people from it…

It was pretty gripping as a mix of anything modern on a 4 train mainline alongside a cameo to Derby RTC.. grey to meet you today @newbryford

 

 

Every year the live steam 0 gauge layout impresses me.. in site, sound and smell !

 

on international the Swiss 1913 / 2013 matching layouts were an excellant spot the difference layout !

 

 

 

fantastic spot the difference, even including the Helicopter vs Hot air balloon and the radio tower in the back scene 

 

other highlights below 

 

by far my best Warley experience in the last decade.. removing the scrum, and to be honest the strike, made for a much more calmer and balanced two days.. Sunday seemed busier than other years, Saturday was less busy but it was busy.

 

I’ve had much more social time (indeed I think I could have managed day 3 !)

 

pleasure meeting with @newbryford @Torbay Express @big jim @RedgateModels spent lots of time chatting with Accurascale, Bachmann, Cavalex, Heljan, Rapido even Hornby.

 

it’s a great hobby, Warley only happens if the traders, manufacturers and public all come together.. take anyone one away and it all falls apart and theres no show for the layouts.
That’s the symbiotic relationship the hobby has.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2022 by adb968008

[Barry O]

I arrived at the NEC at 2:15 on Thursday and left today at 17:30... car on fire on rhe M1 slowed the traffic on my way home.

 

Nice to get to some RMwebbers who came and had a go at weathering!

 

Time for some sleep!

 

Baz

[rogerzilla]

1 hour ago, locoholic said:

Oh well...

For various reasons I didn't get the usual early start today, so when I approached the vicinity of the NEC on the M42 there was well over a mile of almost stationary traffic just trying to get off the motorway. I sat in the queue for ten minutes and hardly moved, before giving up, as I didn't fancy spending so long just getting to one of the most expensive car parks in the UK, to be followed by a lengthy hike to the exhibition itself. Even though I live deep in rural Herefordshire (hence not using the train - we don't have one), I suspect I was back home before I would have got in to see the models. Of course, I might have made a different decision had I bought an advance ticket.

 

I think I'll try one of the other big shows next time - one that doesn't have half the population of England trying to get into the venue at the same time.

 

Thanks to everyone who has posted photos, so I can see what I missed.

I had an excellent tip on here, which is to park (free) at one of the local stations and get a very cheap train to Bham Intl.  The fare was £5.40 return for two of us frim Berkswell with no traffic queue and a short indoor walk to Hall 5.  Hampton-in-Arden is the closest station but I thought the car park more likely to fill up there.

[Jonhayes]

4 minutes ago, Barry O said:

I arrived at the NEC at 2:15 on Thursday and left today at 17:30... car on fire on rhe M1 slowed the traffic on my way home.

 

Nice to get to some RMwebbers who came and had a go at weathering!

 

Time for some sleep!

 

Baz

I spent a bit of time with you on Saturday and would like to say thank you for the encouragement you gave me. Never been to the show before and really enjoyed speaking to the experts who willingly passed on advice.

 

Jonathan

[Din]

Sadly I seem to have missed a few bits and bobs from the show due to my mindering duties. Which was certainly a good day for networking and such. Lawrie himself had some amusing cards printed to hand to fans, having some 200 made. We went home with about 10!

 

I did get what I wanted from the show, however. Seeing Planet Industrials and buying one of their fabulous Kerr Stuart Victories and grabbing "the first green one of the day" according to James Hilton, I also have a copy of Thunderbolt's Last Run which I am already reading and enjoying.

 

Sadly, while I enjoyed many fab layouts I am seeing wonderful pictures of ones I clearly missed, the 1913/2013 one seems absolutely amazing.

[Clive Mortimore]

One problem of being an operator at a show as big as Warley, you only get to a tiny bit of the show. I am well knackered.

Thanks to Dave Tailby for inviting me to play with his train set, Templegate Wagon Works, possibly the smallest in the show and it big boys 0 gauge (and DCC with noise).

[melmerby]

I was rather Taken by "Somewhere in France" set behind the WW1 front line in 1917/8.

It was really well done but the operation was IMHO a bit less so with a regular trip from right to left of the same few trains (Don't any ever go the other way?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The difference in colour is because some were camera shots and some phone shots, neither corrects tthe lighting colour correctly.

 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2022 by melmerby

[melmerby]

I succumbed

 

 

I also ended up buying 5 wagon kits (why?😄) plus various other odds and ends out of the oddments boxes on several stands🙂

[PaulRhB]

 

 

I know a lot sniff at Thomas but as I last saw this working at the hands of the Rev himself in the late 70’s or early 80’s at the Model Engineering show it was pure nostalgia! 
Thanks to the Talyllyn Railway crew for bringing it and looking after it, it was a bit of magic 😉

[PaulRhB]

3 hours ago, adb968008 said:

the Swiss 1913 / 2013 matching layouts were an excellant spot the difference layout !

 

 

Well done you got me best side! 
 

Thanks to Jim for letting me loose, we had a lot of fun!
And a well deserved recognition of his efforts presented by Pete Waterman 

[big jim]

seeing all the layout pics has made me realise i must have missed most of that side of the show, i mainly stuck to looking round the traders and manufacturers stands!

[RJS1977]

14 hours ago, Phil Bullock said:

Clive and DCC? He told me it stands for Dont Confuse Clive! 😀 Did you succeed? 

 

That was one thing that disappointed me this year - too many DCC layouts. At an exhibition, you need to be able to keep trains moving. On some layouts the operators seemed to spend more time fiddling around trying to find the next loco on the handset than actually driving the trains. And a lot of layouts didn't really need DCC. It has its place on the big loco yard layouts like Old Elm Park, but a one-engine-in-steam BLT or a big double track oval with a fan of loops at the back (where on an analogue layout just changing the points selects the next train - and can be automated quite easily) really doesn't need it.

[298]

8 minutes ago, RJS1977 said:

 

That was one thing that disappointed me this year - too many DCC layouts. At an exhibition, you need to be able to keep trains moving. On some layouts the operators seemed to spend more time fiddling around trying to find the next loco on the handset than actually driving the trains. And a lot of layouts didn't really need DCC. It has its place on the big loco yard layouts like Old Elm Park, but a one-engine-in-steam BLT or a big double track oval with a fan of loops at the back (where on an analogue layout just changing the points selects the next train - and can be automated quite easily) really doesn't need it.

 

Another downside to Warley is operator fatigue-which means having to take a larger crew (my usual layouts that are fine with myself and +1 helper would be +2 helpers there), which may also mean additional help may not be fully conversant with operating. 

 

But for the scenarios you've described, DCC handsets that hold the loco numbers in a stack would be able to quickly recall the next train and simple levels of automation go along way to keeping the baying crowds from a citizens revolt. All layouts can suffer from gremlins and could do with more time being prepared, so I wouldn't knock them just for using DCC...

[298]

On 26/11/2022 at 16:14, big jim said:

Just got home after an exhausting morning, parked in the railway staff car park, saw Britannia then went to the show and queued for a ticket from 08:45, ticket booths opened at 09:15 then public doors opened at 09:45 and I ended up walking round until about 14:45, it wasn’t until I started walking back to the station that I realised my feet were really aching, didn’t have the comfiest of work boots on, being as I’d been up most of the night I was ok early on but the tiredness hit me about 2pm and I’d have happily curled up on the back seat of the bus on display for a kip if I could have! 

 

On 26/11/2022 at 16:14, big jim said:

Glad I went, saw people I knew off here, weirdly when I was queueing up the 2 guys alongside me were also GBRf staff in uniform, never met them before though, had driven from Tyne dock in the middle of the night after their job was cancelled! 

 

I'm amazed by some people's stamina and willingness to drive any distance, it must be the energy of youth because after finishing a block of 12hr nightshifts on Sunday I woke up around lunchtime in full-on grumpy fight mode and certainly wouldn't have even wanted to face public crowds. I don't even accept exhibition invites after nights and try to book off preceding shift blocks as holiday.

Edited November 28, 2022 by 298

[Phil Bullock]

Is it about the choice of control system or about a system of operations? 

[SM42]

I did feel a bit grumpy on Friday night set up after  run of nights but I'm used to it now and can leave that at home most of the time 

 

Like others who were there as exhibitors etc, I too have discovered a lot I missed but that is I suppose the nature of the beast. 

 

What I did see I thought was excellent and full credit to Warley for giving us such a good show.

 

The only downside, if there was one, was Voyage Control for set up day. A right  faff.  But it is what it is.

 

Well done and thanks to all involved for a great weekend.. 

 

Andy

 

[Dunsignalling]

1 minute ago, Phil Bullock said:

Is it about the choice of control system or about a system of operations? 

The issue surely, is how well the one meshes with the other.

 

Both DC and DCC can be tailored to suit operating most layouts, but there is often insufficient thought given to how a layout needs to work with minimum hassle for the operators early enough in the planning/construction process.

 

John