expoEM Spring 2024

[Leander]

A Showcase of the Best in 4mm Scale Railway Modelling
The flagship event of the EM Gauge Society will take place over the weekend of May 11th & 12th 2024 at the now well-established venue of Bracknell Leisure Centre. On display will be thirteen finescale layouts representing the best in 4mm modelling, plus our ‘Guest Layout’, this year in 2mm scale. As usual there will be plenty of opportunity to stock up on modelling supplies with a good range of specialist traders in attendance. In addition, there will be a variety of ‘Show you how’ demonstrations and other special interest society stands. There will also be the EM and P4 test track (now with both analog and DCC control), the EMGS trade stand - selling amongst other things, the Society’s range of EM track and points, in addition to the ever-popular members’ second-hand sales.

 

Saturday 11th May - 10.30am to 5.30pm
Sunday 12th May - 10.00am to 4.30pm

 

Venue

Bracknell Leisure Centre
Bagshot Road
Bracknell

Berkshire

RG12 9SE

 

Location
Within easy reach of both the M3 (Junction 3) and M4 (Junction 10). Follow the brown signs for Bracknell Leisure Centre. SAT NAV - RG12 9SE
Bracknell Railway Station is ¾ mile away.
Free on-site parking, Catering and Level Access

Admission Prices (valid for both days)

2-day visitor ticket £11.00
EMGS members £9.00
Accompanied children under 16 - FREE
(Tickets valid both days)

 

Layouts booked to attend
Elcot Road (P4) - Southern Electric – Simon Bendall
Express Daisy Sidings (EM) – Andy Avis
Glenuig (EM) – Fictitious ex NBR branch in 1980s – Gary Hinson
Great Bardfield (P4) - GER Backwater in the 1960s – David Hawkins
Hepton Wharf (P4) - L&Y - the late Iain Rice’s famous “Cameo” refurbished by SHMRC
Nettlebridge New Colliery (EM) – Nick Ridgway
Otterford (EM) - GWR 1940s - Chris Lamacraft
Pencader (EM) - South Wales in 1930s – Cardiff 4mm Group
Portskerra (EM) – Highland Railway 1915 – Tim Tincknell
Rolvenden (P4) - KESR 1920s – Robin Gaye
Shirebeck in Emswell (EM) - East Midlands 1970s/80s – Alan Monk
West End Drift (EM) - (Chairman s Challenge Winner) – Graham Hudson
Guest Layout (2mm Finescale) – Tucking Mill – Jerry Clifford

 

Trade Support
247 Developments
Alan Gibson
Bill Hudson Transport Books
Branchlines
Brassmasters
Cambrian Model Rail Ltd
C & L Finescale Track Building Systems
Dart Castings
Dingo Servo Mounts
EBMA Hobby & Craft
Harry Flatman (locos)
High Level Kits
Isinglass Models
London Road Models
Mike King (Southern drawings)
Model Railway Developments
Modelstock (ABS)
Nick Tozer Railway Books
Nick Whiteley (3D printed buildings)
Prickley Pear Products
Roger Carpenter Photographs
Roxey Mouldings
Squires Model & Craft Tools
Steam Age

 

Demonstrators

David Burnett - 3D Printing
Tony Gee - Architectural modelling
Vernon Harrod - Kit and scratch-built coaches and other rolling stock
Andrew Hartshorne - Kit built and modified R2R Freight stock

Geoff Haynes - Painting and lining
Peter Hill - Converting R-T-R locomotives and scratchbuilding
John James - Split chassis loco construction
Geoff Kent - Modelling using plasticard
Paul Nash - Landscape modelling, including trees
Peter Sutherland - Plastic coaches
Phil Tattershall - Bull-head trackwork construction

 

Visiting Model and Railway Societies
Bracknell Railway Society
Diesel and Electric Modellers (DEMU)
Great Western Study Group
Model Electronic Railway Group (MERG)
Missenden Railway Modellers
Pendon Museum
We are pleased to welcome Bracknell Model Railway Society to the show as the local club catering for our hobby. Their clubroom is at Pinewood Leisure Centre (RG40 3AQ) between Wokingham/Bracknell/Crowthorne, where they have layouts in N, 00, EM and 0 gauge. They also have a live steam track (3.5” and 5” gauge) at Jocks Lane in Bracknell RG12 2BH. New members are always welcome, including juniors (who must be accompanied). Talk to the members at their stand or go on-line at www.bracknellrailwaysociety.co.uk for details or find them on Facebook.

 

The EMGS Test Track

The test track, (now with both analog and DCC control) will be in attendance, with EM, P4 and OO tracks available for testing your models, and perhaps test running items from the Members sales stand.

 

Members Sales stand
The stand will be located in the balcony area overlooking the hall
Trading times will start later than the opening of the show and finish earlier than the closing time.
All transactions strictly CASH ONLY.
 

Catering

The Centre catering service will be offering sandwiches, paninis, tea, coffee etc. Regrettably there will be no hot food available as after privatisation the kitchen was closed down, as was the licensed bar.

As an alternative there is a Harvester pub, The Horse & Groom, by the roundabout at Devonshire Way. There is also a large Sainsbury’s Superstore on the A322 about 1/2 mile towards the M3 which has a Starbucks serving, we are told, their usual fare plus paninis, sandwiches, etc. A short walk from the Centre is a petrol station which has a Waitrose shop attached stocking sandwiches, pies, confectionery etc. A little further on there is KFC with upstairs seating available. The town centre has a number of eating places including The Old Manor, a Wetherspoons pub, although it is quite a walk away.

 

Failing that you could, of course, bring your own

 

 

Edited February 11 by Leander
add flyer

[brightspark]

Just beyond the petrol station and towards KFC, parked in the layby, is an excellent kebab van. The burgers are very good.

[Compound2632]

The Midland Railway Society will have a stand, with Society publications and Journal / Modelling the Midland backnumbers for sale and a display of Midland wagon models in 4 mm scale. Thanks to Tony Sullivan for this opportunity for the Midland in Berkshire!

[t-b-g]

Just to give this one a bit of a bump as the show is this weekend.

 

You don't have to model in EM to enjoy the show. There will be plenty of good modelling on display, including a 2mm guest layout "Tucking Mill" by Jerry Clifford.

 

It is also one of the shows where the hobby/specialist traders turn out on force, so it is an ideal opportunity to browse their wares and stock up on all those bits that you can't find at many shows.

 

I will be there on a demo stand, showing how I make model buildings, along with other members of the "Retford Mob".

 

I look forward to seeing some RMWebbers there.

 

Tony Gee

[Leander]

Late travel News – M25 closure between Junctions 9 and 10 this weekend.

 

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/article/m25-set-for-second-full-weekend-closure-for-key-milestone-in-317m-junction-10-improvement-project/

 

The last time this happened a few weeks ago, there were diversions off the M25 adding approximately 35 minutes to journey times.
 

Edited May 9 by Leander
Update

[Leander]

Just to let you all know that we have had two traders unfortunately drop out of our show this weekend.  Although for different reasons, both C&L and Dart Castings won’t now be coming.

 

One cited illness, the other difficulties with getting to Bracknell with the closure of the M25 between J9 & 10 this weekend, and the likely traffic chaos around the area, so fingers crossed this won't affect our numbers too much.

[Gt.Shefford]

On the subject of road closures, it is the Bracknell Half Marathon this Sunday.

 

From the  race notes several 'soft closures' will be in place between 08:35 and 11:00. Of particular note for Expo is the soft closure of the entry to the leisure center between 9:30 and 11:00am 

 

Full list of closures https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-transport/highways-public-notices/bracknell-half-marathon-road-closures

Map showing the closures https://one.network/?tm=GB138431329

 

Jonathan

[247 Developments]

made it to the hotel a quick coffee then think about setting off to set up

[robertcwp]

No trains at Bracknell this weekend. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/engineering-works/ascot-reading-20240511/

[ullypug]

On 09/05/2024 at 17:31, Gt.Shefford said:

On the subject of road closures, it is the Bracknell Half Marathon this Sunday.

 

From the  race notes several 'soft closures' will be in place between 08:35 and 11:00. Of particular note for Expo is the soft closure of the entry to the leisure center between 9:30 and 11:00am 

 

Full list of closures https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-transport/highways-public-notices/bracknell-half-marathon-road-closures

Map showing the closures https://one.network/?tm=GB138431329

 

Jonathan

This is the same situation as per the past 2 years. In reality access is usually only affected for about 10 minutes and the marshals do a great job. 

[Enterprisingwestern]

18 hours ago, ullypug said:

This is the same situation as per the past 2 years. In reality access is usually only affected for about 10 minutes and the marshals do a great job. 

 

The blood is easy enough to wash off the car, roads are for cars I believe.

 

Mike.

[Leander]

It seemed to be a good day today from the viewpoint of Members’ Sales. We were busy throughout the day with sales being  particularly brisk during the first three hours of trading. 
 

We open again at 10 o’clock in the morning.

[Gilbert]

I was busy all day on the MIssenden stand but did manage a few phone photos of a very high standard show...photos still need captions etc...

 

 

 

[Peterem]

17 hours ago, Leander said:

We were busy throughout the day with sales being  particularly brisk during the first three hours of trading. 

There certainly wasn't a lot left by the time I arrived just before 1pm!  A fine day out and some nice layouts - my one gripe would be the lack of anything for the punters to lean against while viewing them. My back was playing up a bit by the close.

 

Replacement buses were less of a problem than the overdressed Loadsamonies heading for the racing at Ascot. Not too bad on the way out, terrible on the way back when they were all also drunk and loud. No trains to London for a couple of hours after someone went for an impromptu lineside walk at Virginia Water and kept us all stuck at Ascot station for quite a while. Given that there was a car park full of spare rail replacement buses at the time it's a shame no-one at South Western Railway thought of bussing us to somewhere nearer London where the power was still on!

 

 

[fulton]

Wish the show well, had planned to visit today and travel to Germany tomorrow, Monday, but a last minute change meant I travelled Friday, will be there next year with my Janes' Creek layout.

[figworthy]

I had a very enjoyable day their today.  Some interesting chats with a couple of the demonstrators and one of the traders (unfortunately the wrong era for me), and bumped into a few familiar faces.  Credit card is now whimpering in a corner.

 

Congratulations to the organisers on another good show, hopefully I'll be back next year.

 

Adrian

[Leander]

On 10/05/2024 at 22:50, ullypug said:

This is the same situation as per the past 2 years. In reality access is usually only affected for about 10 minutes and the marshals do a great job. 

No problems at all, as in previous years.

[Crantock]

Have to say that was excellent. I don't think I have ever spent sso much time looking at individual layouts or actually talking to people.  Great venue - single room that never got too hot. Great atmosphere. My ideal selection of trade. 

 

I was impressed there was a prize for prototypical operation and it showed in the quality. 

 

show of the year thus far for me. 

[Northmoor]

8 hours ago, Crantock said:

Have to say that was excellent. I don't think I have ever spent sso much time looking at individual layouts or actually talking to people.  Great venue - single room that never got too hot. Great atmosphere. My ideal selection of trade. 

 

I was impressed there was a prize for prototypical operation and it showed in the quality. 

 

show of the year thus far for me. 

Seconded completely.  I really appreciated being able to deal directly with some specialist traders while the standard of layouts was (of course) consistently exceptional.

[MarcD]

It was my first time there as a trader. It was a brilliant show. From a business perspective lost of people came talked to us about the kits and the automatic couplings and then decided to try some. And as a modeller to see the layouts and demos has given me ideas on where my next micro layout is going to go.

We will be back next year.

Marc

Pre-Grouping Railways 

[Compound2632]

The Midland Railway Society was very happy to be invited, very pleased with the outcome, and is looking forward to coming again the year after next. Our thanks to outgoing Exhibition Manager Tony Sullivan - who happens to be a Society member!

[Not Jeremy]

I echo all the above comments, that was a wonderful weekend that ticked all the boxes.

 

 

Testing my new phone on Robin Gay's exquisite "Rolvenden"

 

Personally, after a gap of one year in attendance,  it was also great to have another opportunity to chat to the wonderful Mike King who was telling me the amazing life story of AE West, more of whose photographs I just had to buy.

 

Such a joy to be amongst so many people who have contributed so much to our hobby in so many ways.

 

 

James Hudson (son of Bill) with Jerry Clifford on Saturday, John Jennison in background.

 

 

Steve Flint presents show organiserTony Sullivan with a cup for being the bestest EM Gauge Society good egg. Bernie Baker and Ian Penbreth lurk in the background

 

Thank you to the organisers, exhibitors and visitors for a memorable two days!

 

Simon

 

PS, it was a bit quieter than normal without Roger, but then we did have the seagulls...

 

 

Edited May 13 by Not Jeremy
tense

[t-b-g]

I had a lovely weekend with my demo stand although my voice nearly gave out from too much talking.

 

A few people seemed surprised to see me doing a demo on making buildings, as it was the first time I have covered this subject but I had lots of interest. One or two suggested that I would do just about anything to get into the show without paying at the door. There may be some truth in that. Next year I will be back with a new layout, for what will be its first outing in a completed state. 

 

Some spending at trade stands and the member's sales stand happened and it was really good to meet up with so many regulars and a few new faces.

 

Many thanks to all the organisers and especially to Tony Sullivan for all his work over the years as the now retired show manager.

 

Tony Gee

[Leander]

The Competition Winners from expoEM Spring 2024 presented by the EM Gauge Society at Bracknell Leisure Centre last weekend. Photos by Karl Crowther.

Peter Denny Memorial Trophy (layout operated in the most prototypical manner)

Great Bardfield by Dave Hawkins

Pencader presented by the Cardiff 4mm Group won the Challenge Cup (awarded to the best layout in show, by public vote)  and the Watlington Trophy (best scratchbuilt or kitbuilt item on a layout or demonstration stand) for Pencader's Station Building.

Edited May 15 by Leander

[BluenGreyAnorak]

Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed a visit to this show last Sunday. There's always something lovely to see (I particularly enjoyed Elcot Road and West End Drift is always fun to watch) but the whole set up without barriers in front of layouts gives a very different atmosphere to other shows. I find that I talk to operators more often, too.

 

Thanks to everybody involved.