NFRM Peterborough 16th - 17th October 2010

[HLT 0109]

I was at the show yesterday and thought it very good indeed. Today, I have enjoyed reading the Official Show Guide and would now like to see all the layouts again! It would be nice if those who pre-book tickets could receive the guide with their tickets so that they can read it in advance. I find it very difficult to read it whilst at the show when I really want to be watching the trains. But, I agree with everyone else - a well organised and well presented show at an excellent venue.

 

Harold.

[geoffers]

Duchess of Sutherland maybe?

 

Ah yes. But they all look the same don't they - at least that's what mrs geoffers says.

[Graham_Muz]

HInton Parva and its operating team from the High Wycombe and District MRS made it back to the depths of Buckinghamshire by about 7.30 last night after a good weekend. With the exception of one dry joint on one point motor we felt it was one of our best performances at a show yet.

 

We had an intersting location in the hall, being our own island with public viewing on all four sides, viewing the fiddle yard was very popular with the public. We were also, unlike some (well mainly a certain tree ridden north devon layout) running our full sequence of trains to beyond closing time due to a specific request for the two Garrett Rakes to be seen crossing at the front one more time to the extent that the site staff were shooing the visitors out at the end.

 

Overall I felt it was a good show with a good line up of layouts and they allowed plenty of space between exhibits which made getting about much easier than at some shows. Next stop for HP is Warley so come and say hello there.

[RedgateModels]

But here is my gripe, I couldn't get there until 3pm Sunday (work) but it does bug me that some start taking stock off nearly 2 hours before the end of a show, entered through the doors and spotted county gate which is always worth a look, stood waiting for what seemed like an age as the team stood behind taking stock off and packing it away, with nothing running for in excess of 5 mins I gave up and moved on. it was not sadly an isolated case, I did mention to one operator that it's not really cricket to do this, the reply was "we've been here all weekend" my reply was "don't take 2 day bookings if you don't want to do them".

That said I was there right until 4.30pm and there were several operating as normal until the end, as it should be!

 

I like the show and will go again but it does annoy me when that happens.

 

Totally agree. When operating Summat Colliery we always try to operate up to the end. Occasionally if it's really slack in the last hour, when a loco has finished it's set it goes away in it's box, so that by closing time most of them are safety packed away, but only if there's no-one about.

 

I felt a bit guilty at the recent Sheffield MRS show doing this as there seemed to be loads of people around even at 4:30 until I realised they were all club members. I stopped operating at ten to five at which point most layouts were being taken down.

[edcayton]

Hinton Parva was excellent again. I think it is essential for all shows to have at least one big busy tail-chaser with a large variety of stock. Taking Graham's point, I spent most time looking at the FY, but I have seen the front several times. I wish I'd realised there were TWO Garratt trains though.

 

Good show all round

 

Ed

[GWMark]

Ed,

 

Hinton Parva was excellent again. I think it is essential for all shows to have at least one big busy tail-chaser with a large variety of stock. Taking Graham's point, I spent most time looking at the FY, but I have seen the front several times. I wish I'd realised there were TWO Garratt trains though.

 

sorry you missed the two of them together, just to let you see the crossing move in action, this is some video I took at the clubroom some time ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fffq6wdbBHI

 

Having alternated between the main panel and fiddle yard on Hinton Parva for most of the weekend, it was good to see faces around the back and be able to talk to them, when the train movements allowed. Personally I like the idea of being able to see the fiddle yards as well, it's like having a "back stage" pass.

 

Mark

[Graham_Muz]

Hinton Parva was excellent again. I think it is essential for all shows to have at least one big busy tail-chaser with a large variety of stock. Taking Graham's point, I spent most time looking at the FY, but I have seen the front several times. I wish I'd realised there were TWO Garratt trains though.

 

Good show all round

 

Ed

 

Ed

 

Sorry you missed both the Garretts we run the LMS version (K's Kit) on a laoded 68 wagon coal train with the LNER version (DJH kit) on a 56 wagon empties.

 

I agree with your comment about being good to have a nice big layout that concentrates on varied and busy operation with a variety of stock that is very much the ethos behind HP, it will never win awards scenically but we do run 59 rakes all if which, with the exception of two, appear twice during an hours sequence and we have a variety of kit built stock and locomotives to add variety over and above just RTR stock. Certain moves are planned to occur such as the Garrett rakes or Pullman rakes crossing out the front, or other trains crossing at visually effective locations such as the junctions of the main and secondary lines. Keeping things moving and lots of activity for the viewing public is key for us with up to five movements at any one time going on at the front along the 32' length.

[St. Simon]

Hi,

 

I spent the Sunday at the Peterborough show operating Hinton Parva along with Graham_Muz and GWMark!

 

It was very enjoyable show with a nice range of Layouts, most of which I haven't seen before! There was also a good range of box-shifters and specialist traders!

 

Hinton Parva worked well for the day and as said before it was nice to chat to a few people while on the fiddleyard (even thought the sign said we had to be grumpy!) It was amazing to see how many people came and looked at the back, at one point we had more people round the back and round the front!

 

Overall a very good day!

 

Simon

[Dicky W]

It would be nice if those who pre-book tickets could receive the guide with their tickets so that they can read it in advance. I find it very difficult to read it whilst at the show when I really want to be watching the trains.

 

Harold.

 

Hello Harold

 

I've been advised that it won't be possible to send the guide out to pre-bookers before the show, but the guide is available online via the BRM webistes (old and new!) for at least a week before the event and some time after (it's still there now!). Hope this helps

 

Regards

[Gordon H]

I like the show and will go again but it does annoy me when that happens.

They did make an announcement over the PA on this subject some time towards the end of the show to remind exhibitors, but I am guessing it may have been in response to comments made by which time it was really too late to make much of a difference.

[kevindickerson]

The layout performed well in parts but did have its sticky moments. The hall was very cold during set up and must have been even colder overnight. When coming into the hall on Saturday morning we did notice how much warmer the whole place was. (much better!) This seemed to have an adverse effect on the operation of our "delicate little creation". I wonder if anyone else experienced similar problems? (not just the usual Saturday morning stuff) Maybe it was just us!

Mike,

 

We did experiance the same issue, but more so from the Saturday to Sunday, than the Friday/Saturday, with things starting to de-rail where they hadn't done so the morning/day before later on in the afternoon on the Sunday. Luckily it was off scene in the fiddle yard rather than on the on-scene. We have had worse issues where the temperature differences have been greater, but this is more so in the middle of winter.

 

Regards

Kevin

[Judge Dread]

On behalf of my co-operators ChrisH and Ray, who operated Brockey Green under trying conditions all caused by me, I wish to thank all at BRM for a wonderful weekend. I always set off to go to an exhibition to enjoy myself and the weekend just gone was enjoyed! I'm sure some would have found fault with something but there was nothing at that show which could be "accepted". Roll on the next BRM show sezs I.

[HLT 0109]

Hello Harold

 

I've been advised that it won't be possible to send the guide out to pre-bookers before the show, but the guide is available online via the BRM webistes (old and new!) for at least a week before the event and some time after (it's still there now!). Hope this helps

 

Regards

 

Richard,

 

Thank you for that reply - I will make sure I remember the information for next year.

 

Harold.

[RichardS]

Having been on both sides of the fence I can see both sides of the running to the end of the show issue. As a customer I expect to get a show during the hours described (yes it is equally frustrating to see the set up of layouts continuing after opening times) that is what I pay for and legally there is a requirement for the promoter to do what it says on the tin. Obviously things don't always run to plan and we should accept reasonable variations. But if a layout operator has been paid to attend then the promoter also has an expectation that that operator will abide by his commitment. The solution is for the promoter to pay less than the requested fee if the layout is not on line at the required times. Alternatively, the customer could ask for a partial entry refund particularly if the miscreant was one of the advertised attractions. (I was contemplated asking for a full refund at an event - so bad was it! I chickened out!)

But look at it the other way some shows from the operators perspective are so dire that they have every justification in wanting to get away quickly. But they should not preempt the final whistle.

At the end of the day if you exhibit your model railway publicly you do it for the promoter of the event and his customers - you do not do it for your own convenience.

Didn't get to Peterborough but plan to visit Warley in November - very unlikely to be there at the start or end of the day - so expect to see all layouts fully active all the time.....

RichardS

[Andy C]

. But if a layout operator has been paid to attend then the promoter also has an expectation that that operator will abide by his commitment. The solution is for the promoter to pay less than the requested fee if the layout is not on line at the required times. RichardS

 

Since when has any layout beeen paid a fee for attending any show? God I only wish

 

Shows - certainly in this country and those run by clubs - pay expenses only i.e. van hire, petrol etc and thats yer lot. (and hotel accom paid if away from home) You dont make anything taking a layout to a show, in actual fact once you have bought meals in the evening (if its an away show) then you make a nett loss.

Mind you this is a Warners show and a commercial venture so I suppose in this instance its only right to charge an appearance fee . Think I would be adding riders as well, 2 bottles of Laphroaigh behind the layout and smarties with all the yellow ones taken out............................

[Mike J]

Lets face it, as an exhibitor, your commitment is to have your layout running between the advertised opening and closing times, no matter how inconvenient this is! Yes, we all want to get away as quickly and as painlessly as possible at the end of a show, but there is no excuse for packing up early. By accepting the invitation to exhibit in the first place, you should be aware of all the logistics (erecting and taking down of layout, travel time, disposal of layout etc.) involved and make allowances accordingly.

The only time that any packing up before the end of the show is acceptable is if you run stock on a turn around schedule that takes a particular item past closing time. If the item of stock will not enter the scenic section before closing, then by all means pack it away. But remember, even then, a member of the paying public may well request to see a particular train/loco run, so even then you could be caught out.

Sorry to pontificate, but it annoys me when some exhibitors start to pack away before closing. Rant over.

St. Cyrus, Ian Harper locomotives, North of England Line...running until 4.35 on Sunday, packed away at club by 10.00 after 160 miles and a stop for dinner at Grantham north services. All very enjoyable!!!!

 

 

[LNERandBR]

The only items I'd pack away before a show ends is anything spare which isn't on the track. Spare loco's and the like.

 

I suppose the only time that you can safely pack away before closing time is if the show organiser comes and tells you that you can because there's no puters in the hall and they aren't letting anyone else in. This is what happened a few weeks ago when I exhibited at Castor.

[silverlink]

On a positive note I would like to thank BRM and in paticular Sam Porter for inviting me to Peterborough to demonstrate the art of renaming & numbering model loco's. I found those attending both knowlegable & enthusiastic, I enjoyed the banter with many of the layout operators and traders. One thing that stood out to me was meeting Simon Kholer of Hornby who turned up and set up his stand and then seemed to run it all on his own for two days!On Sunday after I had packed up (after 4-30pm may I add)I wondered over to his stand to say goodbye where I found him dismantaling his stand again on his own!still full of the enthusiasm of the fisrt day, What a nice guy. I know I speak for the rest of the lads from Scarborough (North of England Line & St Syrus)in saying we all had a great time.

Cheers

Ian Harper (Peasholm Models)