expoEM North 2013

[blueeighties]

One of the best and most enjoyable exhibitions I have had the pleasure of visiting. Excellent layouts, great trade support for bits and pieces, and excellent demonstrations.What more does one need?

[chrisf]

Woodenhead, you have all the luck.  Shows as good as this are just not found on my doorstep.  We will draw a veil over the things that are ...

 

Seriously though, folks - yes, it was a good'un - well done, Derek and all concerned.  The investment in the extra space over last year was wise.  All the layouts had something to tick my boxes and behaved themselves, at least when I was looking at them.  The demonstrators covered as broad a range of interests as could be desired and although I did nor go with the lengthiest of shopping lists - carrying it home by public transport, you see - I did not leave empty-handed.

 

Catering comes in for some justified stick at events like this.  Not this time.  It is possible to pay much more than £1.10 for tea and to have it dispensed grumpily by some boot-faced harridan.  As for solids, £3 was, I thought, reasonable for sausage, chips, beans and expanded polystyrene.  I cannot speak for the fodder given to exhibitionists.

 

Some bring and buy stalls are marked by behaviour more redolent of a WI bazaar.  Fortunately flailing brollies and handbags are not common at EMGS events.  I missed the initial scrum, if scrum there were, but one man's bargain is another man's OMG-how-long-has-he-had-that and there was enough left to prise a few coins and moths from my wallet.

 

The social side is a vital part [did I really type 'viral'?  Oh dear] and various issues were put to rights over tea and in gangways.  There must have been someone there that I missed but hey, that's show business.

 

The final plaudit must be for Peter Savoyard's bus.  When several of us emerged blinking into the sunlight at Urmston station marvelling that the connections had worked, there was RM1152 waiting to turn out of the traffic into the station approach.  Earlier posts in this thread had led us to suppose otherwise so thank you for going the extra mile and a bit! 

 

Chris

[Andy M]

What a fantastic weekend of finescale modelling!

 

I have to say that was one of the most enjoyable exhibitions in many a long year, with a perfect blend of quality layouts, demo's and trade(did miss David Geen though).

 

Huge thanks to Derek and his team for a little belter!

 

Regards,

 

Andy.

[Savoyard]

A very enjoyable weekend was had by the LYDCC team and thanks to Simon and Tom helping with the driving and guarding on the bus.

 

The traffic was very light on Saturday morning until midday and we were able to operate two extra trips without any problems, but traffic started to build up both near the venue and in Urmston town centre so we were right to keep it to every hour after 12.

[woodenhead]

What a tonic this was, after weeks of deliberation a visit this morning gave me the push to rip up and relay my station throat.

 

Despite being a 4mm specialist exhibition, it was good that those of us in the 2mm fraternity were catered for in the form of Calcutta Sidings, all you had to do was stand at one end and focus on the trains at the other and hey presto a finescale 2mm layout.

 

Not that there was a bad layout to be seen but i particularly liked Stainmore, Striven and St Merryn.

 

Last year was good, this year bigger and better, can't wait for next year.

 

Anyway tea eaten, back to modelling.

[26power]

Thanks to the organisers and the EM Society for a good show.  Well worth battling through the wind and rain over Shap this morning.  

 

I think the extra space will help give the event a "critical mass", which should give a lot more reasons for visitors to attend.

[TheSignalEngineer]

Intended visit on Saturday was postponed due to various intervening problems, but as I only live by the Dark Peak changing to today was not a problem.

 

What a great show, probably one with the highest overall standard I have been to in a while. Not one layout which said to me 'I don't belong here'. The standard was excellent, in as much I spent three hours at the layouts as well as spending my budget getting virtually all of the shopping list as well as picking up a few tips and ideas from demonstrators and traders in the rest of the day, catching up with a few old faces and meeting some RMwebbers in person.

 

My overall impression of the layouts was that they had things to grab the attention when no trains were moving, to me a good sign as the real railway often went quite for long periods of the day.

 

 

.....................

 

The final plaudit must be for Peter Savoyard's bus.  When several of us emerged blinking into the sunlight at Urmston station marvelling that the connections had worked, there was RM1152 waiting to turn out of the traffic into the station approach.  Earlier posts in this thread had led us to suppose otherwise so thank you for going the extra mile and a bit! 

 

Chris

Did the Stockport connection work OK?

[Gravy Train]

Thanks to Derek and the team for an excellent weekend,fantastic layouts and displays with excellent trade etc.

I enjoyed very much as a demonstrator meeting friends old and new, and met a couple of guy's from RMWeb, would have been nice to meet more assuming they were there but perhaps the pony tail may have put them off lol :-)

cheers

Peter

[t-b-g]

Back home after a really good weekend. One of the best I have ever enjoyed as an exhibitor and that is saying something cos I have enjoyed lots over the years!

 

If you leave aside the fact that it was all 4mm wider gauge stuff (which is really covered by the show title) it had something for everyone and the mix of layouts, the quality of the layouts, demos and traders and the whole atmosphere of the show was as good as any.

 

I will use a phrase somebody once used at a certain event and that is that if a bomb had dropped on that venue over the weekend, finescale 4mm modelling would probably never have recovered!

 

Many congratulations to Derek and the rest of the gang.

 

All it needs now for the gamble of enlarging the show to work is for everybody who had a good time to tell a few more people and pursuade them to come next year. An event like EXPO doesn't want thousands of visitors or it would change in character and become a "normal" show (although a very high standard one). It has always been a modellers show rather than a public one and I hope it stays like that but perhaps doubling the number through the door would cement the place of EXPO North up there with the show at Bracknell and the Scalefour events as an unmissable event in the diary for many years to come.

 

As for my weekend, Mansfield was a joy to exhibit and operate after a long break. I had forgotten just how relaxing it was. We only needed the toolkit once to repair a fractured solder joint on a point operating crank at 3.30 this afternoon, which took all of 5 seconds, so I couldn't have wished for any better than that.

 

One or two thought it a bit low but the legs and boards were made for me by my dad when I was 6 years old, so they had to be short. The seats in front worked really well but that is not practical at many shows. Having been approached to exhibit at another really good show if I made it higher, I can see some bolt on detachable leg extensions appearing soon. It was noticable how one or two parents with small children commented "Here is one you can see" and a couple fo small enthusiasts stayed for ages this afternoon and had to be dragged away when the show closed, helping me shunt the trucks into the "naughty siding" or the "very naughty" siding. 

 

Perhaps the comment I enjoyed hearing most was from somebody who commented that the layout reminded him of a nice one remembered from years ago called Thompson's End. As both Thompson's End and Mansfield GN were the work of myself and my good friend, the late Malcolm Crawley, it was lovely that our "style" had come through to somebody after many years.

 

Lovely experience all round and can't wait for next year.

 

Tony

[chrisf]

Did the Stockport connection work OK?

 

Like a dream, thank you.  The Pendo was within a minute of right time and the onward train a 156 instead of the nodding donkey that I has feared.  Now watch it all go mammaries up when I try it again (Manchester show, three weeks hence) ...

 

Chris

[sixteen 12by 10s]

Hi all

Well back to the day to day grind of work now, after a very enjoyable weekend showing Glenuig. The last show I attended, with the layout, I won layout of the show, the quality of this one was so good, that there was no chance this time, sat in between Striven, and St Merryn. Thanks to everyone who passed by and had a chat, it is the thing, I most enjoy about these events.

Managed to get round and have a chat on Saturday, Sunday was a little different, having been let down by operators again, and ending up doing the whole day on my own. The M6 was its usually Sunday evening nightmare, and needed a loud helping of Wishbone Ash, and a visit to the pub after I returned home!.

One or two bits to sort out before the next show, mainly to do with Sprat and Winkle couplings.

So thanks Derek and team for putting on the event, and putting up with my “fluid” plans when it came to operator numbers.

Onwards, next show 19/10/13, Cradley Heath, my own club show, and only 3 miles from where I live.

Gary

[ullypug]

Thanks to Derek, Alan and all for organising a fantastic Expo. It's as good as the Bracknell show in my opinion.

We had a good time with Wheal Elizabeth once we'd sorted out the electrical gremlins on Friday evening.

Accommodation was good, food over at the hotel was great (future note to punters might be worthwhile) and all in all a top quality show with 14 (I think) layouts, all of which I'd pay money to see elsewhere.

Thanks to the guys on Diesels in the Duchy for posing the 1366 and BWT on their layout Sunday Morning.

See post 4950 on the thread here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/12234-diesels-in-the-duchy-aka-st-blazey-dcc-em/page-184

 

I echo the posts above in as much as it would be nice to see a few more folks through the door, but not so many that it loses that Expo feel. I had a few folks taking photos of the back of the layout as well as the front and that's what Expo is all about.

If it wasn't so far to travel from the West Country I'd happily go as a punter. Folks in the North West are lucky to have something on their door step. If only we had something (apart from Wells) this good in this part of the world...

 

Thanks again guys.

[TheSignalEngineer]

Like a dream, thank you.  The Pendo was within a minute of right time and the onward train a 156 instead of the nodding donkey that I has feared.  Now watch it all go mammaries up when I try it again (Manchester show, three weeks hence) ...

 

Chris

If you miss the connection at Stockport there are about 4 trains per hour to Levenshulme, the nearest station to the Manchester show if coming from the WCML.

Eric

[sixteen 12by 10s]

Despite being a 4mm specialist exhibition, it was good that those of us in the 2mm fraternity were catered for in the form of Calcutta Sidings, all you had to do was stand at one end and focus on the trains at the other and hey presto a finescale 2mm layout.

 

I had my binoculars in the car, i nearly used them to view Calcutta!

 

 
.

[Brassey]

This was the first show I'd attended as an exhibitor manning the LNWR Society stand and selling the Society's books including the new one on the history of the Society.  And what a pleasurable experience and successful show it turned out to be.  The atmosphere was great with some friendly folk all around.  Already put my name down again for next year as there is a rumour that there might be a couple of LNWR and North West based layouts attending too.

[iak]

Excellent show to attend and such a buzz inside.

I really enjoyed some of the exhibits which were new to me and some I'd seen before were so much nicer to see without barriers - an EXPO specialty.

Spent all the saved pennies on 95% of what I wanted and had a few good natters so well pleased.

Bravo to Derek and his Hobbits - ginger beer all round :clapping:

[pete55]

Thought the show was excellent from a demonstrators point of view......usual friendly banter, plenty of excellent trade and plenty of really good quality layouts.

I'm biased of course....but Stainmore looked good from the outside for once, rather than inside where I'd normally be. If you want to see it again....then get the show invites rolling in, we have no more at present.

Hotel was good too.....once we found it!!

Hope the figures stack up Derek.......and thanks to you and your team for what must have been the best Expo North yet......

[bluebottle]

I missed this year's show, being busy organising MIL's funeral (no unworthy thoughts, please, she was a lovely lady), so it would be nice to see some more snaps (up to the standard of those by Debs and Tender if possible), please!

[John_Miles]

I am one of the Ynysybwl crew. I would support all the good things that are said above about the show. One of the best I have attended. The quality of the layouts was outstanding, traders were good - spent too much - and the demonstrators were first rate. We had a good night out in Hale (Robinson's Ale and a curry) including an inspection of the station which still has a signal box. Second night out was in Bowdon village which was quieter but still good beer (TT Landlord).

[5050]

Excellent show Derek, I'm glad I came.  Best show I've been to for a long time.  Thoroughly enjoyed all the layouts - and all the old friends I met.

 

Thanks to you and the others (they know who they are!) for organising it.

[DerekEm8]

Arrived home at 7-45 pm after the hall being totally cleared and everyone was away by 7-00pm. (the Scousers keeping their record intact for being the last exhibitors to leave the building) Considering that the exhibition was literall twice the size of last years show I was very pleasantly surprised expecting a much later arrival home. Big THANKS to all for the rapid clear up.

 

My thanks on behalf of the EMGS go to the layout owners & operators, demonstrators, traders, stewards, bus drivers and conductors, visitors and all others who supported us this weekend.

 

For those who were not about at the time it was presented 'St. Merryn' won the 'Best Layout' trophy.

 

I would also like to thank all the above posters for their messages of support for the show and our choice of venue.

The word must have got out because the visitor numbers were up significantly (25%) on 2011 & 2012.

 

Plans are in hand for next years expoEM North at the same venue, the same weekend (13th-14th September 2013)

 

Once again thank you.

[beast66606]

 

 

I We had a good night out in Hale (Robinson's Ale and a curry) including an inspection of the station which still has a signal box.

 

Long since closed though.

[Waterloo]

The St. Merryn team were very privileged to be part of such a fantastic exhibition showing everything that is great about 4mm finescale modelling. There was that all important balance of excellent layouts, knowledgeable and enthusiastic demonstrators with a good variety of specialist trade all blended together with real warm, friendly and genuine hospitality.   We loved every minute of it.

 

The well deserved success of expoEM North was due to the hard work and enthusiasm of Derek and his team.

Given the high quality of layouts on show over the weekend St Merryn was very honoured to have been deemed the 'best layout' by the visitors but the real 'winners' were all those who were able to attend and experience the show, either as exhibitors or visitors.

 

I wish Derek, his team and the EMGS Board all the success that putting on such a high quality show deserves. 

 

Many thanks again for inviting us and I look forward to visiting again next year to experience another delightful feast.

 

Keep up the good work!

 

Steve

SLAG, Scalefour Society.

 

[Richard Jones]

Great Show - invited along one of my former work colleagues - although he is a OO modeller has been inspired to restart his modelling projects.

 

A few "snaps" off the phone camera attached