Chris M

I agree about the kettle but have to disagree about the layouts. Quite a few layouts did “blow my socks off” . I may well be biased but I thought there were a good number of excellent layouts. As a layout exhibitor I do take offence that you describe my layout as either “average sort of stuff or even dog eared.”

There were actually fewer trade exhibitors this year than in recent years. Layouts were about the same as usual at around 90.

Don't forget the Peco N gauge wagons that are made here in the UK down in sunny Devon. Here is my clayliner train made from Peco 5 plank wagon kits running on Peco code 55 tracks and using some Unifrog points. I need to put new wheelsets in some of my wagons but I think this makes a fine train that looks great. The great thing for me about N is that I can run a train of this length in an ordinary sized room. That and the greater scenic development opportunities in a smaller scale.

My Dapol tender locos don't seem to be too bad.

The big weekend is here. Petty much everything was set up yesterday. My plan is to spend as much of the two days as possible playing trains and chatting. I dare say I will get called away from running trains to perform various duties over the weekend though. Apparently Modelu are going to scan me, I really can't see why. Something to do with me being Warley club chairman I guess. That will make for an odd shaped figure. I will have to speak with the exhibition sponsors on Sunday which will be a nice bit of hobnobbing for me. I shall have my layout t-shirt on all weekend. I did have a maroon jacket but I have passed that on to someone else. My jacket seems to have shrunk in the wardrobe over the years. I hope everyone who comes to the exhibition has a great time and spends loads of money. I said I wasn't going to buy anything but after a walk around the hall yesterday evening I can feel myself succumbing to temptation.

Hi Robert, could I have a spare table?

Different scales provide different possibilities. I went from 00 to N just over ten years ago. I would not change back. As in any scale Peco track is a good choice. I think all recently released stock from all manufacturers is pretty good. Enjoy.

The lorry has arrived at our clubroom to load up for the NEC. Blimey, that’s a big one! This should be loaded by around midday and will then make its way to hall 5 where the rest of the day will be spent unloading. The Luton van used yesterday will also go to the clubroom again to pick up anything that can’t be fitted on the lorry. I'm getting too old for all this! I know will feel ten years older on Monday.

Although club members are under a lot of pressure setting up the show one of them will speak to the Ticket Factory to see if it is possible to re-open sales.

I posted here yesterday at 10:00am to say that advance ticket cut off was 16:00 today.

The van at the NEC. And the loco has arrived. It was lost for about half an hour but luckily we found it!

Big stuff in the clubroom waiting for the lorry tomorrow.

I love being part of build up. These phots were taken many years ago but it looks the same each year, but with a better loco this year. 😊 Early Friday morning and the exhibition is nothing but a few chalk marks on the floor. The loco is always first in, as you would expect. 5164 this year. I'm sure admin will like this last photo.

The void area is great for easy loading up after the exhibition. Even though my layout will be on the far side of the hall I plan to use the void area. At a smaller show I reckon 30 to 40 minutes from end of show to being on the road when there are three or four of us who know what to do. At the Warley NEC show you have to expect it to take just a little longer.

Yep 250 stands and a real loco all trying to pack up and leave as quickly as possible will always make for an interesting few hours on Sunday night. Everybody thinks they are special and should have priority. I always feel quite sad when he hall is empty on Sunday night. In a few hours the hall goes from vibrant with plenty of trains running and full of happy people back to an empty shell of a building with no soul.

I'm picking up a Luton van in the morning and making my first journey from the Warley club to the NEC. This is the advance guard of stuff required for the NEC. On Friday I will make the same journey again with more stuff and accompanied by a lorry with a 40ft trailer. The club takes a lot of stuff to the NEC.

Well it’s not Glastonbury but Warley club is taking three layouts to a Carol service next month.

If you have had difficulty buying tickets from the Ticket Factory let me know so I can pass on any issues to the guy who deals with the ticket factory. They should be big enough and professional enough to have a near perfect ticket selling operation..

Advance ticket sales are available until 16:00 on Thursday. These will be e-tickets. Advance tickets can be used on either day. Sunday is always quieter and more relaxed. Go to https://www.theticketfactory.com/tickets/events/warley-national-model-railway/ if you plan to park at the NEC don’t forget to buy your ticket in advance w rather than on the day.

That's worse than when the Nat West bank had a department called Trustee & Income Tax Services many years ago. Everything was fine with that title until we had a meeting in a venue that abbreviated the name to "Nat West TITS" . The name of this department was changed not long after.

You are too kind Paul. I have had a number of "official capacities" over the last 30 years. This year I still have an official capacity, in fact I seem to have accidentally gained a number of official capacities, but my main aim is to spend the weekend running my layout, or to put it more accurately, playing trains.

All I can say about breakdown is see pages 5 & 6 of the exhibitor manual. I'll be in the same boat as everyone else only worse. I have to load two layouts at opposite ends of the hall into a van and pick up any bits that the lorry hasn't got room for from the organiser's office. The lorry has a 12 metre trailer which will be full. It will go over to the clubrooms after the show and be unloaded on Sunday night. After dropping off one layout at a house in Birmingham I will take the van over to the clubroom to help unload the lorry and anything in the van (except the second layout which will be sorted Monday morning). I may be a little tired by the time I get home on Sunday night. I expect I will think I'm getting too old for this game.

And I've just done another one for the lorry that takes all the club stuff across. Once you get used to Voyage its quite easy. 🙂

I went onto the NEC voyage site at 9:58 and I now have my printed pass all ready to use.

This floor plan shows where to find Revolution Trains with a big red arrow. There is also a ring around the N gauge blocks in purple.