fulton

Have been busy, track now all laid, wiring complete, now running test trains, all went well just the normal couple of wires back to front and a bad solder joint in a din plug. After struggling under my last layout to plug leads in, and getting older, this time all connections are made above board at the back, the main control box has a long lead so at exhibitions I will operate from the back and at home from the front.

First track laid today, this is two of the four boards, the staging is behind the back board, no provision for trains to run through, only the Plant city switcher comes out switches the industries, then returns, it will push the cars off the scene to the passing siding not far away towards Plant City. It would be nice to run through trains but I do not have the space and the layout will be quite enough to take to exhibitions anyway.

Thanks for the information, unfortunately UK computers are barred from the Triest site, came up as blacklisted when I tried, so any info you can find would be good. Bases boards now complete, marking out the track work now in progress.

The end of the fenced in area.

Not sure of Triest Irrigations full business, but the three tank car unloading spots and tank farm are all in their property, also the sign on the gate warns of pesticide storage.

This is an overview of the area I plan to model, the spur is off the CSX A line just on the edge of Plant city, it serves Triest Irrigation, tank cars, Builders First Source, building materials, Florida Potato and Onion, reefers and a secure car storage area. Layout will be 16' long by 2' 6" wide, length compressed by 40%, width will be scale.

After some time work has started on my new layout, no lack of time now, those in the Kent area NMRA group will be sad to know my extensive garage layout is now sitting in a Jumbo skip bag on my drive, hence room for this new project. Had originally planned to use PECO code 70 but still not available, code 83 points are available but could not find any track, so have gone for code 83 points and code 70 track, all from Model Junction, somehow I expected the code 83 to look heavier and the code 70 to look lighter, but they to my eye they match very well, very little packing required to raise the code 70.

Have been away so only caught up on this topic, made me shiver, terrible, lets hope a one time incident, as a former exhibition manager and still regular exhibitor it makes you think but lets keep it in perspective, when the Chatham Show was in the dockyard covered slip we were aware of security issues, I work in the security industry so was able to access reliable (most are) SIA licensed staff happy to work a couple of ad hoc night shifts, at £10 an hour self employed.

A bit late after the show but a well done to the organizers, we enjoyed exhibiting Railroad Crossing, it was a four hour drive from Kent and quite long exhibition days but well worth it. Looking forward to retuning next year, all being well, with my Fulton Terminal layout, it looked to me to be a good attendance, some shows in the south east seem to die early Sunday afternoon. For me a mixed bag of layouts some excellent, some not so, I was particularly taken with Ackthorpe with its emptys in, loads out operation good selection of traders as well.

Have become interested in modelling this spur, after seeing it in our track plan section page 26, good information from google and bing, question at the end of the central road there is a fenced and gated area which holds around four cars, only the width of the cars with no provision for loading or unloading that I can see, what is its purpose? The irrigation company has a fenced and gated area for unloading tank cars could it be for off spot storage?

Once again not sure where this thread is going? there seems to have been some personality clash in the pass which keeps leading to these threads basically attacking a young, very enthusiastic individual. I have supported Dakota at various shows, I find the shows low key and relaxed, some of the best conversations with non railway modellers have been had at them, the public also seem more relaxed and able to ask (what we may view as silly)questions, at a more "professional" show they may feel inhibited to do so. So Dakota may make a profit, cannot see it as very large given the attendances, but he provides a good shop window on the hobby to people who would not go to a larger show.

Looking forward to the Chatham Exhibition with Fulton Terminal.

Looking forward to the show with my Railroad Crossing layout, photos by Adrian of the Uckfield Club.

Much the same as here, at the large and very busy Dortmond show no barriers were provided, just after opening a rucksack came within a whisker of demolishing a building, a hasty improvised barrier was soon in place, very enjoyable show otherwise.

Interesting I cannot speak about French exhibitions but I have exhibited a number of times in Germany, Luxemburg and Holland, similar experiences, a lot more support from the local authorities, even quiet small towns seem the have a dedicated exhibition complex, not just a make do sports hall or school, simply unknown here! Exhibitors have a more laid back approach often stopping operations for lunch and a Saturday evening meal at the venue is the norm.

Well our new exhibition is now over, a big thank you to all the exhibitors, traders, societies, members, friends and helping clubs who made it all possible, positive feed back from visitors. The new venue was liked and the school staff went out of their way to be helpful, catering worked well. The slightly out of town centre location meant parking was never a problem, but public transport was a problem and recent cut backs in services did not help especially on Sunday. Apologies to any disabled or infirm visitors who parked in the school car park which is just out side of the gates and walked, not knowing (our signage could have been better) that access was available to park right out side of the halls. Our aim for a much more manageable, enjoyable, quality exhibition, with the bonus of a pleasant venue I think was fulfilled.

Less than a week to the new Chatham Club Annual Exhibition. Car park is just up the road from the school gates, the gates will be opened for disabled parking, if no steward is present use the intercom, pedestrian gates will be remain open, the surrounding roads have unrestricted parking. Anyone using the 164 BUS service from Chatham Bus Station to Victory Academy, note the return service goes from the same stop you alighted from as it is a circular route.

Confirmed layouts. Muach Chunk 34ft x 16ft HO American 1st time SE Sankley 10ft x 6ft P4 Staindrop 35ft x 2ft 6in O Hatch End N Halte Tombroekstraat HOm Dutch 1st time UK Coney Hill 9ft x 6ft O Kadeleigh 16ft x 5ft OO Portwenn O-16.5 Valencia Harbour 4mm. Gauge 21mm Irish Tidworth OO Daheeme HOe Dutch 1st time UK Greenfield Sidings OO Kucken TT German Mouville HOe French 1st time UK Vereina 19ft x 6ft HOm Swiss

Copy of flyer and map.

The Chatham and District Model Railway Club is very pleased to announce our exhibition will be held Saturday 3rd June 10-5 and Sunday 4th June 10-4, entry £6, children under 16 free with a paying adult, to be held at Victory Academy, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 5JB. We will have around 15 high quality layouts and around 20 specialised traders. This exhibition is staged by the same team and club as the former CHATHAM SHOW we expect to keep the same standards but now a smaller exhibition. The reasons for the change of date, venue and size are various, our former venue had a number of issues which we have been told will only be worse next year, plus our normal weekend is unavailable anyway, we are getting older and our enthusiasm for running such a big show was not what it was, we have therefore taken the opportunity to "downsize". Our new venue being a school, for us to have access Friday for setting up, it would have to be half term week, so the date was set. Victory Academy is a splendid new build secondary school, with excellent catering facilities, its own free parking for over 200 cars plus free on street parking nearby, a local bus route stops outside, good access from the M2 and M20. Full details to follow, our Club website will also carry details nearer the time, we are looking forward to our new exhibition and welcoming regular and new visitors.

Not sure where this thread is going? but as I said in a previous post I have had dealings over a number of years with Dakota and his parents, he has always been very open as to his exhibitions and their aims. As one of the organizers of the Chatham MRC Show, there are a number of other small shows in "our" area, we try to support them with layouts and have a good relationship with the organizers, these are excellent opportunities to promote our own exhibition, club and the hobby in general.

Dakota regularly has his trade stand, second hand items, at the Chatham Show, and I have supported him with layouts at various small shows always raising funds for different causes, young and enthusiastic, just what the hobby needs! Our experience at Chatham with ever increasing costs you are unlikely to make much money from a model railway exhibition.