Dave Goddard

Went to see this today with my girlfriend and her daughter, and WOW.  This railway - let's face it it can hardly be called a layout - is like nothing I have ever seen before.  The work, time and finances that have been poured into it have produced a jaw-dropping result, and nothing prepares you for just how massive it is when you walk into the hall.  Diesels of all ages, faithfully modelled and with correct sounds, plus the occasional steam engine make their way around a landscape so faithfully produced from its creator's memories, and Simon (who is a genuinely nice guy and was happy to chat to onlookers when not busy running his railway along with his colleagues) has added a couple of personal touches to it as well.  Lots of information boards provide background and insight into its construction, and even those not into railways can enjoy it and will be fascinated.

Having not visited Wakefield before I can report that it's a decent city too - parking was easy and less than a fiver for up to 12 hours in the car park I found (almost next to the bus station) and there are lots of shops and eating places.  If you are able to, make sure you go and see this railway on display before the exhibit closes on Sunday!

I was lightly walloped by a multi-colour, padded tail attached to someone from Comicon. Definitely a first!

I was sharing the train with a trio of girls on their way to Comic-Con, I almost took a diversion before heading to Hall 5 to go and see what their show was all about as some of the costumes I saw looked absolutely fantastic. 

Combine that with all the bike nuts in branded shirts and race gear going to Motorcycle Live and the horde of Aston Villa supporters also on my morning train, and it certainly was an interesting day with a great mixture of humanity.

Redkite - many thanks for the photos, that shows that despite spending all day there today there is still loads that I missed!

Ebsworth Street certainly impressed me with great modern image modelling and some lovely lighting, and I was very impressed with all of the MOMING section especially the very simple but effective canal wharf model (Hook something I think it was called?  I am rubbish at remembering names sorry!)

Just home from a really enjoyable day at the show - thanks to all the exhibitors for making it an excellent day out.  Highlight for me had to be seeing Liverpool Lime Street in the flesh - photos on here really don't do the quality and level of detail justice, yes it may not be great for actually seeing trains running but as a model and as a monument to Liverpool's heritage it is stunning.

There were many other highlights for me but I am struggling to remember any names unfortunately as there were just so many layouts to see - will look forward to seeing lots of photos!

Unlikely to get there as Hawthorn Dene will take the biggest proportion of the weekend, plus I want to look at some layouts.

 

I've got RMWeb on my badge at Hawthorn Dene (as has Mr Simon if I can browbeat him into wearing it).  Come and have a chat on stand C31.  We will have an AtsoCad V1 running and I'm hoping for something special as well.

 

Les

Unfortunately I missed the official meet-up due to being busy chatting to a colleague over lunch, but it was nice to put a face to the name today Les

In response to the above - this has probably been covered dozens of times on here already, but where is the layout used for filming the Thomas episodes located, and what scale/gauge is it?

I will do my best on Sunday, look for the guy in the black trilby

I will be heading down on Sunday all being well, have not had any time to focus on rail-related stuff due to work this year so a day out at the NEC will be a nice relaxing diversion once again.  I may not need a name tag though, as I might just wear my black trilby to be easily recognisable.

I never take the day seriously - just go in, wander around and look at as many layouts as possible.  I am especially looking forward to seeing the amazing Liverpool Lime Street monument in person (well let's face it, it's far more than a model railway, it's a working monument to the heritage of Liverpool).

And a reminder for those who enjoy a spot of motorsport - on Saturday evening there is a banger race meeting at Wheels Raceway, near Adderley Park station

I'll be there may be up for joining the Circle if my schedule allows too.

This thread is wonderful - a fascinating account of a remarkable railway system (much more than just a model railway) with a quite superb method of operation.  Piecing together all the factors of different industries and their co-operation, integrating transport within them and factoring in what goods was needed for each one and at what times...this could almost be a module in a Business Studies or Logistics degree.

The paragraph headed "The layout is no more..." actually quite saddened me, but I am looking forward to following the resurrection of this superb project - best of luck!

How have I missed this thread before?  I was born in Sandwell and spent the early years of my life in Great Barr - is that slightly over the Birmingham border from the Black Country?  I need to get more involved in the debates in here!

Yow doe spake proper

Your narration of these photos is very beautiful, a wonderful way to follow such an atmospheric project.

Have a tamper...

Next: a French locomotive.

Had a good look at Saltdean at the Warley show on Sunday and would like to congratulate you Pete on a quite superb layout - beautifully constructed locos and rolling stock and a lovely setting for them to run in.  Looking forward to following further progress of this excellent piece.

"met Kirtleypete in person on Saltdean"

 

In this case, half of me!!

 

​Peter

Hi Pete, it was me who commented that "there can't be many layout owners who can say they have drunk their own layout's product while at the same time operating it" on Sunday!  Was hugely impressed with Saltdean and your stunning locos.

Just got home from an enjoyable day - didn't quite manage to see everything (you really need two days to see it all, was working yesterday so couldn't go) but I managed to get at least a glimpse of every excellent layout.  Didn't hang around for too long in front of most of them as I didn't want people to think I was trying to hog space.  Layout of the hall was a bit haphazard as others have said but the organisers probably did their level best to cram as much in as possible for us to see!

Favourite layouts of mine included Whiteacres (which really did have a bit of everything), Saltdean (beautiful LB&SCR locos), Mostyn (interesting concept with Rail Blue and a derelict station) and the Braga funicular railway.  I would have liked to have taken longer to pore over Goathland as well but couldn't get near it throughout the day.

Looking forward to seeing lots of pictures - I left the photo-taking to those who are actually good at it, unlike me.

Not long got home from banger racing at Wheels Park (did anyone make the trip across from the NEC to watch?) and will be heading down by rail from Lichfield in the morning.  Liking the few pics I've seen so far and looking forward to a nice calm day of layout-watching.

Thanks - I am sure it will be open Sunday, was very good last year.

Is the fish and chip stall there this year?

I will not be making any plans, just turn up at any time I want to during the morning, go in and look at as many layouts as possible, keep out of the way of anyone with cameras, and just generally have a day alone away from my work.

I will be visiting on Sunday to have a look at the pretty layouts as I did last year.  Yes food is quite expensive but there was a very nice fish and chip stall there last year so I will be eating there if it's there again, saves lugging a bag of food around with me.  Looking forward to it!

Oh and if anybody fancies some slightly different entertainment after the show on Saturday, head towards Birmingham (near Adderley Park station) and there is banger racing at Wheels Park stadium

That is honestly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.  This goes way beyond just a model railway layout - this needs to be on permanent display somewhere as a monument to the heritage of Liverpool.  Absolutely phenomenal.

Hello there - I found out about this site while visiting the Warley show today and signed up after reading this thread just to say an enormous WELL DONE to everyone involved with this amazingly accurate and detailed layout.  I spent longer looking at this layout than I think any other at the show and having seen the photos on here I see there is a whole host of incredible detail that I didn't even notice - the thought, observation and planning that has gone into every tiny detail of every aspect of this project is mind-boggling.  From the little touches like the realistic graffiti on some of the rolling stock and the "Sausagefest" snack wagon (fnarr fnarr), the stunning representations of London streets at the "north" end and the petrol station and incredible shop interiors which are an absolute work of art, this really is something special.  Well done to all the team involved.

(By the way, I was the one who joked about the petrol prices being unrealistic for London in 2016 - yep, that was me!)

(edit) Actually, can a witch put a spell on me and shrink me down to OO/HO scale?  I want to live on the layout in one of those townhouses