Bonafide

11 hours ago, Doncaster said:

My copy of 303 arrived creased and with the top abraded.  The only uncreased part was the subscription renewal form!  

I once had a copy arrive in a cardboard-backed envelope that had been seriously damaged in the post.  A quick phone call and another copy duly arrived a couple of days later; excellent service.

More recently, my copy along with two other items of mail arrived during a massive thunderstorm. The two other items of mail in paper/card envelopes were saturated together with the contents, yet MRJ was in pristine condition.  I was mightily pleased it was in a plastic bag!  

14 minutes ago, PaulRhB said:

Then there’s the prepping of layout and stock, all the extras that were bought to make the layout presentable, lights, curtains, a spare controller, transport crates or bags for stock. I don’t get any of that paid for and it adds up to quite a lot of entrance fees and fuel compared to going to a show. So why would I bother paying more to exhibit than visit? Especially as I get older it’s not worth the effort then so I’d stop exhibiting altogether.
 

It seems you would prefer not to exhibit as you find it such a burden and, moreover, would be happy to save the expense of purchasing those items you describe.

We are fortunate that many layout owners and exhibitors are not only pleased to exhibit but also derive considerable enjoyment from doing so.  In contrast to your experience, such a positive attitude is to be welcomed - long may it continue!

2 hours ago, dasatcopthorne said:

Never used to open on Sundays

 

In recent years the cafe across the road and around the corner in the service road opened on Sunday especially for Tolworth Showtrain. 

Perhaps someone from the organizing team can confirm if the same arrangement will apply this year.  

The Johnster,

This is a fascinating and brilliant series, which is entertaining and informative about a railway subject that is rarely discussed.

You have described how at some places brake vans were well prepared, and at others, such as Margam, where guards had to fend for themselves.  It would be interesting to know how kindling wood and coal was provided.  Presumably, coal wagons worked into marshalling yards, with an arrangement for guards to access a suitable amount.

Many thanks for taking the time to document such an interesting aspect of railway operation; it is much appreciated.

Bonafide   

4 hours ago, arran said:

Good well made barriers keep the idiots back from the layout . . .

It is not surprising that some exhibitors experience problems with this attitude. 

Or, perhaps, it's the visitors that have to put up with the idiots behind the layout!

2 hours ago, James Makin said:

Further details can be found at https://www.worthingmrc.co.uk/ 

Please be aware the website refers only to the 2022 exhibition.  There is no mention at all of the 2023 event.

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

South Shields was the layout which drew me to the show.  

I think you will find the layout was called North Shields, unless of course you are thinking of a different layout, or a different show!

18 minutes ago, Geep7 said:

 Very much looking forward to seeing Canada Street in the flesh, as it does seem to very rarely venture this far south.

Canada Street has appeared at shows at Portsmouth, Tonbridge, Alexandra Palace, Tolworth and Canterbury.

29 minutes ago, Izzy said:

It’s moved around a bit over the years. First was GW hotel Paddington same as ExpoEM (I think that’s right, memories not quite what it was), followed by the commonwealth institute and then Bletchley and so on.

Scaleforum has never been held at Bletchley.  You might be confusing Scaleforum with expoEM, which was held at Bletchley for several years.

5 hours ago, djparkins said:

I did enquire about my order yesterday and have received this reply -

That is most helpful.  Thank you for posting the information. 

41 minutes ago, Bino said:

I simply would have liked to see more layouts.

There were over 40 layouts advertised to be at Model Rail Scotland.  How many more layouts needed to be at this show to satisfy you?

It is said that being an exhibition manager is a thankless task, and your negative comments illustrate the truth of that saying. 

You could have commented, instead, to thank the exhibition organising team and all the participants for succeeding to put on a show in exceptionally difficult circumstances.

2 hours ago, stevegr said:

Myself I always go to the railway station to catch a railway.......

Similarly, perhaps you go to an airport to catch some air!

Logically, those people who use the term 'train station' should also use the term 'plane port'.  After all, they go to a plane port to catch a plane!

17 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

Cygnet Magazines

c/o Elgar Books

10, Bradshaw Crescent

Honley

Holmfirth

Huddersfield

HS9 6EG

 

Can you check the postcode, please?

It appears to be wrong as I believe the code for Huddersfield is HD.  Perhaps the postcode should be:  HD9 6EG 

6 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

I have searched in vain for any statement of the scale of Simon de Souza's splendid Cavan & Leitrim station building.

I, too, searched in vain. 

As the walls comprise ". . . a three-layer lamination of 40-thou Plastikard . . . ", I guess it is likely to be 7mm scale, but it would be helpful for the scale to be stated. 

3 hours ago, sandwich station said:

 

I think Ebay owns Gumtree.

. . . until July 2020 when eBay sold Gumtree to Adevinta.

2 hours ago, Oldddudders said:

I cannot believe people are crying in their tea about two or three quid. 

I believe people are concerned less with the monetary value than they are with the general principle of being charged more which is perceived as sharp practice. 

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Sorry to be a pendant, Bill, but it's Ian Allan.

 

What has something hanging on a chain got to do with correct spelling?  Or, perhaps I am confusing it with pedant!

48 minutes ago, 70000 Britannia said:

Now is the time to forget party politics . . .

You say this after having made your own party political points.  Oh dear!

57 minutes ago, dasatcopthorne said:

I would have thought that at least one (Modern Image layout) would agree to take part.

There were two: Boston Frodsham (1975-1985), Pwllheli (circa 2012).  Also, both steam and diesel locomotives were to be seen on United Mills (late 1950s-early 1960s).

It's a pity you missed them!

1 hour ago, dasatcopthorne said:

I guess it reflects the interests of the Exhibition Manager.

Or, more likely, the people who came forward to show their layouts.

9 hours ago, John M Upton said:

The key here is . . . that really everyone needs to catch the bug and then get rid of it . . .

If life were only that simple!

If you are being serious, and it is difficult to believe that you are, I sincerely hope the people responsible for determining national policy do not heed your advice.  

3 hours ago, DutyDruid said:

Fareham Railex (10,000 sq ft, approx 30 layouts):

• Sat hours 10 to 6 = 8 hours
• Sunday hours 10 to 5 = 9 hours
• Total 17 hours open to the public.

Your calculation appears to be based upon incorrect information.

Surely, the Sunday opening hours from 10 to 5 = 7 hours, not 9 hours, thereby making a total of 15 hours, not 17 hours. 

47 minutes ago, Crisis Rail said:

Judging by one or two posts in the Exhibition section i'm not holding my breath.

I am not sure what your post adds to the discussion, except to spread uncertainty by such an unhelpful and speculative comment.

It is an incredibly tough time for exhibition organizers who are having to make difficult decisions, and prompting them for an unnecessary response merely increases their workload.

3 hours ago, RichardT said:

i can’t help thinking that if MRJ had a cheap, basic, one-page website then their skeleton staff would have an easier time of it . . .

It is the printing company that is operating with a skeleton staff, not MRJ.

Your thinking is, therefore, incorrect.

5 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Selection? Definitely Broad and (especially as its his home ground) Anderson for the next test. 

 Oh dear!  For those people who extol the importance of good grammar and punctuation, has an apostrophe been omitted (it's) ?

The question is asked solely in the interest of using correct punctuation.