ColinW

Currently there are no plans to do a two day show. We appreciate that people would like us to do one, however the costs to the club would increase, without guarantee as to how many people attend our show over both days. We also have to consider the effort put in by the club members, I personally have to take a week off work to prepare for the show. Also people should remember that while a two day show is open to the public, for the club members it is a 4+ day show including the setting up and returning the equipment that we use over the weekend. What I will say is that we have had several layouts agree to attend a one day show, despite telling us that they only do a two day show, once we have explained that we offer a Friday evening set up. Colin

The show is now behind us, and the club would like to thank the layout owners and their operators, traders, demonstrator, neighbouring club members, friends and family members for assisting us today. We have received a lot of compliments from the layout owners and operators, as well as from the public. Next year's exhibition will be on Saturday 15th February. Colin

the queue waiting for the show to open this morning, and about half an hour after we opened Colin

Unfortunately Supercast have had to withdraw due to poor health. The club wish them well. Colin

A busy day ahead. Will be going shortly to start getting the exhibition equipment collected and delivered to the Angel Centre. For those travelling to set up for tonight, have a good journey and we look forward to seeing you later Colin

For those planning to attend the show, please note that in recent years we have been fortunate to have long queues during the morning, so if anyone does not want to wait in a queue, it might be better to arrive after lunch. Also while we will have card readers available on the admission desk, if anyone wants to pay by cash, if they have the correct money available, we can get you into the exhibition quicker. Colin

Some travel information. For anyone driving to the show, follow the signs to Tonbridge Station, and as you get closer look for Sainsbury's. The Angel Centre is at the far end of that building. The car parks on either side are short term carparks, but there are long stay car parks available close by. All Car parks are Pay & Display. Train Travel: Tonbridge is served by trains from Ashford International, Folkestone, Dover, Canterbury West, Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Maidstone West, Redhill, Sevenoaks, Orpington, London Bridge, London Waterloo East, and London Charing Cross. There are no engineering works affecting services this weekend, nor is there any industrial action planned. Colin

I can now add a list of traders to be at the show. ACE Products Best Model Toys Auctions C&L Finescale Cambrian Model Rail Carriage And Wagon Models Coastal DCC Dart Castings David Wills Dingo Servo Mounts DOW Scenics GL Bespoke Services Golden Arrow Productions Harrison - Brown Models Heritage in Motion Invicta Model Rail Kent Garden Railway Matthew Cousins (with Drive Thomas layout) & Mike Turner (Artists) Plus Daughters Rail Books Railroad Trading Rapido Trains UK Southern Scale Models Squires Model & Craft Tools Supercast The Wagon Yard Societies: Network South East Society Spa Valley Railway Tonbridge Model Engineering Society Demonstrator Roger Sawyer We can also say that we will be able to accept debit/credit cards on the admission desk and for the club sales stand, but please be patient with us if something happens to affect the readers. Colin

To answer the first question, the club has been informed by the Angel Centre that they are taking bookings for 2025, and we will make our booking around the time of the exhibition, and planning for that exhibition will go ahead. The Angel Centre can only do bookings up to 1 year ahead, so beyond 2025, we will need to wait and see what happens. What we can say is that the Model Engineers have met with the leader of the council, and have been told their site is safe for them to continue, and talk of them getting a long term lease to remain there. Colin

Tonbridge MRC will be holding their annual exhibition on Saturday 17th February, in the Angel Centre, Angel Lane, Tonbridge, TN9 1SF. Admissions are as follows: Adults £7, Children (between 10 - 16) £1, Children under 10 Free. Layouts: Bear Creek N gauge Blackmoor OO9 Blindheim O (32mm) Bosun's Wharf OO City Basin Goods N Clerely End O-16.5 College Halt OO Elbow Lane OO Gosfield Yard O Hazel End O Horsebridge Wharf EM Kinlochlaggen N Lemanis Light Railway OO9 Norge HO Obbekaer P87 Old Parrock OO Ospringe (St.Peter) and Water Lane N Plant City HO Porthlew N Priorsfield OO Rossiter Rise OO Southwark Bridge N Wickhambreux Road OO9 More details to follow Colin

Locomotion No.1 is likely to be the only thing I am interested in Colin

Another great selection of layouts by Adrian. Will be making the usual journey to the show from Tonbridge. Colin

Having made the journey over from Kent yesterday, I was not disappointed. the standard of modelling on display was of the highest standard, as expected. I particularly liked Old Parrock, Penworth & Bridgewater. Also a good selection of traders being available, was slightly (!) bad for my wallet. Hopefully the pre order tickets will be available again for next year's show. Colin

The operating team behind Strood Dock have had a great weekend, with the layout receiving lots of compliments. On behalf of the owner, we would like to thank the organisers for the invite, and for the hospitality over the weekend. Colin

Strood Dock set up and ready for the weekend. Colin

Here are some photos of Strood Dock, which I will be helping to operate at the show. Strood is situated at one end of the Medway Valley line and next to the Medway Towns. The docks were real, but this is fictitious. Colin

Thank you Martin. Colin

Glad you enjoyed the show. Colin

Thank you Ray for bringing Feltham Road to Tonbridge. We are glad you had a good time at the show. We certainly received a lot of positive feedback from the public, layout owners and operating teams, traders and demonstrator. Colin

Thank you Ian, just seen it and will email you this afternoon Colin

Thank you Ian. Glad you and your team had a good time at the show. Colin

With the show now packed away for the year, I would like to thank the layout owners and their operators, traders, demonstrators, neighbouring clubs members, and our members wives and partners for helping to make the show the success it was. We had a lot of positive comments throughout the day regarding the standard of the layouts on display. The planning for the 2024 exhibition is already underway, with the date due to be Saturday 17th February. Colin

After a long and busy day yesterday, it's exhibition day. Just to remind people, we will not have a credit card machine available on the admission desk, so cash only. There are several ATM's close to the Angel Centre. If you can have the correct money available, it will help to move the queue faster, thank you. Colin

Unfortunately Kent Garden Railway's are unable to attend due to illness. The club wish them a quick recovery. Colin

An early start for what is going to be a long day. Collecting barriers, and the club's equipment to take it all to the Angel Centre before we can start marking out later today. For those layout owners and their operators, and traders coming to set up this evening, have a safe journey and we look forward to seeing you later. Colin