Whatever happened to Hursley?

[David Bigcheeseplant]

 

 

 

Btw talking of MRJ, layouts and shows haven't you got the MRJ build 0 gauge layout tracked down to appear at Railex David? (Can't remember what its called now but it was for sale on eBay last year!)

 

Inkerman Street is due to apear at Railex although has been put back now to 2012 I was on the phone to Nelson Twells regarding this only a week ago, they are altering the track plan and felt things would not be ready for 2011 as was origanally planned.

 

David

[Andy C]

Having had the luxury as an exhibitor at the show of seeing Hursley without having to endure the queue (as it snaked past where i as sat on Tan y Grisau i was able to inform those I knew that they only had another half hour to wait ) I recall being remarkably impresssed by the detail but less so by the overall impression of the layout. That to my mind at that time was achieved by Barry Norman's "Petherick" which was truly ground breaking in the list of scenic layouts.

[Penlan]

As stated many times a cracking MRJ show, unless, I was told, you were a trader, it was to crowded for anybody to get their wallets out,

and being 'crowded' by a trade stand is not conducive to feeling at ease for spending money.

 

I went with a party of us from North Worcestershire, the West Midlands EMGS Area Group of the time.

I saw Hursley, but we must have been in early (which we were) as I don't recall queuing to any degree, but certainly recall the queues later.

There were other great layouts to see too.........

[edcayton]

According to my old MRJ, Petherick wasn't there, but Barry's Lydham Heath was. I have seen this at other shows and it doesn't really do it for me.

 

Ed

[Poor Old Bruce]

Inkerman Street is due to apear at Railex although has been put back now to 2012 I was on the phone to Nelson Twells regarding this only a week ago, they are altering the track plan and felt things would not be ready for 2011 as was origanally planned.

Inkerman Street was a very nicely built diorama. I would hesitate to call it a layout as such because it just consisted of a two-platform terminus station and a scissors crossover before the line disappeared into the fiddle yard. Despite it's hyped 'operating potential' all I saw was:

 

Train enters station.

Train sets back almost into fiddle yard to clear crossover.

Loco disappears into fiddle yard to 'run round'.

Train propelled into platform.

Train departs.

 

This sequence was repeated with different locos and trains.

 

For a bit of added interest there wasa siding which meandered across the front of the layout (diorama) and there was some audience particpation in wagon coupling but that was about it.

 

I repeat that the modelling of the stock and the scenery were to a very high standard but the operating potential was very limited. I would be interested to know what the track alterations will be.

 

I also echo what others have said about the MRJ show that the organisers totally underestimated the number of people who would visit and that I, too, forsook the queue for Hursley.

[Jim Martin]

As an exhibition space it was poor - I have a vague memory of a tiny strip alongside Hursley which was nigh on impossible to move through - but my memory could well be at fault. From memory there was a lot of comment at the time that nostalgia wasn't what it was!

 

I didn't go to the MRJ exhibition (I can't remember why: I was only living in Watford at the time and I was a religious reader of the magazine / adherent to the finescale creed), but as I remember the choice of venue was a deliberately sentimental one, designed to recall the spirit of the Easter shows of earlier years. I remember a lot of complaints about its inadequacy in the letters to the magazine afterwards (although I think it's to the credit of whoever was editing MRJ at the time that he published them alongside the ones hymning him with praise).

 

Jim

[BlackRat]

I am lucky enough to know Martyn well and his shop, the Blue Peter was on my patch.

 

Great for dropping in, having the odd cuppa and talking trains.

 

Hursley was built in Martyns garage (now his workshop as he is a professional modeller these days) and was designed to be moveable but not portable for exhibitions.

 

I was again lucky enough to see it lots of times and even to play trains on it! Another local buddy Andy, built the inside motion on the Q1 and great fun was had watching all the bits move.

 

It was never intended for sale, but Martyn was offered the chance to go full time, the shop like many others at the time was quiet so Hursley was put up for sale and Martyn got, well lets say an offer no one could refuse.

 

Tales are legendary, including one where he had made a 7mm oak leaf punch out of a leather punch and was busy for dsays making 7mm oak leaves, even having gone as far as painting paper two different shades to replicate the top and bottom of the leaves.

 

I points out how is he going to get them the right way on the tree with out glueing several thousand individual leaves in place.

 

I saw a grown man (albeit a short one ) almost cry!

 

I still miss the shop but still pop in and see him and reminiss and out the world to rights!

[Andy C]

According to my old MRJ, Petherick wasn't there, but Barry's Lydham Heath was. I have seen this at other shows and it doesn't really do it for me.

 

Ed

 

 

I didnt actually say Petherick was at the show!! I was making the point that it was a contemporaneous layout that in my view had a lot more to offer than Hursley on many fronts.

 

Barry was heavily involved that weekend with Inkerman Street as well as Lydham Heath - I recall him setting up Inkerman street with saw in hand as they had to make it "fit" the awkward spot that the layout was in - another example of just how crammed that show was. At one stage it was virtually impossible to move at the bottom end of the hall due to the Hursley queue!

[Bernard Lamb]

Nowt to do with Hursley but I do remember the MRJ exhibition.

I was working in Austria at the time and came back to the UK especially to see it. I arrived at Heathrow and got a taxi into central London. Must have been around 11 to 11.30 by then. After two hours in the queue and I gave up and went to get some lunch and returned to Heathrow for my return flight.

Bernard

[wagonman]

I too remember the MRJ show at the Central Hall. Most of what I saw was the backs of other peoples' heads, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

 

Martyn has since surpassed even himself – if you ever get the chance to see Monks Eleigh grab it with both hands...

 

 

Richard

[Ben Alder]

Went to the MRJ show as well- travelled the length of Britain for it and was in the queue outside before 10am, and abandoned the Hurley one after 15mins, and have never seen such a crush at a railway show before or since, but wouldn't have missed it for the world. It sent me home with a completly altered approach to the hobby, and although my innate bodger still is prominent, my modelling since has been,for me, of a far better standard and far more enjoyable than the various freelance efforts I used to throw together. It was a one-off that changed a lot of perceptions and we are living with the benefits of it still today.

Richard

[Adam]

I was only 4/5 at the time of this show so obviously a bit young for it though I now have a copy of the special MRJ in my collection.

 

I do like the shots of Hursley and its a great layout.

 

The show and the special nature of the layout probably wouldn't work as well in 2010 though I feel as after that watershed standards of modelling have risen allowing shows like Railex and Wigan as well as the specialist shows to fit in more of that sort of quality.

 

 

Btw talking of MRJ, layouts and shows haven't you got the MRJ build 0 gauge layout tracked down to appear at Railex David? (Can't remember what its called now but it was for sale on eBay last year!)

 

You're thinking of Inkerman Street, Craig (there's mention of it on page one of this thread). I went, and I must have been 9, I think. Having queued all round Central Hall, we didn't bother with Hursley, but I do remember the show well. That standard of modelling was absolutely superlative, and to be honest, I don't think that I've seen better in that kind of quantity since.

 

Adam

[Dave777]

Wouldn't it be good to have these iconic layouts all on display in one place?

 

I pondered on this very point 12 months ago - have a read of 'A Day Out':

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/blog/309/entry-1071-a-day-out/

 

The only entry on my blog that never generated a comment, hence I thought the idea was of limited interest!

[craigwelsh]

You're thinking of Inkerman Street, Craig (there's mention of it on page one of this thread). I went, and I must have been 9, I think. Having queued all round Central Hall, we didn't bother with Hursley, but I do remember the show well. That standard of modelling was absolutely superlative, and to be honest, I don't think that I've seen better in that kind of quantity since.

Adam

This is still page one of the thread, the first mention was David responding to me, I really am rubbish with names though!

 

You're lucky to have been taken along to this show, my dad and grandfather only really got to the trainset stage so MRJ was something I discovered for myself.

[Wheeltapper]

I pondered on this very point 12 months ago - have a read of 'A Day Out':

 

http://www.rmweb.co....1071-a-day-out/

 

The only entry on my blog that never generated a comment, hence I thought the idea was of limited interest!

 

I missed this post first time around but I have to say I think it would be a great idea , a sort of cross between Pendon and Pecorama.

 

It got me thinking what layouts I would include that I have seen in the past and that have influenced by modelling and my attitude to the hobby.

 

So my dream Model Railway Museum would include the following which immediately spring to mind but which do not form a complete list.

 

Craig & Mertonford (P.D.Hancock)

Pendon (Roy England and Team)

Berrow Branch (Mac Pyrke)

Buckingham ( Rev Peter Denny.)

Island of Sodor (Rev. W Awdrey)

Charford (John Charman)

Torpoint (Guy Williams ?)

Marthwaite (David Jenkinson)

Broad Gauge Workshops (Mike Sharman)

Yatton (Bristol 4mm Group)

 

Some of these are still around under different ownership and I guess the others are long gone so it is just a dream.

[glo41f]

What a co-incidence! Due to the inclemency of the weather resulting in being housebound, I have been reading my old MRJ's and had just got to the matter of the Great Exhibition. I was an operator at that show and was able to see Hursley on several occasions during the show. It was ground breaking in its concept and execution and must be one of the seminal UK layouts of all time. The show itself was brilliant and unmissable but I quite sympathise with those faced with standing in queues for two hours giving up and going home. Periodically during the show, announcements were made for people inside to move on and leave as there were hundreds outside waitng to get in. After one of these pleas a chap near me remarked to his companion "I have only just got in and they want me to go" As exhibitors, we were asked to stay open later than the published times to accommodate the huge queues. Never was I and my son more grateful for an exhibitors pass!

 

Given personal predjudice, my favourites to go to the virtual show would be:

 

Hursley

Garsdale Road (David Jenkinson)

Borchester Market (Frank Dyer)

Wallsea Main (Barrie Walls)

Copenhagen Fields (MRC)

Chee Tor (Manchester MRC)

Bath Green Park (Taunton MRC)

Dunwich (Roy Jackson)

Evercreech Junction (Julian Birley)

Romsey (Southampton MRC?)

 

You will note a bias towards the steam era! I am afraid the model stuff does absolutley zippo for me.

 

It would be interesting to learn what other folk think for the show.

 

Regards

 

Martin Long

[Guest jonte]

Oh well, that's that then!

 

Thanks for clearing that one up, Black Rat, and for the first hand account. What a privilege it must have been to operate it.

 

I think it safe to say that it will still be around somewhere if it was as valued by the purchaser as you suggest - grateful for small mercies, I suppose!!

 

Before I close, may I say it's good to see that the hobby is attracting younger members - 4 or 5 at the time of the MRJ event makes you about my son's age - unfortunately, despite being dragged (sorry, taken) with several of his friends to model railway exhibitions over the years, an interest wasn't fostered, so these days, I'm a lone visitor to such events (although my wife did accompany on my last visit to an exhibition in Lancashire ). Mind you, I don't think there'll be a second time. My fault really in both cases: I'm more than a little obsessive about model railways and I simply find it difficult to drag myself away - I suppose that translates as 'bore' I'm the same with model mags - I can't bear to throw them away - the loft is almost full - and I just read them over and over again!!! Is their a doctor in the house?

 

Jonte

[jwealleans]

Blakeney.

[Michael Delamar]

has anyone got any pics.

 

I googled hursley layout and got this.. http://s638.photobucket.com/albums/uu107/cicsos2/My%20HO%20Layout/V_3_0%20Adding%20Elements/?action=view&current=DSC01666.jpg

 

which I dont think is the layout mentioned

 

Mike

[Guest jonte]

has anyone got any pics.

 

I googled hursley layout and got this.. http://s638.photobucket.com/albums/uu107/cicsos2/My%20HO%20Layout/V_3_0%20Adding%20Elements/?action=view&current=DSC01666.jpg

 

which I dont think is the layout mentioned

 

Mike

 

Erm.....not quite, Michael.

 

The object of my desire was slightly larger in scale and most definitely Southern Region (UK) in origin.

 

Thanks for trying.

 

Jonte

[Tim V]

looks a pretty iconic layout to me.....

[craigwelsh]

Squinting at this cover seems to be about the only photo online I can see!

http://www.modelrailwayjournal.com/issue.php?s=40

[Guest jonte]

Squinting at this cover seems to be about the only photo online I can see!

http://www.modelrailwayjournal.com/issue.php?s=40

 

Yup! That's the one, Craig.

 

Thanks,

 

Jonte

[2ManySpams]

I'm sure if digital cameras, the modern interweb and forums like RMweb had been around for the MRJ show then the 'net would be full of pictures of Hursley. Just goes to show how times change.

[Kempenfelt]

Blimey Adam I didn't realise you were old! Unfortunately I never got to see Hursley either and despite being only slightly older than Craig I remember the RM article extremely well and like most people here, Hursley is one of my all time favourite layouts and greatest inspirations. I did hear that Martyn has asperations to do an Isle of Wight layout, now that would be absoluetly mind blowing!

 

Actually I got a years subscription for Christmas in 1990 and despite being 6 at the time this was probably the year that really defined my modelling inspirations! As well as Hursley, two other layouts from that year which are firmly stuck in my mind are Exbridge Quay and Henry Holdsworth's L&B based 16mm scale layout (Lynbridge?). In my oppinion, modelling techniques haven't actually improved much since then (albiet finer etches and laser cutting), where i feel the next step of finescale modelling is going is the dawn of the larger and more prototypically operated layouts.

 

In real danger of contaminating this thread with a post that is aimed for the MRJ show thread, what i feel would be a real line up would be layouts currently being built

 

Retford

Birmingham New Street

Steve Hall's latest creation

Slattocks

Southwark Bridge

Barrow Road (Apologies I may be a little bias with this one, it would get me an exhibitors pass though! )

Prehaps even Andrew Jukes Kings Cross

 

Along with the layouts already mentioned in this thread, together with a few corkers from the past/present

 

Corris

Bucks Hill

Blackgill

Steve Harris 2mm finscale layout (which i cant spell)

Copenhagen Fields

Chee Tor

 

and of course North Shields, although if Grantham could make it, i'd much rather see Chris's stock amonst other ECML stock at speed!