Model Railway exhibitions (that you might also be attending).

[youngiecj]

Spalding Model show this weekend 2/3rd November.

 

[4SubAsociation]

Anyone attending this one this coming weekend 2/3 November? Anyone local who can tell me what parking is like?

https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/event/y2024/27801-GravesendRailwayEnthusiastsSociety_Exhibition

Hi

I can confirm there is parking on site and it is right infront of the entrance to the school.

Many thanks

 

[Gloster]

The Isle of Wight Model Railway Exhibition is (presumably) taking place this weekend (2nd and 3rd November). On the group’s webpage there is a clock ticking down to opening time and…absolutely no other information. I have seen a couple of banners in the usual places and a bit of Googling has found a bit of information, but it does not impress. It should be at the usual location in the Medina Leisure Centre in Newport.

I wonder if whoever has the codes for getting into the group’s website has left or died in the last year and they can’t make any changes to it.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Hi

I can confirm there is parking on site and it is right infront of the entrance to the school.

Many thanks

Great thanks :

 

[DJ_K666]

Brighton MRC have their show on November 16th and 17th at Patcham Community Centre from 10am.

That's a good local show and well worth a visit.

Nearest railway station is Preston Park and the 5 and 5A bus stops very close by. These can be caught either from London Road shops, a short walk from the back exit of Brighton station, or the A23 road northbound just down from Preston Park. Journey time roughly 10 minutes

 

[Cowley]

It’s the Portsmouth model railway show for us on Saturday (16/11/2024). It should be good, it’s only a one day job and myself and Paul will be operating Moors View if any of you are planning on coming.

Exhibition – SHMRC

shmrc.org.uk

 

[Sun Chariot]

It’s the Portsmouth model railway show for us on Saturday (16/11/2024). It should be good, it’s only a one day job and myself and Paul will be operating Moors View if any of you are planning on coming.

Exhibition – SHMRC

shmrc.org.uk

I hope it goes splendidly well. Will you be showcasing your 7mm talents on a side table?
I am gutted that I won't be visiting. It's only 15 minutes drive from me. Saturday morning, my wife and I will be high in the sky.

 

[Gloster]

It’s the Portsmouth model railway show for us on Saturday (16/11/2024). It should be good, it’s only a one day job and myself and Paul will be operating Moors View if any of you are planning on coming.

Exhibition – SHMRC

shmrc.org.uk

I may be able to make it as it is local. Unfortunately, it is a stinker to get to by public transport.

 

[Cowley]

I hope it goes splendidly well. Will you be showcasing your 7mm talents on a side table?
I am gutted that I won't be visiting. It's only 15 minutes drive from me. Saturday morning, my wife and I will be high in the sky.

Oh that’s a shame. No we’re taking the N gauge layout to this one.

I may be able to make it as it is local. Unfortunately, it is a stinker to get to by public transport.

Well if you do make it come and say hello!

 

[4SubAsociation]

First three shows of 2025 we are attending

Canterbury Model Railway exhibition - 18th/19th January (https://www.ccmrs.co.uk/)

Erith Model Railway Society Exhibition - new location this year at the Harris Garrard Academy 25th/26th Jan (https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/erithmrs/exhibit.html)

Ashford Festival Model Railway Exhibition - 12th/13th April (https://aimrec.co.uk/afrm-2025)

More to be announced in the future.

 

[Lawlogg Editor]

Liverpool and West Lancs ‘O’ gauge group - Open Day - Sat, 16th Nov.

Visit

The club invites non-members to attend an OPEN DAY on Saturday, 17th May 2025, from 10am-4pm, located 3 miles north of Liverpool. Admission is free; donations are appreciated. Light refreshments wi…

lawlogg.uk

More information here:

Liverpool and West Lancs. 'O' Gauge Group - OPEN DAY - Sat. 16th Nov. (Bootle)

Lawlogg will be holding a general OPEN DAY at its Bootle clubrooms on Sat. 16th November from 10-4. (Suggested last admission at 3). All four of our layouts will be operating. (Feel free to bring locos/stock to run.) Admission is free but cash donations would be welcomed. (Sorry - we don't...

www.railforums.co.uk

A minor update for Saturday's event - there is now expected to be an additional display from Merseyside Live Steam & Model Engineers.

 

[SimplyLovely]

Hi all,

Sorry if this is a silly question, but how welcoming do these exhibitions tend to be for newbies?

I am interested in attending the Glasgow one in February but am very new to model trains (I have only just bought a Hornby Flying Scotsman set as my first loco).

Have been interested in them for ages, but never had my own until now due to space requirements.

I would really love to see some cool layouts and learn more but not sure if I would be bugging the experts.

 

[steamybrian]

Two shows I will be attending in 2025 -

Erith Model Railway Exhibition on 25/26 January

Tonbridge Model Railway Exhibition on Saturday 15th February

 

[Lawlogg Editor]

Hi all,

Sorry if this is a silly question, but how welcoming do these exhibitions tend to be for newbies?

I am interested in attending the Glasgow one in February but am very new to model trains (I have only just bought a Hornby Flying Scotsman set as my first loco).

Have been interested in them for ages, but never had my own until now due to space requirements.

I would really love to see some cool layouts and learn more but not sure if I would be bugging the experts.

Most shows are there to promote the hobby to anyone and everyone - particularly to families, as the organising clubs are only too aware of the rising age profiles of their members, so you should have no problem.

The only thing to watch out for is that you want to go to a general purpose show organised by a club rather than a specialist show such as one organised for a single gauge/scale (e.g. this weekend's Gauge O Guild show at Wigan) where not only is the entry cost higher than a general purpose show (because the audience is smaller) but also there will be a much higher proportion of specialist trade stands to enable the visitors to stock up on the particular bits they need, which probably won't be of interest to you.

(The Glasgow show in February is always well-attended and very comprehensive so should suit you well.)

 

[SimplyLovely]

Most shows are there to promote the hobby to anyone and everyone - particularly to families, as the organising clubs are only too aware of the rising age profiles of their members, so you should have no problem.

The only thing to watch out for is that you want to go to a general purpose show organised by a club rather than a specialist show such as one organised for a single gauge/scale (e.g. this weekend's Gauge O Guild show at Wigan) where not only is the entry cost higher than a general purpose show (because the audience is smaller) but also there will be a much higher proportion of specialist trade stands to enable the visitors to stock up on the particular bits they need, which probably won't be of interest to you.

(The Glasgow show in February is always well-attended and very comprehensive so should suit you well.)

Thank you for putting me at ease! I will book my tickets now then, should be a fun weekend

 

[Cowley]

Thank you for putting me at ease! I will book my tickets now then, should be a fun weekend

It’s always a fairly varied group of people that you find operating layouts at shows. Some are very sociable and some maybe not so. We always try to talk to people and answer questions etc, but it can sometimes get very busy and I remember at the last show getting sidetracked talking to someone and losing track of what I was doing.

I looked down and realised that the audience were looking at me and then watching my loco pulling three wagons and pushing the rest of train in front of it as it become uncoupled out of sight somewhere.

 

[Gloster]

As @Cowley says, you may find the operators on some layouts either ignore you or only reply with the briefest grunts, but others will be extremely helpful. You will just have to try your luck with a layout that is doing what you dream of eventually doing: same scale and gauge, same era, etc. Some of the layouts may be to a very high standard, but they had to start somewhere and most remember this. Some layouts that have enough people will have one member who is there to answer questions while the others concentrate on running the trains to avoid problems, such as having a loco in the middle of the train… Just ask and most people will help, but don’t be put off by the odd few who are grumpy.

 

[Red Onion]

Hi all,

Sorry if this is a silly question, but how welcoming do these exhibitions tend to be for newbies?

I am interested in attending the Glasgow one in February but am very new to model trains (I have only just bought a Hornby Flying Scotsman set as my first loco).

Have been interested in them for ages, but never had my own until now due to space requirements.

I would really love to see some cool layouts and learn more but not sure if I would be bugging the experts.

Just further to the above comments, I’ve attended the Glasgow show most years and found the majority of exhibitors are more than happy to chat away about their layout. There’s a variety of gauges on offer too which can help you get a feel for what you might like to do.

 

[SimplyLovely]

Thanks all, really looking forward to it!

 

[323212]

Does the london festival of modelling still exist at ally pally these days?

 

[Gloster]

Does the london festival of modelling still exist at ally pally these days?

It appears to be taking place at Ally Pally on 15 and 16 March next. Just Google (other search engines are available) The London Festival of Railway Modelling .

 

[Cowley]

It appears to be taking place at Ally Pally on 15 and 16 March next. Just Google (other search engines are available) The London Festival of Railway Modelling .

I’ve got a feeling that we might be booked into that one actually.

I think it may be quite a complicated one to do because we’ll have to stay some distance away, but we’ll make it work somehow!

 

[Class15]

I’ve got a feeling that we might be booked into that one actually.

I think it may be quite a complicated one to do because we’ll have to stay some distance away, but we’ll make it work somehow!

That would be amazing! If you’re there I look forward to seeing you! That’s my regular yearly show!

 

[4SubAsociation]

Ok. Below is the 2025 events the 4SUB stand will be attending.

Canterbury Model railway exhibition - St Anselm's School, Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3EN on Weekend of 18th/19th Jan

Erith Model railway exhibition - Harris Garrard Academy, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, Erith, DA18 4DW on Weekend of 25th/26th Jan.

Ashford Festival of Railway Modelling - East Kent College, Ashford on the weekend of 12th/13th April.

Pevensey Model railway exhibition - Victoria Baptist Church Hall Eldon Road Eastbourne BN21 1UE - 5th July

Chatham Model Railway Exhibition - Chatham Dockyard The Historic Dockyard Chatham, ME4 4TZ - 19th/20th July

Gravesend Model Railway show (5oth Anniversary) - Northfleet School for Girls. On the weekend of 1st/2nd November.

There is a couple more we might attend, i will announce these in the future.

 

[matchmaker]

Model Rail 2025. SEC Glasgow, 21st to 23rd February. I'll be there with our club OO gauge layout "Phoenix Lane".

 

[61653 HTAFC]

This weekend is the annual show at Doncaster racecourse. Will be there on the Sunday (not exhibiting a layout, mind) after being bored and frustrated at the football on Saturday!

 

[Class15]

Is anyone else going to be doing the Alexandra Palace?

 

[DIW]

Romsey and District Model Railway Society have their annual exhibition at Crosfield Hall, Romsey SO51 8GL on Saturday and Sunday, 1st and 2nd March.

Exhibition 2025

The Society's latest layout, Penzance , in OO, will be shown for the first time. At the Romsey & District Railway Modellers Society will be holding their 45th Annual exhibition in the Crosfield...

www.rdrms.com

 

[4SubAsociation]

Ok. Below is the 2025 events the 4SUB stand will be attending.

Canterbury Model railway exhibition - St Anselm's School, Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3EN on Weekend of 18th/19th Jan

Erith Model railway exhibition - Harris Garrard Academy, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, Erith, DA18 4DW on Weekend of 25th/26th Jan.

Ashford Festival of Railway Modelling - East Kent College, Ashford on the weekend of 12th/13th April.

Pevensey Model railway exhibition - Victoria Baptist Church Hall Eldon Road Eastbourne BN21 1UE - 5th July

Chatham Model Railway Exhibition - Chatham Dockyard The Historic Dockyard Chatham, ME4 4TZ - 19th/20th July

Gravesend Model Railway show (5oth Anniversary) - Northfleet School for Girls. On the weekend of 1st/2nd November.

There is a couple more we might attend, i will announce these in the future.

To add. We are also attending Tolworth Showtrain on the 8th/9th November at Tolworth Recreation Centre, Fullers Way North, Tolworth, Surrey, KT6 7LQ.

 

[parkender102]

Is anyone else going to be doing the Alexandra Palace?

I went as I was in London with Family for a West End show and realised Alexandra Palace was hosting a show. So popped up for the morning.

Observations:
Alexandra Palace was a spectacular location (I'd never been there before) - lovely walk through the park before checking out the amazing architecture

Seemed a bit disorganised at the beginning with non Advance Ticket Holders joining the huge Advanced Ticket Holder Queue only to be moved to the much shorter and 30 mins delayed entry non Advanced Ticket Holder Queue
Highlight - the lovely Dawn Quest attending in person with her superb Monochrome Brief Encounter and Ladykiller Layouts - really great to see something different
Highlight - the superb Mostyn Layout. I remember being in queues of traffic on the Coast Road next to the railway line in my younger days. Superb recreation of the era. I also used to work right next to the line at Warwick International and could see a lot of the features I remember including the sloped road after the Bridge over the railway that used to take me to the Entry Gate to the site.

A big thumbs up for the quality on display with all the other layouts
Lowlight - bad signage meaning it took me 20 minutes to find the exit
Lowlight - unfortunately a common factor in most shows - far too busy by 13:00 so I left to pursue a few other activities
Lowlight - unfortunately a common factor in most shows - the rising levels of body odour as the day progressed.......................