Model Railway Exhibitions

[Masbroughlad]

Just been to the Stafford model railway exhibition, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Is 9 quid about average entrance fee for an exhibition nowadays? I thought it on the high end of value for money, but worth it. Two people in front of me in the queue walked away in disgust!!

As an aside, on the off chance he uses this forum, a massive thank you to the very kind chap who helped get me out of the mud on the field car park. Couldn't stop once I had momentum!

 

[John Webb]

The Chiltern Model Railway Association's annual exhibition in St Albans was charging £8 this year, which included a well-presented guide with colour photos. Two children (with an adult) were being admitted free of charge in addition. But normal council charges in nearby carparks, although there was plenty of public transport, including a free vintage bus service between the exhibition and the two St Albans stations. But no muddy fields to get out of!

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

It was £7 for me and my pensioner Dad in Cleethorpes (Near Grimsby).
I was disapointed as it was just a market selling model rail stuff mostly.
I've heard rumors about Gainsborough (Lincs) having the best one.

 

[Bevan Price]

Yes, some exhibitions are getting expensive - but remember the organiser has to pay hire charges for room space, and may also pay expenses to people bringing layouts to the exhibition. And if they hire council property, the hire charge probably includes weekend (overtime) rates for any council staff.

 

[EM2]

Seems a little high to me. I'd have a good think about any show that charges more than £6, having said that Stafford does have a very good reputation for quality.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Seems a little high to me. I'd have a good think about any show that charges more than £6, having said that Stafford does have a very good reputation for quality.

Has to be said, it was very good.

 

[GearJammer]

I think what you'll find is the cost of the entrance fee tends to be higher depending on the quality of the venue, as opposed to the quality of what is actually being displayed.

For example if the show is in the town hall expect it to be pricey, if its in the local school or community centre, will probably be cheaper.

You'll **** yaself if you ever go to Warley! lol.

(I should add the though that Warley is worth every penny)

 

[sprinterguy]

You'll **** yaself if you ever go to Warley! lol.

(I should add the though that Warley is worth every penny)

Aye, you certainly get your moneys' worth at the Warley show.

In fact I think the sheer scale of it can be a bit overwhelming - My favoured "recovery" technique is to head to the real ale stand about halfway through and go stand by the live steam circuit for a good half hour or so, inhaling meths vapour over a pint.

 

[TheEdge]

£9 for entry to the Festival of Model Railways at Doncaster. Seemed a perfectly reasonable price for what was there.

Although a few too many of the layouts were struck with the "beautiful modelling but nothing moving" bug that seems to be doing the rounds at the moment.

 

[theblackwatch]

I visited the Doncaster show today too, and thought it was reasonable for £9. I didn't think there were that many 'nothing happening' layouts - in fact I didn't spot any where old Bert was there with his cards on a ring binder, where 'Sequence 44' took place, followed by 'Sequence 45' a few minutes later. I thought there was a good selection of diesel era layouts too, certainly not a steam bias.

 

[satisnek]

Yes I went to Doncaster as well - I thought it was better than last year, although I got the impression that the best layouts - particularly Towcester - were concentrated nearer the entrance. Perhaps not so much of the "beautiful modelling but nothing moving" this time but one thing I've noticed at various exhibitions are layouts where you look at either the topography or track layout and think "well that's just plain wrong!"

I also noticed this year that they were advertising the adult admission as £10, followed by £9 without a showguide....

 

[TheEdge]

One layout just stuck in my head. The fiddle yard was full of trains (must have been 50+) of all shapes and sizes with a three track scenic section and yard yet every time I had a look there was maybe 1 train slowly trundling along and multiple operators chatting among themselves.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Yes I went to Doncaster as well - I thought it was better than last year, although I got the impression that the best layouts - particularly Towcester - were concentrated nearer the entrance. Perhaps not so much of the "beautiful modelling but nothing moving" this time but one thing I've noticed at various exhibitions are layouts where you look at either the topography or track layout and think "well that's just plain wrong!"

I also noticed this year that they were advertising the adult admission as £10, followed by £9 without a showguide....

That might be worth making a separate thread of, there must be some layouts that rail industry staff have seen and thought "there's no way that would be like that in real-life"

 

[John Webb]

.......but one thing I've noticed at various exhibitions are layouts where you look at either the topography or track layout and think "well that's just plain wrong!"........

Most times the model (particularly of an actual location) has to be a compromise between what was on the ground and what you have room to show, and 'compression' has to come into play. For example, when we first started work on St Albans South signal box, we considered the possibility of having a layout worked by the lever frame - but in 4mm scale the layout would have been several feet longer than the box! and even in 2mm scale there would have been little room left for the signallers, let alone visitors!

But I agree that there are many layouts which do not follow prototypical practice. In particular 'trap' points are often omitted, and signals can often be poorly sited. Bob Essary's book "Railway Signalling and Track Plans" is an excellent guide to how the prototype track layouts were designed and signalled, and how the model can follow such practice.

 

[satisnek]

Most times the model (particularly of an actual location) has to be a compromise between what was on the ground and what you have room to show, and 'compression' has to come into play.

Oh I agree about compression, but if it's done well you don't notice it. I was thinking more about layouts which are not actual locations - those which fail to disguise the fact that it's a flat baseboard with hills sprouting up or with a lowered section to accommodate a river bridge, to give an obvious example.