The Future of this Report

I haven't posted anything here for a while, my apologies. I haven't been able to attend any exhibitions recently. I planned to go to a couple but various things conspired against that. We are now entering the quiet time of year for exhibitions in Sydney. Don't know why but there are no shows until Autumn.

During this time I will decide on the future of this report. You can help. Do you want it to continue? I know a few people read it but there are few comments. Would you be willing to send in your own reports? I would post any reports if they are sent to me. What else should this report do?

If there are no suggestions the report may not return in the new year.

Sydney Model Railway Exhibition

Still can't get used to the fact it has moved, still want to call it Liverpool. This is the first time I have visited Peakhurst. Living on the other side of Sydney it is a fair way to go. The venue is fine, access is not perfect being on a busy intersection. Parking was available on the oval near the hall, fortunately the weather was fine and dry. There could have been better signage leading from the carpark to the hall though. The carpark was half full when I arrived late Sunday morning but seemed nearly empty 2 or 3 hours later. The Thomas ride was down steep stairs from a side door. Must have been fun getting down with a couple of kids.

Noticed this exhibition has been very heavily promoted, even my local paper had an add in it last week. They must have a large advertising budget, wonder if it was worthwhile. There was a queue when I first arrived and to the organisors credit they had 2 tickets booths which kept the queue moving. Well done and important when it was quite warm in the sun outside, would have been worse in wet weather. Entry cost was high, $10 for adults is the highest around as could be expected for the largest exhibition I guess.

The adds mentioned nearly 90 stands, the guide said 77, is that close enough to be nearly? It is more than anywhere else in Sydney that is for sure. The layout of the hall seemed strange, there was plenty of room in some areas including a large open spot near stands 65 to 72 yet it was quite crowded in the corners.

The layouts presented a good variety of prototypes and scales. A couple of exceptional ones were Eskbank, a early era layout and Hope Coast a simple small display with clever and well executed scenery. The only under represented scale was large scale. There were several layouts that were new to me and some old friends too.

The trade stands had a good range of products with a little duplication. There were several good buys for the bargain hunters too. The catering seemed ok but service was a little slow sometimes.

A quality show with a good range of exhibits and worth a visit but will I attend next year? Maybe but more likely every 2 or 3 years not each year.

Blacktown Model Rail & Hobby Expo

This new show had the misfortune to debut on one of the wettest weekends Sydney has seen for a long time. Not that wet weather is necessarily a bad thing for an indoor event. If you want somewhere to go an exhibition is one of the few choices you have.

The show was held in the Blacktown Leisure Centre, a venue I had not visited before. I understand it is used for other shows such as doll shows. The Hall is a reasonable size. Some trade stands were in a separate room too. Why they were not all in one hall is a mystery as there was plenty of room, in fact the main hall seemed rather empty.

Despite being billed as a Model Rail & Hobby Expo it was a model rail show with a few boats, a couple of craft traders and the rest was rail. A better variety would have been nice. No doubt something the organizers will address next time.

The displays varied from the regulars (Hundred Acre Wood ( in what may be one of its last appearances), Moss Vale) through old and average (Campbelltown (which seems to have been around for ages and looks it)) to the new (Dawson's Creek). All in all a reasonable range and the low visitor numbers meant there was plenty of time to look.

The centre has its own food stand with the normal range of food at competitive prices. There is a fair bit of parking but it was pushed with many people parked on grassed areas, not the best idea in wet weather. Entry prices were good, $7, $4 and $15. Probably the cheapest in Sydney.

Overall it was not a bad attempt for a first show and undoubtedly the organizers will learn a lot from the weekend. Worth watching for future developments.

Mudgee Model Railway Exhibition

As far as I know this is a new exhibition. It was organised by the Mudgee Miniature Railway. However it was held in the Public School and not at the Railway's site. All proceeds were for the school's Special Education Unit.

The venue was quite OK. Most displays were in the school hall with a few in a classroom nearby. The canteen is adjacent to the hall so food and drink was easily available. There were signs on the main street so the venue was easy to find.

The displays ranged from basic to quite advanced however most had been seen before. Dungog has been around for a while but is always worth seeing. Duck Creek is another quality effort. Most were of Australian prototype but Croft Junction was British and one of the few I haven't previously viewed.

Most of the exhibitors commented on how quiet the morning had been. I don't know how well it was promoted locally, that seems to be essential for a show to succeed. I wonder if a change of emphasis to a hobby show as discussed in the last post would help.

It is a fine show for a small regional effort and deserves to be a success. But was it worth the drive from Sydney? Well not really but I haven't been out that way for a few years and the weather was great so it was an enjoyable day out.

Updates

Just a few comments on a couple of events I couldn't visit. I have spoken to a few people who were at these events and I wish I had been able to be there. I wouldn't normally comment on events I hadn't personally seen but they represent something different to other railway themed events in that they are both model or hobby shows as they include a variety of interests.

Is this the future of shows? Well if they attract more people to shows and if they can encourage people to be involved in model hobbies then they will be a good things. They also may make shows that would not otherwise be viable a going concern.

The first show was the Hawkesbury Model and Hobby Show at Clarendon near Windsor. It was a first event by the organisers TRAK and that showed. There was plenty of room in the hall. The range of exhibits was limited. However those involved seemed to enjoy themselves. There were displays around the hall and rides on heritage buses available too. This event promises to be a great event in the future.

The other event was the Our Towns Model Show at Broadmeadow. It is an old event that has become a must see. I have visited it many times over the years but unfortunately not this year. It was in its third location in as many years but that didn't seem to affect the attendance. In fact I believe it was crowded all weekend. There was a wide variety of exhibits and good coverage in the local press. It proves the acceptance of this type of event.

This type of event may be the future of model shows and while this may disappoint hard core rail fans it will be a positive thing for the general public.

Castle Hill Exhibition

The Castle Hill Exhibition is one of the standards of the Sydney Exhibition scene. It has been going for 27 years, I don't remember them all I just copied that off the program. For the last few years it has been held in the Harvey Lowe Pavilion at the Castle Hill Showground but I can remember when it was held in the hall on the former railway station site in the park opposite the shops. Although it was spread over various rooms it seemed to have more space but that may be my memory playing tricks.

It was held last weekend and this year I visited on the Sunday. What a mistake that was! The markets were on and parking was almost none existent. Usually it is a bit crowded but nothing like this.

The hall is well set out but is a bit small for a show of this type. The organisers need to find a larger venue. Some times it was almost impossible to see a layout and you could forget about photos unless you waited for a while and then grabbed your opportunity. Several large prams didn't help either, I felt sorry for a couple of elderly visitors who were trying to get around.

The layouts were of a generally high standard although I had seen most before. The highlight of Epping for me had been the O scale Wydale and here it was displayed with a second section that included a narrow gauge line in O16, a great layout now even better. The logging layout was very popular too.

The refreshment stall didn't seem very busy but had a reasonable range at usual prices.

My only complaint was that I couldn't spend money! The second hand stall had a couple of interesting items but as they didn't take credit cards I couldn't buy anything. I know credit cards are an expensive option for occasional use by a community group so I am not really complaining. If they had had something I couldn't live without I could have asked them to hold it and then gone to a machine somewhere.

When I arrived it was dull and foggy but by the time I left it was clear and sunny. I had traveled over with the heater on and I nearly needed the air conditioner on the way home as the sun coming through the screen was beautiful and warm.

Another enjoyable visit and a weekend that is looked forward to all year.

Epping Exhibition

The Epping Exhibition has become the thing to do on the June long weekend in Sydney. According to the guide it is the 25th year the exhibtion has run. The experience shows as the organisation appears slick. Everything is happening as you would expect. I would like to hear from any exhibitors if that is the case behind the scenes.

There was a good number of people around most of the day despite (or maybe because of) the poor weather. In fact the second hand stall was crowded until after lunch. As well as the main hall there was the aforementioned second hand stall and some traders in a seperate area and rides and refreshments as you walked in from the carpark. The refreshment area is perhaps the one thing that could be improved. With the wet weather there was no where to sit undercover while enjoying the good selection of food and drinks available. The addition of someone selling real coffee was very popular.

The rides were suffering in the rain but many were braving the conditions. A little shower is nothing in comparision to the chance to ride behind everyone's favourite little blue engine.

Of course the layouts are what everyone is there for, after they have grabbed a bargain from the second hand stall anyway. A good variety was on display with all scales but Z represented. The photo shows Wydale which despite being O scale was one of the smallest layouts on display. The quality showed what can be done in a small area, it was busy with something moving all the time and the detailing encouraged you to stay and explore.

Once again a quality exhibition, the Epping club can be proud of their achievements and we look forward to the next 25 years.

 

Mt Victoria Great Train Weekend

The second Great Train Weekend was on at Mt Victoria this weekend. Many people braved the cool of late Autumn to visit the historic Blue Mountains town. Why this time of year? After all late Autumn when the temperature barely makes it to double figures may not appear the best time to visit the mountains. Well it seems the area was first crossed by Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth in May 1813 and in May 1868 the railway arrived in town.

There were many activities scattered throughout the town over the weekend. Rides and food was available in the School grounds, a market behind the Victoria and Albert Hotel, a railway film festival in the Mt Victoria Flicks, various vintage car and machinery displays and the museum on the Station was open. 3801 ran up from Sydney both days and brought a great many people to town. The photo shows the 1901 Locomobile Steam Car which ran around both days.

Saturday was the quieter day. Only a few stalls were at the markets and there was no vintage cars but the train still arrived from Sydney and many people wandered around. Sunday was the main day with the town a lot busier.

The organisors must be complemented for learning from last year. One of the requirements for a successful event is to care for the inner person and this year there were a number of places to get food and there were signs listing the options. This was sorely missing last year. There appeared to be more signs and flyers around too so people were not wandering aimlessly but were heading to whatever caught their interest.

Overall this is a great event and can only improve in coming years. Well done Mt Vic.

Thornleigh Exhibition

After a few weeks with nothing happening we have a weekend with an excess of events. I had to decide between the Thornleigh exhibtion and the Field day at the Campbelltown Steam museum. Waking to the sound of rain on the roof sealed my decision for the indoor event. Unfortunately the rain was little more than a nuisance. There was also the exhibition at Richmond Vale Railway. It is a special event and includes unlimited rides on the steam train with your entry. I must make the trip up there one year.

The Thornleigh exhibition is run by the Sydney N Scale Model Railway Club and as you would expect that scale dominates the exhibition. There were three layouts that weren't N (out of 8) and 2 of the 4 traders specialise in N. There was also a Bring and Buy stall to make up the 13 stalls.

The exhibition is threatening to outgrow the Community Centre, there were stands in the foyer and ante rooms were also used. If it is to grow a new venue will need to be found. However the current venue has good facilities with the basics in place. The club ran a refreshment stall with the standard fare of steak or sausage sandwiches. hot drinks etc. The only minus would be the parking, Thornleigh is a busy area and the centre is in a shopping area. The only parking is shared with Bunnings. Of course the location in northern Sydney is good with easy access from the main road and only a short walk from the station.

However there were a good range of layouts with only British models not represented unless you include the Thomas train running on Keith King's "Hundred Acre Wood" (also the name was inspired by A. A. Milne). All layouts were running well, not something you can say about all exhibitions. Some have been around for some time but that is not necessarily a problem.

I met a couple of people I knew and they mentioned it had been a slow start to the day, indeed there weren't many there while I was there. This is a shame as it is a good exhibition.

Next week is the Mt Victoria Train Weekend and I will try to get up there again. It debuted last year and can only get better. Hope the weather is better than the early forecast, the weekend deserves fine weather.

Winston Hills Exhibition

Once again this year I journeyed out to Winston Hills for the Rotary Club's exhibition. This is a small local exhibition and seems to get good support from the locals. It is held in the Public School with the main hall and several classrooms used. There were 15 displays plus a couple of trade stands, a white elephant stall and a couple of craft stalls. Also there were Thomas rides and a jumping castle which both seemed in want of customers.

This year did not appear as well organised as previous years. There were fewer layouts and they were spread out across too many rooms. The main hall only had exhibits around the walls which left a big gap in the centre. In one of the rooms the layout was just inside the door with the empty room behind. It would seem a better idea to use less rooms and put more layouts in the main hall. When you walk into a half empty room it leaves an impression of how few layouts there were.

The other unusual thing I noted was the "Ticket Office" where you paid your entry was in the middle it would have been possible to bypass it and get in for free. In fact there were 2 tables where you could pay but both were in strange positions. One good thing was there were flyers for 2 coming events which promise to be better, Blacktown and Hawkesbury, I would suggest the organisors of this event visit both and make plenty of notes.

One of the problems with using facilities not designed for shows is the lack of facilities. Just a couple of examples, the "Refreshment Room" was in a classroom with a BBQ outside the door supplying the food and the parking was inadequate.

There is a small parking area but it is easy to miss the entrance and it was full most of the time I was there. Most visitors parked on the street and as it is a narrow and busy road that is not the best.

The food available, while limited in range, was quite good. There were only Steak and Sausage Sandwiches, cheese sandwiches and a variety of cakes and lollies plus tea / coffee and cool drinks. While adequate and of good quality a larger choice would have been nice. I always think the food is important as the organisors want people to stay for a while. There were few places to sit and eat too. Good food and clean toilets are the basics of any good event.

So the important question - will I go next year year? Probably not.

More from Steamfest

As promised here are some more pictures from Steamfest. As you can see it didn't have to be powered by steam to feature. The coach gave rides around the market area past the helicopter (also not powered by steam!).

I'm not sure they are the historically correct breed of horses for a coach but they did a good job. Even having the helicopter land behind the photographer didn't spook them. At least not as much as it did the photographer. It is not easy holding onto your hat and taking a photo at the same time.

The traction engine featured in the rally area and here has just backed up the attach a trailer which it proceeded to haul around for a while. It was just one of the engines in steam.

There were also stationary engines that pumped water around and round. Some that weren't connected to anything seemed very unstable, they just sat there shaking.


Also on display were several old cars and even a blitz wagon Bush Fire truck.

Maitland Steamfest

Okay I know it is now called Hunter Valley Steamfest but for some of us it always was and always will be Maitland Steamfest. After all it is centred on Maitland.

On approaching Maitland from the New England Highway heading south, or should that be east?, I noticed there was nothing to let visitors know there was something on in town. I understand there were signs coming from Sydney and from Kurri.

3801 arrived from Sydney in its new grey livery. Many people commented how it wasn't original but of course it is the livery it wore for the first few years until after WW2.

There were the usual stalls up the main street and plenty of food stalls but still I got a feeling of "seen it all before". Is it me or are some of these events getting a little stale?

Small traction engines and a donkey cart ran up and down the street but most of the action was in the steam rally which is over the line and by itself. Lots of traction engines, stationary engines and vintage vehicles as well as live steam model railway rides.

See the Golden Fleece tanker in the background? Now there is an image from my youth.

It was an enjoyable day although I didn't visit the small model railway display in the CWA hall. Will I go again next year? Probably after all it is almost a given but let's wait and see.

I have more photos and will upload some during the week. Next weekend is Winston Hills Exhibition for a real change of pace.

Why this Blog?

Why this Blog? Good question. I visit many Model Railway Exhibitions, Rail events and similar during the year and wanted to share my impressions. I don't travel very far so normally only visit events within a couple of hours drive of Sydney NSW.

I hope you find this interesting and look forward to seeing your comments.