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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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? 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.
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.
