Kidderminster Model Railway Exhibition 2009

GWR 5164
Originally uploaded by Phil_Parker

Off to a show with a mission. Planning is already well advanced for the great Leamington & Warwick MRC show next year and we are trying to keep our traders up to date with developments. They are often our best advocates on the ground and will help spread the word in the hobby about our improvements. More importantly, since they have to pay to attend then it's important to listen to their suggestions and keep them "in the loop" as management consultants would say (probably just before you punched them for speaking gibberish to be honest but you know what I mean).

Rather than spend time ringing round, it's much quicker and more fun to go to a show on the Sunday afternoon to do this and chat face to face. Of course this has the pleasant side effect that we get to go to a show and see some train sets, sorry - finescale model railways.

The exhibition is held at the Wyre Forrest leisure centre in the middle of town. For those who want to make a day of it, it's about 10 minutes (hilly !) walk from the Severn Valley Railway - hence the photo at the head of this post. Hopping off the train, the station is a good starting point with an excellent refreshment rooms serving a good All Day Breakfast for under a fiver along with an excellent cup of tea. One of the best carrot cakes I've ever seen was on the counter but I was a bit full after the fry-up.

Inside the hall the format is traditional - trade around the edge of the room, layout in the centre. 14 layouts in all ranging from Z gauge (Aldeburgh) to Gauge 1(Loscoe Yard) with plenty in between.


At large end, Loscoe Yard was impressive at 25 feet long. It's a small yard for American main line diesels. They shuttle back and forth with a few wagons. I think this is what is known as a "short line" although in an urban setting. Nice to see a scenic G1 model as opposed to the running tracks normally displayed. Weathered models too. The detail on the locomotives was enhanced by this and makes you wonder why so few people do it.

If I had a concern it was for the operators - this isn't a lot of space for G1 and the potential for movements is very limited. I suspect that unless you get to chat with the public a lot then you'd go mad on a long session. Another layout suffering from this would be the delightful "The Wagon Works" which doesn't have any points ! All shunting is carried out via a wagon turntable with rolling stock moved by chain shunting. Nice to see this carried out though - something you can do in 7mm scale and above as the wagons have enough mass to roll properly.

One of the more interesting arrangements for a layout is that on "Cornwallis Yard" which has a main scenic area nicely framed by a fascia side panels and open fiddle yards. All operation is carried out from the front including the normally behind the scenes activities. Modellers like to have a chance to ogle the stock at shows - we built display cases into two of our layouts to facilitate this - but the open yard takes the concept even further. The only problems is while this worked OK in the layouts early days, now with lots more stock it's too constrictive and a re-built to a more conventional form is in the offing !

One of my favorites had to be Moorton Bottom Yard, 009 in a canal side setting. Run by the Hull MRC it's tiny and very detailed. The working elevator was a nice touch, although Cornwallis has one of these as well so less novelty than normal ! Another model with excellent presentation the only downside was Dave poking my stomach and saying, "You're catching up with me !". Skipping the carrot cake was a a good move after all ! Mind you I'm Jenson Button to His Lewis Hamilton in this respect...

Talking of novelties that weren't that novel, two layouts were set in winter. Lindtzal is continental N gauge in the snow. It's very pretty and set off by some coloured lighting that gives a convincing night time effect - except in a brightly lit hall such as this when the light spill is stronger than the models own effects at the front. A chatty couple with the model are an added attraction - no hiding behind the model for them !

The other wintry theme came from the superb Blackstone Junction all the way from Edinburgh. The bare trees and white landscape are well modelled actually make you shiver even on a mild spring day. What caught my eye first though were the excellent locomotives with extensive lining out and bright colours.

Despite having only 3 1/2 hours we managed loads of chat with those selling things and so consider it a successful visit. Good fun with lots of excellent models on show. Good news as flicking through the programme I am reminded that we are exhibiting there next year.

More photos of the show.

Wyre Forest MRC website (Warning, anoying sound effects on the home page)