Where was I today?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Subject says it all ... currently header home, exhausted.

[Celestial]

The model railway exhibition in Birmingham.

Don't think much of that first class HST^▸ (High Speed Train) though - where's the buffet car!

[grahame]

The model railway exhibition in Birmingham.

Don't think much of that first class HST^▸ (High Speed Train) though - where's the buffet car!

On Fort William to Mallaig, everyone will be so busy looking out of the window that they will not use buffet, vending machines, restaurant car or trolley.

Yes - at the NEC^» (National Exhibition Centre - about). More pictures to follow when I get home - "relaxing" on a voyager at the moment.

[PhilWakely]

T gauge

[Surrey 455]

How does the NEC^» (National Exhibition Centre - about) exhibition compare to Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg? I imagine the Birmingham exhibition aims for accuracy in their sets. The Hamburg setup is more of fun imagination or approximation of the different countries that it has sets for but that's not a bad thing.

I made my second visit to Miniatur Wunderland just over a week ago. It's not just a model railway. I really can't describe in a few words how good it is. If you get the chance, go. But if you can't, take a look at what you're missing.
https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/exchange/about/image-film-wunderland/

They have started building a Monaco and a France layout. Next on the list is England which, according to my visitors guide will be finished by 2021.

From Miniatur Wunderland

Subsequently, we will literally take the plunge over the channel and build England, the mother country of railroads. We don't know yet what it will look like, but the country is an outstanding model with its beautiful scenery in the counties, the industry in the centre of the island, the noble English culture that is visible everywhere and, of course, its multitude of railways.

[stuving]

If Miniatur Wunderland are going to open the south of France next year, I guess they'll be busy now beavering away at the necessary systems to implement an épisode cévenol (as yesterday). That'll be impressive, if they can get the colour of the water right.

[grahame]

How does the NEC^» (National Exhibition Centre - about) exhibition compare to Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg? I imagine the Birmingham exhibition aims for accuracy in their sets.

Birmingham celebrates variety. Lots of groups, lots of layouts, lots of stuff for sale, some heritage lines especially narrow gauge ... also RailFuture (and I found myself spending longer on that booth than any other).   Some initial pictures of exhibits to show the variety.   They range from model village with rail element through to "how much track can we get on here", and from fully modelled accuracy to just track on a base to run beautiful locos.  From gauge 1 to T scale.   UK^▸ (United Kingdom), European, USA prototypes and the odd whimsical.

[grahame]

Away from the model exhibits ... this is what it was like





















And see also http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=22454.msg277024#msg277024 with the full size, none-heritage booth!

[johnneyw]

How does the NEC^» (National Exhibition Centre - about) exhibition compare to Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg? I imagine the Birmingham exhibition aims for accuracy in their sets. The Hamburg setup is more of fun imagination or approximation of the different countries that it has sets for but that's not a bad thing.

I made my second visit to Miniatur Wunderland just over a week ago. It's not just a model railway. I really can't describe in a few words how good it is. If you get the chance, go. But if you can't, take a look at what you're missing.
https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/exchange/about/image-film-wunderland/

They have started building a Monaco and a France layout. Next on the list is England which, according to my visitors guide will be finished by 2021.

From Miniatur Wunderland

Subsequently, we will literally take the plunge over the channel and build England, the mother country of railroads. We don't know yet what it will look like, but the country is an outstanding model with its beautiful scenery in the counties, the industry in the centre of the island, the noble English culture that is visible everywhere and, of course, its multitude of railways.

I'm very jealous of you!!! I was there quite few few years back and it's high on my itinerary for my next visit, possibly in the new year. My good lady's son went there for a surprise 40th birthday present last month which we all chipped into. I've not grilled him directly about it yet but from what I've heard he was raving about it and apparently could have done the "behind the scenes" one hour tour we booked him there all over again.

[bradshaw]

I read somewhere that the Market Deeping layout was on display there, newly restored after that shocking vandalism.

[SandTEngineer]

I didn't manage the long trip up from the far-Southwest in the end.  I did warn you its a big exhibition.  Imagine what it was like on Saturday

[grahame]

I didn't manage the long trip up from the far-Southwest in the end.  I did warn you its a big exhibition.  Imagine what it was like on Saturday

The numbers / volume were fine and spot on after the pinch point queue for tickets.  Long queue at the Pasty stall, most of the other food outlets coping well.    Table sharing in the cafe area, but then the public transport ethos of sharing a table was working.    I could have done with longer, but ended up (and it's something I enjoy) acting as lunchtime relief for the RailFuture stand - learned a lot and gave the small team there chance to eat and look around.

There was a far bigger show on at the NEC^» (National Exhibition Centre - about) about motorcycles ... more about the busyness of the weekend to follow in other thread.