Something a little different for this weeks Garden Railway Saturday- out first model railway show where we were on the 'exhibitor' side of things.
Having worked late, we got to Stoneleigh, near Coventry, fairly late but with a beautiful sunset greeting us.
A walk from the hotel on the site to recce where we were going was a pleasant end to the day.
The next morning, high-vis jackets donned, it was into the venue to see our office for the day.
The layout had been built the afternoon before, by Big Boss Editor Phil, ably assisted by Andy, who set up the Digital Command Control side of things.
It was a rather nice layout- lots going on in two gauges, multiple locomotives, and the impressive selection of real plants (borrowed as usual from a local garden centre).
A few fun things for people to spot, including Shaun the Sheep, who we took mild joy in moving around the layout and re-posing.
We'd shamelessly bought a few of our models along; the ice cream cart being in the current issue (which was being given away at the door).
Also the luggage barrows...
...benches...
...Estate Loco and the Permanent Way Hut.
Wait, a few seconds ago! Digital Command Control, you say? Yes, the outer G-gauge line was operated digitally. The Future!
Points could be controlled...
...and the tram, two diesel shunters, and tank loco. All had sounds, all had extra features, the tank loco also had working steam effects.
It was great fun, and we did a lot of channelling the Scout Leader side of things we do, and got kids to drive the trains. A pair of children came back again and again, one of them needing to be practically dragged away by his mom at closing time.
We managed a few laps of the wider show; 1500 visitors through the day apparently, a record.
We were next to a huge 32mm-gauge line, which was very impressive. Mix of live steam and electric trains.
Yellow Classic Camper Van.
Lovely gauge 3 class 08 on Warton Road.
Winner of the model I most wanted- this terrific gauge 1 pug.
I'm a sucker for a miniature railway; this one was incorporated into a massive gauge one layout...
...as was this boating pond.
Sheep on an Irish-themed layout.
Nice tramway scene.
Slightly Wes Anderson-angle.
So; despite all this model-making malarkey, particularly in recent years, this was our first time exhibiting (technically... I mean yeah, we hadn't made the layout, but we were helping run it). It was a fantastic day; it was great to finally help out on something concrete for the mag, it was fun getting the kids to drive the trains, and yes, it was a lot of fun actually playing with a big noisy train set too. We'll be back next year for more!
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