National Garden Railway show Stoneleigh 2025, Who's About?

Not long back from the show. We did divert on our route back and took our time.

Our first time at Stoneleigh, and we enjoyed the show.

We didn't get to talk to PhilP, as he was very busy, at one point the crowds around his stand were 3 deep, so I guess he had a good show. We did speak to Jane though.

We saw everyone we expected to see including a forumite from Kent who hasn't been around for a while.

No photos I'm afraid, but some excellent 16mm layouts as well as the 2 G Scale ones from 3CAG....
 
Aargh! I ache!

Packed, and back at the hotel.
Many thanks to all who said hello, and a very special thank you to Mrs tac foley tac foley who (with the addition of a banana) supplied the only sustenance I had all day. - I just about have a voice left..

Just need to find the energy to get changed, then find somewhere to feed us..

PhilP.
 
I was humbled by the young man who turned up at the IOM15mil Group stand, taking video and, in due course, running a train he had brought with him. Talking to his mum, it became apparent that they had travelled a good distance...from Washington DC. He had found the National online, convinced mum that it was 'just the thing', and so they came. He was, I believe, amongst friends; and I hope to see him again next year. It is in such moments that we become aware of being a community. In a good way, obvs.
 
Apologies, if there was a group gathering (rather than dribs and drabs?) as if I has to describe today in one word:
Manic! - Would probably be word of choice?

I think possibly the last 20 minutes, were a little calmer, but it was full-on, all day.

PhilP.
 
PhilP said:
Apologies, if there was a group gathering (rather than dribs and drabs?) as if I has to describe today in one word:
Manic! - Would probably be word of choice?

I think possibly the last 20 minutes, were a little calmer, but it was full-on, all day.

PhilP.
Click to expand...
There was a bijou meeting of Gizzy, Mizzy, David 1226, Tanker Man, Fezwig and yours truly about 20 feet from your stand. You were otherwise engaged...
 
Gizzy said:
Not long back from the show. We did divert on our route back and took our time.

Our first time at Stoneleigh, and we enjoyed the show.

We didn't get to talk to PhilP, as he was very busy, at one point the crowds around his stand were 3 deep, so I guess he had a good show. We did speak to Jane though.

We saw everyone we expected to see including a forumite from Kent who hasn't been around for a while.

No photos I'm afraid, but some excellent 16mm layouts as well as the 2 G Scale ones from 3CAG....
Click to expand...
Actually, only 1 and 2 sevenths layouts from 3CAG! Eddie Spencer’s Johnson harbour in full, but only 2 boards out of seven from ‘Dow Bridge JunKtion’, acting as the GSS publicity table.
DBJ can be seen in full at Llangollen on June 7th

Important breaking news.......
See the next post.....

Nothing to do with the excellent Bara Brith consumed during the day...

Malcolm
 
PhilP said:
Having more space (and the corner behind the stand) was a bit of a luxury, but having been about there for two shows now, I think we can claim squatters rights!
:D :devil:

PhilP.
Click to expand...
Sorry I did not get over to the 'meet up' but I did speak to a number of folk from this group. I spent most of the day and all my running slots running my regnier tram on the 45mm part of the 16mm modular layout as I was the only one with a 45mm steam tram, and the electrically powered ones had failed. Hopefully there will, as usual be some videos on YouTube for any not able to get there today.
David
 
Now if we had known that...
I would have sent Caver Keith over with "Winston"...

I did not have my phone out, except to show 'how-to' pictures of installations. - So I took no pictures. :disrelieved:

If there are some modular layout 'overview' shots, I could have permission to post elsewhere, it would be appreciated?

PhilP.
 
The trip to Stonwas a pain, we took into account the shut roads, but we forgot about the the roadworks here, just outside of town, the A14, etc, etc. Seems that every road we were on had some sort of works going on, which would be good, if they were fixing the potholes, but it seems it's new cables and pipes. Still the show was fine, we got there too late for any meet ups, and being a true English man didn't want to ask the wrong people if they were of this Forum. PhilP was extremely busy all the time I was there, which must have been good for business! And apparently my birthday prezzie has been purchased!
 
Northsider said:
I was humbled by the young man who turned up at the IOM15mil Group stand, taking video and, in due course, running a train he had brought with him. Talking to his mum, it became apparent that they had travelled a good distance...from Washington DC. He had found the National online, convinced mum that it was 'just the thing', and so they came. He was, I believe, amongst friends; and I hope to see him again next year. It is in such moments that we become aware of being a community. In a good way, obvs.
Click to expand...
Yes, it was great to let him and his friend loose at the end of the show, pity there wasn't enough time to have a look at the gear that sounded like it was jumping out of mesh. A good mannered young man too, thanked all of us before they left, I though they where from Boston or was that More than a feeling? At 3,000 plus miles, probably the furthest travelled visitor to the show, mind you they where staying in Derbyshire so not to far away on the day and good to see kids forming good friendships across the Atlantic :)
Made their day and ours too, really felt it was worth all the effort for the show to finish on such a good note.
 
Now...
Part of the idea, was to take a large pile of 'stuff' to the show, that had been worked-on.. Thus freeing up space, and allowing me to get other things done, and sorted............

I seem to have brought more back to be worked on, than was here before. :wondering:

Not sure the Domestic Authorities, have quite twigged this yet? ;):lipssealed:

PhilP.
 
I've attended these shows regularly over the years and always enjoyed them, but the enjoyment of my visit this year was really spoiled when I got to the door to find that I had to go through a metal detector to get into the hall. A metal detector? - for a model railway show? Really? This has to be the most egregious bit of pointless "security theatre" that I've ever seen. I'd be happy to go to future shows , but not at this venue, I'm afraid.
 
philg said:
I've attended these shows regularly over the years and always enjoyed them, but the enjoyment of my visit this year was really spoiled when I got to the door to find that I had to go through a metal detector to get into the hall. A metal detector? - for a model railway show? Really? This has to be the most egregious bit of pointless "security theatre" that I've ever seen. I'd be happy to go to future shows , but not at this venue, I'm afraid.
Click to expand...
The innocent have nothing to fear ................... apart from their trousers falling down :tmi:
 
philg said:
I've attended these shows regularly over the years and always enjoyed them, but the enjoyment of my visit this year was really spoiled when I got to the door to find that I had to go through a metal detector to get into the hall. A metal detector? - for a model railway show? Really? This has to be the most egregious bit of pointless "security theatre" that I've ever seen. I'd be happy to go to future shows , but not at this venue, I'm afraid.
Click to expand...
It’s called Martyn’s law introduced this year by the government because of the Manchester arena bombing. Venues have to comply with the law. The security firms will become more proficient as they get to grips with both the equipment and the Law.
 
It is reported that nine knives were stopped from going into the show..

Mostly penknives, all returned on exit.

I guess that reflects the demographic of the visitors?
More likely to peel an apple, or do a bit of whittling.

PhilP.
 
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