Click the thumbnails for a 1024x682 version
Well the venue was impressive, a Masonic hall. Curiously without windows on the upper floor. Anyway, it had a bar and comfy sofas, and plenty of space for me to eat my gluten free sandwiches and other snacks.
There were a few good layouts at this show. However, I felt the show was a let down in general and it could have been much better. This is my opinion formed, hopefully, from a general public point of view.
Overall the layouts were good standard, however I was immediately disappointed when it turned out that some of the layouts I had seen already. This is remarkable because the only other show that I have been to in the last 2 years was Rainhill, six months earlier ).
On one of the layouts an impressive, or irritating, feature depending on your viewpoint, was a simulated earthquake. It measured 5.3 on the Richter scale. This was going on for a good few minutes and must have really scared some of the model people. (The whole layout was moving/vibrating/oscillating as a result of the layout supports being inadequate, whilst at the same time, someone was doing some filing on the layout or something behind the scenes).
Some of the rooms upstairs were small and could only fit two small layouts/stands in. Although they were good layouts/stands they were, by nature also quiet. Quiet room & quiet layouts - not really the type of atmosphere needed at an exhibition.
I mean, some sort of background music would help overall. Why do these things have to be so sombre?
Some of the exhibitors were friendly and chatty. This helped keep interest up. This was particularly obvious at two particular layouts, which I have included photos of below. Photos of other layouts at this show are available at http://cheshirerailwaymodellers2.fotopic.net/
Although I had seen it before, I felt it was nice to see the Bad Kissen layout, because of its simplicity.
Bad Kissen HO Austrian Layout by John Gough
Also worth a mention was Gairloch & Wester Ross. This L-shaped layout gave you a variety of viewpoints you just can't get with a conventional flat fronted layout. Additionally, excellent scenery and interesting train movements kept the interest alive.
Gairloch & Wester Ross by Roger Christian & Stan Williams
I couldn't get a good view for long of the "Harper Valley", US N-gauge layout by George Woolnough, and I would encourage a look at the photo here. It too was good but being on the first floor, was probably missed by a lot of people who were not encouraged by what they saw on the ground floor.
Rainhill 2006 exhibition was better. But overall I had a good time because of the company I was in and two or three special layouts.