G Rail - or The Garden Railway Show 2019

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Not sure about the new name or the Multi Scale bit.
Garden-Railway-Show-2019-Nottingham.jpg
 
Used to go up to it (Stafford) consistently in the past which was a bit of a trek from where we live but I noticed on attending the 2016 show that it was a little thin on the ground for traders and also for layouts and felt a bit flat.
The following year (2017) had quite a few traders pull out (not a good sign) and also there seemd to be less interesting layouts, so I decided, on balance, that it was not worth the effort.
Apparently there was even more 'space' that year and, having spoken with some attendees, they, too, were a little disappointed.
I decided to give it a miss again in 2018.

To make the long journey, it is not enough to expect the membership to show loyalty but there also needs to be a good show to make it worthwhile.
For those that live closer, it is always worth a visit even if it is just to check it out.

I know that there will be those who will cry foul at what I have said as though I have 'betrayed' the cause but it is what I, and others also felt, some of which were closer to the site and some. like me, who had to drive for three hours or more there and back.

I hope that it gets back its 'mojo' and has a full roster of traders and exciting layouts...which is what will make me change my mind.

The poster is really not a grabber.... as someone who has been a designer for exhibition advertising in the past, it is trying to be too many things, is too much like a call to arms, and does not give any idea of 'FUN'.

As to the 'multi scale - gauge' statement on the flyer......
Well, I think that it will confuse those who are not sure what gauges/scales garden rail encompasses (will all the gauges from 'O' gauge up to 15 inch etc etc be there?). Why not list the scales instead?, also, as the staments are pretty prominent on the flyer/poster, it does also give the impression that the statements are pretty important....perhaps graphics/illustrations would make it more interesting.
 
I will probably go again IF the list of traders is good...... but I don't think I'll be making any travel plans until that list is published; so let's hope that it doesn't get left till too close to the show......!

I did go to this year's one, and it was underwhelming in many respects; provided they have learned from that and fixed what needed to be fixed, then maybe it will work - I hope that it does.

I tend to agree with most of what has been said above, re the poster/flyer - there is a slightly uncomfortable feeling of "It's your DUTY to come along and support us", and I'm not sure how well that will go down...... :wondering:

Jon.
 
beavercreek said:
Used to go up to it (Stafford) consistently in the past which was a bit of a trek from where we live but I noticed on attending the 2016 show that it was a little thin on the ground for traders and also for layouts and felt a bit flat.
The following year (2017) had quite a few traders pull out (not a good sign) and also there seemd to be less interesting layouts, so I decided, on balance, that it was not worth the effort.
Apparently there was even more 'space' that year and, having spoken with some attendees, they, too, were a little disappointed.
I decided to give it a miss again in 2018.

To make the long journey, it is not enough to expect the membership to show loyalty but there also needs to be a good show to make it worthwhile.
For those that live closer, it is always worth a visit even if it is just to check it out.

I know that there will be those who will cry foul at what I have said as though I have 'betrayed' the cause but it is what I, and others also felt, some of which were closer to the site and some. like me, who had to drive for three hours or more there and back.

I hope that it gets back its 'mojo' and has a full roster of traders and exciting layouts...which is what will make me change my mind.

The poster is really not a grabber.... as someone who has been a designer for exhibition advertising in the past, it is trying to be too many things, is too much like a call to arms, and does not give any idea of 'FUN'.

As to the 'multi scale - gauge' statement on the flyer......
Well, I think that it will confuse those who are not sure what gauges/scales garden rail encompasses (will all the gauges from 'O' gauge up to 15 inch etc etc be there?). Why not list the scales instead?, also, as the staments are pretty prominent on the flyer/poster, it does also give the impression that the statements are pretty important....perhaps graphics/illustrations would make it more interesting.
Click to expand...

You should not be cried down for telling things as you see them.

I agree with the tone of your comments. I've been involved with regular shows that I thought were 'going stale', as in same old same old, and little effort in making the event a 'must do'. When I feel that a show is reaching a low point, I don't have any hesitation in making my thoughts known, at the same time as offering positive, constructive, comment, and mucking in to help where needed.
 
Gavin Sowry said:
You should not be cried down for telling things as you see them.

I agree with the tone of your comments. I've been involved with regular shows that I thought were 'going stale', as in same old same old, and little effort in making the event a 'must do'. When I feel that a show is reaching a low point, I don't have any hesitation in making my thoughts known, at the same time as offering positive, constructive, comment, and mucking in to help where needed.
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My sympathy goes to the organisers for a very difficult and thankless task. Constructive critiscm maybe, but it's much more difficult to propose solutions or offer to help. There are very few decent G scale layouts about, no one seems to build new ones and in my view the standard of them is generally poor, so maybe by widening the scope it is possible to find something new. Traders will only go if visitors buy something while they are there and there are now quite a few garden rail shows during the year competing for business.
 
My45G said:
My sympathy goes to the organisers for a very difficult and thankless task. Constructive critiscm maybe, but it's much more difficult to propose solutions or offer to help. There are very few decent G scale layouts about, no one seems to build new ones and in my view the standard of them is generally poor, so maybe by widening the scope it is possible to find something new. Traders will only go if visitors buy something while they are there and there are now quite a few garden rail shows during the year competing for business.
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A good point about the traders, but traders of, predominately, one scale do not really like going to shows that are 'not a definite market'.
If a show is multi-scale, and they are a trader who does deal in multi-scale (online or with a physical outlet), they have to decide how much of each scale stock to load the van with.

If they are only, or mainly, a G scale trader, having a stand at a show which is a 'multi-scale' show, maybe puts them at a disadvantage as the number of public attendees looking for one scale will be less than a show whose only purpose is perusing G scale..

From our perspective as G scalers, if traders only have a smaller selection of G scale on display because space is also taken up with other scales on their stand, then we have a smaller choice to peruse from that stand etc etc etc.

Having said this, the best show that I have attended, in my experience was the combined G scale Society and ALSRM (Association of Large Scale Modellers) at Reading back about 10 years ago or so. It was large, and although 'multiscale' it had plenty of G scale layouts and traders, but it also had the buzz of there being 'other stuff' to look at as well.

My main beef with the recent G-Rail shows, is not only the seeming lack of 'live steam' layouts and traders, (which to be fair has always been the case), but also was amazing lack of modelling stands that have tools and equipment for modelling on sale. There used to be a good number of them in the past.

The Midlands Garden railway show, outside Leamington Spa, always has a good selection of 'equipment, tools and materials' stands as well a good representation of G scale and live steam stands.

Perhaps the 'embattled' organisers of G-Rail should look at other shows and use what parts of those shows make them a success and then emulate them..... just sayin'
 
I reckon the problem with GRail, is that it comes after the Midlands Garden Railway Show, and The Peterborough 16mm show.

These are hard acts to follow for a smaller society like the GSS....
 
Organisers have to change with the times. Things to do for the punters is important. Not just looking at trains but driving them is cool. for example a shunting puzzle always attracts keen ones especially if it is a simple one Hands on stuff. The simple things. Whats in it for the punters , the wives and the kids. So how do the organisers cater for all. Whats in it for the stall holders. An online presence is important these days for any one selling stuff, including show organisers, ignore this at your peril We tend to keep doing the same every year because it works BUT is it. As a organiser of an event I have to keep asking myself how do I keep this fresh. First day after event I look at what worked and what didn't, I write notes and refer to them often while organising for the following year. Poster advertising is not so good anymore Online is the best way, Inter active Web sites are the trend at the moment.
How about Modelling demonstrations and how to workshops
Tool suppliers power tools etc
Garden suppliers Works for wife as well
Landscape suppliers
Water features etc
Garden train show doesn't have to be all trains
We can be creative with our models so why not with our shows that r open to the public
 
This seems to be a response to the growing success of the 16 mm NGM show and its broadening appeal and the level of trade support it gets as a result. Part of the problem I think is the term "G Scale" is synonymous with mainstream LGB/Piko/USAT/Massoth product, unlike "16 mm" which encompasses not just its mainstream suppliers but also a plethora of specialised "artisan" manufacturers that support the various themes encompassed by that term.

In other words those of the "G" disposition are perceived to be largely fully catered for by a dwindling number of "bricks & mortar" retailers while the followers of "16 mm" have the benefit not only the major suppliers but also a plethora of those "artisan", and prominently "on-line", suppliers that benefit from regular exposure at shows aimed at a roughly similar buying group.

I hope that makes some sort of sense. Personally I don't attend the large scale shows for the layouts as they do not represent or relate to what I do in the garden - I go to mainly to see what those suppliers that are "on-line" only have to offer. I like to go to the shows that feature the smaller scales, e.g. Warley, GCR, for the opposite. I have no interest in the suppliers there, just the fully realised intricate layouts. Max
 
There are not many 'G scale' layouts about. - Mainly due to size, and moving / storing the things!

It is difficult to build anything very much in a small space. 'We' tend not to 'model' per se, as intricate models do not fair well in a garden environment.

I go with 'Chasewater', and we 'put track on tablecloths', as the G scale layout we are representing is now fixed. - We also tend to bring the more exotic items we have access to. Plus a little fun, if we can.
We are supporting The Society, and promoting a heritage line.

The lack of 'tools and bits' suppliers was a disappointment last year. - A new venue, and new organisational team may also have contributed to this.
Demonstrations, and something 'hands-on' would be good.

More communication to those exhibiting / selling, and more promotion needed..

The GSS has been trying for a few years now, to broaden its' appeal. - Not sure it knows where it is going yet.

My two-penneth..
 
I heard a rumour that The GSS Show might become a joint venture along with Warner’s (BRM and Garden Rail). Did this happen?

I think there is a problem with G scale shows as many of us have got pretty much all we want making trade Les viable and, because of their size, G scale layouts cost a lot to transport. These two factors make putting on in interesting and varied show with a lot of trade exhibitors very difficult.
 
PhilP said:
There are not many 'G scale' layouts about. - Mainly due to size, and moving / storing the things!

It is difficult to build anything very much in a small space. 'We' tend not to 'model' per se, as intricate models do not fair well in a garden environment.

I go with 'Chasewater', and we 'put track on tablecloths', as the G scale layout we are representing is now fixed. - We also tend to bring the more exotic items we have access to. Plus a little fun, if we can.
We are supporting The Society, and promoting a heritage line.

The lack of 'tools and bits' suppliers was a disappointment last year. - A new venue, and new organisational team may also have contributed to this.
Demonstrations, and something 'hands-on' would be good.

More communication to those exhibiting / selling, and more promotion needed..

The GSS has been trying for a few years now, to broaden its' appeal. - Not sure it knows where it is going yet.

My two-penneth..
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Good points guys and that's what I would call constructive criticsm. I hope the GSS has all the required personnel to organise such an event as I know volunteers are very hard to find. Big shows are a huge financial commitment for a society and require skill and resources to pull off successfully. It's too far for me to go, but I wish them well.
 
No..we dont have enough volenters ...no one seems keen to help out..free food free entry ect..see the event organisers.
Multi scale is a poliet way of saying meny differnt gauges and scales ...as we are not sure of excatly what will be at the show when the the advertings is being planed.drawn up and printed. Far better to use fewer words on advertising. It has to be clear and fun to to read..thouse in g scale will know what to expect and we ARE trying to broaden the appleal to a wider audience.
If you can help please do
We need you.
Mike
 
My twopen'orth as a begineers, I went to this years G-Rail, I thought the layouts available were good, but was disappointed by the traders; as for the change:
  1. The Garden Railway Show, well for the "newbie" it tells you what is about more than G-Rail.
  2. Multi-Scale, well looks all the topics on all the scales Garden Railways envelop, from 1:29 - 1:20.3 and everything in between.
  3. Multi-Gauge, mainly 45 mm but garden railways (16 mm) does include 32 mm.
Surely one of the purposes of Rail Shows is to get people in to Railway Modeling, you people will start at the smaller (and cheaper) scales and grow into the larger (and more expensive) scales, lets not knock the volunteers who are promoting the club, but more importantly the hobby as a whole, I believe this is a holistic view.
 
I do appreciate the difficulties of running a show - I attend enough in my own line of work (as a trader) and some are very well organised, others sadly enter a "death spiral" of ever decreasing public attendance and trade support.
I have to agree with Creaky Beaver Mike in that the most interesting and enjoyable G-Rail I have ever attended was the Reading one in conjunction with the ALSRM..... make of that what you will.

Jon.
 
I do feel that GSS consentrate on the show too much, while I agree that it is an important part of the society, looking at the website, there, to me, seems little to encourage folk who are new to garden railways to join. To me it is just a bit too much like Facebook and gets away from the core interest.
The old website, I found, very easy to use with lots of interesting topics and information and regular updates. The journal has become something of a 'picture book' although, I understand that is in the process of changing.
You cannot expect people to go to the exhibition if you don't provide the 'backup' through the other mediums.
I have made my feeling know to the 'powers' , I have been a member for some 18 years and had regular open days to promote G Scale , I'm sad to see it in decline, as it appears to me to be.
Again just my feelings and observations, you are all entitled to disagree with me, but this is the way I see it.
Slight thread drift here for which I apologise
Dave
 
I’m pretty sure I took a layout to the aforementioned ALSRM show. I recall the trade exhibitors were keen on more joint shows because it costs them so much to go to shows. It’s not just the trade space rental, it’s transport, hotel accommodation, paying staff to cover the shop and the stand etc.
 
My45G said:
Good points guys and that's what I would call constructive criticsm. I hope the GSS has all the required personnel to organise such an event as I know volunteers are very hard to find. Big shows are a huge financial commitment for a society and require skill and resources to pull off successfully. It's too far for me to go, but I wish them well.
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Are you implying that some, or one, of us have not been 'constructive'?
 
Much has been said about the lack of traders at the last two shows. I have a friend who deals in secondhand 00 and N and has attended several shows and toy and train fairs this year. He has noticed a significant drop in attendance in tandem with decreased sales which reflects the current economic situation but also a marked increase in what fees the organizers are charging. I am a member of the G Scale Society and having had a look at their website there is no invitation to download a traders' application, nor any indication of the cost. I would have thought this does little to attract potential business. Anyone out there know how much it costs?
 
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