G Rail - or The Garden Railway Show 2019
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chris m01
Registered
We have exhibited our indoor representation of a garden railway outdoors. How perverse is that?
And I am rather fond of my electric mice.
Staying well off thread. My garden railway, and the club indoor garden railway, run anything between 1:29 and 1:20.5 at the same time. I am also happy to mix US and British stock although in both cases most stock is US but from different eras. On the other hand my N gauge layout strictly only runs stock that actually ran through the real Aller Junction in the specified year -1960, 1963 or 1968.
Any one have a link to the organizers, there was a guy selling Bonsai Plants at sensible prices in St.Neots today. He would be quite intersted in Trading at this event. Link to Trade Enquiries welcome.
Also perhaps for the 16mm do next year as well.
Also perhaps for the 16mm do next year as well.
maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
I fully agree with Eaglecliff - there is a fundamental problem with having shows and displays that showcase a hobby that is practised principally outdoors in the garden, for full effect, that are locked in a stripped down indoor environment. Yes, there are some beautifully made indoor layouts on the "circuit" but they can never convey the full possibilities of what can be achieved in a garden setting. The problem is those fully realised outdoor larger scale railways took about 10 years to mature to their full majesty, not exactly what is required for a one day annual show. Not the case with smaller scales where an intricate, compact and portable layout can convey the participants' skills and imagination to the full. Anybody remember the "County Gate" 009 extravaganza.
The only exception I can think of are the fairly bare G1 "race tracks that are high on finely detailed locos and stock, but that is their natural environment. They draw admiring crowds of non adherents wherever shown through the drama and sound they issue. A bucolic vision of narrow gauge idyl was never intended to achieve that.
The shows we attend, irrespective of scales catered for, largely preach to the converted. I doubt they actually bring in many new practitioners to our hobby, except perhaps to make those already heading our way are aware of the range of product available to run on their chosen track gauge. If the trader element has failed, at this end of the hobby particularly, then you are heading for oblivion - you no longer have a reason to be, so to speak.
Sorry to be so blunt.
The garden centre solution - could be quite novel. I'm sure most have a "dead spot" in their trading season where a garden rail show could be seen as a way to drum up a bit of extra footfall. They have indoor bits to house electrical equipment and a fair old bit of stock that could be deployed a la "Garden Rescue" to create the right effects. Max
The only exception I can think of are the fairly bare G1 "race tracks that are high on finely detailed locos and stock, but that is their natural environment. They draw admiring crowds of non adherents wherever shown through the drama and sound they issue. A bucolic vision of narrow gauge idyl was never intended to achieve that.
The shows we attend, irrespective of scales catered for, largely preach to the converted. I doubt they actually bring in many new practitioners to our hobby, except perhaps to make those already heading our way are aware of the range of product available to run on their chosen track gauge. If the trader element has failed, at this end of the hobby particularly, then you are heading for oblivion - you no longer have a reason to be, so to speak.
Sorry to be so blunt.
The garden centre solution - could be quite novel. I'm sure most have a "dead spot" in their trading season where a garden rail show could be seen as a way to drum up a bit of extra footfall. They have indoor bits to house electrical equipment and a fair old bit of stock that could be deployed a la "Garden Rescue" to create the right effects. Max
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
While exhibiting a layout outside at garden centres etc seems an eminently good idea and it is done at a few centres, ....
I do think that traders would not want the risk of exhibiting very expensive stock or intricate modelling supplies etc in an environment which could end up being a little adverse weatherwise.
Also most of us who have electrical power, tend to have the power supply kit inside in the dry and only the layout open to the elements.
If it was a long, dry and mostly non-windy summer like we have just experienced (well in East Anglia it was so for about 85 days) then it would be great to have a big, or small, exhibition totally outdoors (with plenty of shade available for those who prefer to be out of the sun etc., but as we cannot bank on that occurring every summer, traders would not want to have the uncertainty of what conditions they would experience..... so being inside makes a lot of sense.
Eaglecliff
Registered
Glad to have provoked some sensible thoughts. In a garden centre situation, I’m sure space could be found for a couple of traders indoors - the restaurant? My suggestion primarily is for a number of smaller shows rather than one huge one. ..Would that we could get a slot at Chelsea!!!
Gavin Sowry
Garden Railroader and Raconteur
A bold suggestion. But, to be perfectly frank, beyond the even collective expertise available within our hobby, however, with the help of some expert horticulturists, and a ruthless adherance to some modelling standards and theme, not impossible.
Do not agree with this at all one has only have to go back to the Hampton Court Garden do's when funded by Network South East. On at least 2 occasions possibly more superb Garden Railway Exhibits were carried out by experts in Gardening and I believe the Guage 1 Society. Though I would share concern at a G Scale Pansy type layout for Chelsea populated by Thomas stuff. That would give us a bad name that frankly is so often seen at shows. A different way is possible but it would take a lot of Money but what a challenge for 'best of show' at Chelsea.
Eaglecliff
Registered
And of course some GSS members open their gardens to semi-public events, sometimes in aid of a charity. Probably not attractive to a larger trader, although I know one, possibly two, smaller traders who might support a worthy local Open Day.
Gavin Sowry
Garden Railroader and Raconteur
Exactly the point I was trying to get across.
Many thanks emailed to the Bonsai Man. Hopefully he will be able to attend next year.