Model Rail Scotland 2019

[Conn-rod]

Visited the exhibition again this year. Have been going for the last five years. Considered this year as a bit of a disappointment. There were more traders this year, taking up most of the area. Never seen so many book sellers at an event as this one. Maybe it is a sign of the times with so many small model shops closing that these events are the only places to get kit etc. Met quite a few other visitors, some who had travelled as far as Manchester so it was good to share comments.
Once again the exhibition syndrome was very evident - waiting to see something happening at many of the layouts was a bit tedious and many visitors just passed on as nothing was happening. Also the sandwich brigade was in attendance trying to manipulate controls whilst eating the mandatory inch thick sandwich and mumbling some kind of message to their colleagues. The boys at the G Scale had it right, something was running all the time so was a great draw for the children. Waiting to see something running in many of the other layouts had them bored and is really not great encouragement to get into the hobby. I am aware that layouts try to run to a type of railway schedule but when you have only a few hours to see around the largest show in Scotland time is limited and you want to see something moving.
As far as the layouts go this year there was nothing that stood out with the wow factor that has been at previous shows.
Hope the organisers get it right for next year or they are going to find attendances will drop.

[Walkingthedog]

Club or home layout can be run to a timetable but not when they are at shows.