Expo Narrow Gauge 2020
The Greenwich & District Narrow Gauge Railway Society has been organising Expo Narrow Gauge – known as ExpoNG – since 1983. It was the first national all narrow gauge modelling show in the UK and over that time has grown to become Europe's premier narrow gauge modelling event attracting layouts, traders and visitors not only from the UK and Europe but from further afield – Australia, Japan, Canada and the US.
For the past 4-5 years we have lived with rumours of the redevelopment of our current venue – the White Oaks Leisure Centre in Swanley, Kent. Following last year's show we finally received formal notice that this redevelopment is likely to start in 2020 with the site to be used for both residential and leisure use.
We cannot gamble on White Oaks being available in October this year either in its current form or as a redeveloped leisure centre with less facilities so clearly need to find a new venue which will be suitable for future shows.
Although we have already identified a few options, it is clear that there is now little time to arrange a show in October 2020. With the agreement of our members, we have decided not to hold ExpoNG in 2020. This will give us time to take a breather, settle on a new venue and to look at what format future ExpoNGs might follow.
We hope you will understand our decision. We know that ExpoNG is a big part of the narrow gauge modelling calendar. We'd like to thank all our visitors, exhibitors and traders who have supported us in the past and look forward to seeing them again in the future.
Any queries regarding this news should be addressed to David Gander, Secretary G&DNGRS (dh.gander@virgin.net) or Stephen Fulljames, Exhibition Coordinator (stephen@fulljames.net).
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Note: The Greenwich & District Narrow Gauge Railway Society was formed in 1968 and has organised Expo Narrow Gauge since 1983. The first all narrow gauge modelling event, it now attracts visitors from across the world.
Expo Narrow Gauge is a registered trade mark of the Greenwich & District NGRS.
A pity, but not surprised at this news Stephen, I hope that after a break this year, the show can be resurrected in a suitable venue.
Mick
Understandable.
Have you considered Longfield Acadmy where the Erith MRC held their last weekend? The were claiming it was one of the largest in the SE, and I thought that it was pretty good venue.
The Longfield Academy, Main Road (B260), Longfield, Kent, DA3 7PH.
I have always thought that Expong would do better if it was North of the Thames.
The M25 has always been a problem, but its all down to finding the right place at an affordable price.
Good luck for 2021.
Stan.
Stephen,
While we will all miss ExpoNG in 2020, I feel sure you have taken the right course. You cannot take the risk on the Leisure Centre being there or not and finding a new venue may just be the best thing that can happen. I firmly believe than moving Narrow Gauge South from Sparsholt to Eastleigh has opened up all sorts of opportunities.
I wish you good fortune with finding a new location and hope to be along for a re-invigorated ExpoNG in 2021. If you feel that the Society can assist, do let us know; I have also emailed David directly.
Julian Evison
Chairman
Quote from: Stan Williams on January 29, 2020, 18:57
I have always thought that Expong would do better if it was North of the Thames.
The M25 has always been a problem, but its all down to finding the right place at an affordable price.
I agree that the M25 is always an issue, so living in Kent we have to negotiate that for just about everything, or go to London. It is nice to have one for once that means we don't have miles to go. :-)
Stephen
Stephen,
Exhibitions live or die by the visitors through the door and numbers have been dropping at Expong.
I have exhibited at Expong several times and on a few occasions had some awful journeys there and back.
Two trips stand out, the first an eleven hour journey and another a twelve hour journey to do a 200 mile trip down on a Friday.
Dartford Bridge closed due to high winds, Ferries cancelled due to bad weather, so visitors from across the channel were stranded.
Details put out a few years ago, stated that the Friday (day before Expong) is the busiest day on the roads in the UK.
Whether that is because its the last day of school holidays before Xmas who knows, but it is always a very busy day on the roads.
Stan.
Quote from: Stan Williams on January 30, 2020, 23:55
I have exhibited at Expong several times and on a few occasions had some awful journeys there and back.
It is an awful journey, I should know I live in Kent but used to work in Basildon two days a week. The journey was supposed to be 30 miles, but I think the quickest I ever did it was just under an hour travelling at 6AM for a 9AM customer meeting. When I arrived the factory was still closed so I had to wait for an hour or so in McDonalds unpaid.
If I didn't leave for home by 3:30 I didn't bother until 6:30, and on more than one occasion gave up and waited at the Lakeside services for the traffic to clear, again unpaid, and didn't get home until 8PM, yet was only paid until 5. This happened most weeks, far worse in December and August.
Living in Kent and Essex is often referred to locally as "The Cutural Shadow of London", we very rarely get Concerts, or other travelling events because it is assumed that we are close enough to London, but in practice its not that easy. Driving in takes ages, parking is very hit and miss, and quite expensive. Train is possible, but I always have to leave before the end to get the last train which inevitably involves avoiding drunks and people out of their skulls on haven knows what. It spoils the event.
We do feel very excluded, and on this occasion even more so as Greenwich (who organise it) are based on "our" side of the Thames.
Stephen
Quote from: Stan Williams on January 30, 2020, 23:55
Details put out a few years ago, stated that the Friday (day before Expong) is the busiest day on the roads in the UK.
Whether that is because its the last day of school holidays before Xmas who knows, but it is always a very busy day on the roads.
Wasn't that why it was moved to the end of November this year? That's why I couldn't go, it was my Son's wedding.
Stephen
But it wasn't, it was 26th October.
Peter
Quote from: engerth399 on January 31, 2020, 08:19
But it wasn't, it was 26th October.
Peter
True, that's Awkward.. I bet I get the wrong date for their Anniversary.
My only defence is that my daughter got married on the 20th of December and it all got a bit blurry :-)
Stephen
Stan's point about location is valid but I don't think moving it "north of the M25" would be the answer for the reasons stated, access for those in Kent would be as bad as it is for us Northerners/Midlanders as it is in it's present location. A better location would be just west of the M25, Slough way, easy to access by train and Motorway from all parts of the country. I think the main issue, though, is that the organising club are Kent based so well outside their area and so harder to organise. I have to admit that the 5 hours each way journey by train tends to put me off. I suspect moving to an easier to access location would increase numbers though.
I understand and respect everybody's views about difficulties getting to the traditional site or this or that potential site, but I cannot resist mentioning that I traveled from Kyiv, Ukraine, to attend last year! Shame about 2020 but I'll be there, wherever it is, in 2021.
Quote from: Tom Haythornthwaite on February 01, 2020, 15:31
I understand and respect everybody's views about difficulties getting to the traditional site or this or that potential site, but I cannot resist mentioning that I traveled from Kyiv, Ukraine, to attend last year! Shame about 2020 but I'll be there, wherever it is, in 2021.
OK you win! I will look out for you in 2021! ;D
Stan, can't see how moving expong north of the Thames will help European visitors being stranded because of cancelled ferries due to high winds?!? Surely they would still be stranded, just with more miles to travel to queue for their cancelled ferry? I'm with Mr Rainsbury, sometimes it's nice to have a prestige event in our patch. Paul.
Quote from: Tom Haythornthwaite on February 01, 2020, 15:31I cannot resist mentioning that I traveled from Kyiv, Ukraine, to attend last year!
Probably still got there quicker than I would have done if I'd bothered! ;)
We have to accept the truth that Paul made in his last post. A local group will not organise something outside the location of it's members, it would be a logistical nightmare. So we have to accept that the exhibition will stay in the area it is currently based in and make our own decission as to whether it's worth the hassle of getting to it. With so many other, equally good, NG shows around in other parts of the country it's not as if we have to go to every one!
To be honest any of the really good shows would be much better if they were on our doorstep, wherever that doorstep happens to be. The drawback is that what might be convenient for one (member or group) will not be so for the rest, and it seems pretty pointless in arguing about where future ExpoNGs should be as ultimately it will end up being somewhere that is most convenient for the organisers to get to easily to do their organising (as they are not going to want to travel for an hour to get there for planning, etc.) but also has reasonable transport links so us punters can get there, and ultimately it is up to us punters to decide if the venue chosen works of us as individuals and go, or not.
Personally I'll miss the show in 2020 but I will not miss getting up at 05:30 to get the 06:17 train from Erdington to get to Birmingham to get to London to get to Swanley for about 10:30 (and that's easier for me than fighting with the often foggy-in-the-mornings M40 on the way down and a stupidly busy M25 and M40 coming back after a long day on my feet).
Good luck to the G&DNGRS in finding a new venue.
Quote from: JulienW on February 02, 2020, 09:25
Personally I'll miss the show in 2020 but I will not miss getting up at 05:30 to get the 06:17 train from Erdington to get to Birmingham to get to London to get to Swanley for about 10:30 (and that's easier for me than fighting with the often foggy-in-the-mornings M40 on the way down and a stupidly busy M25 and M40 coming back after a long day on my feet).
Absolutely agreed, its like that for us to get to Warley. I have never been but considering booking into a Hotel next year and travelling up the day before so I can get a full day in without being too tired to enjoy it. :-)
I am not sure of how many members are in the G&DNG group these days, but they still cover at least four counties.
Bedfordshire, Essex, Kent and Sussex and it may spread further.
On that basis lots of areas to search for a good venue with a competitive price and good transport links.
Stan.
Stephen,
If thats what you are planning to do to go to Warley, I would book sooner rather than later.
Warley take up most of the accommodation in that area as they book for hundreds of exhibitors.
The last time I exhibited, which is a few years ago, they put us up in a hotel in Bromsgrove which is over 20 miles away from the venue.
I know they also use Tamworth.
Stan.
Quote from: Stan Williams on February 02, 2020, 11:58
Stephen,
If thats what you are planning to do to go to Warley, I would book sooner rather than later.
Thanks, I started looking earlier on and realised that my Daughter is only 40 minutes away in Banbury, indeed I can get a train for £10 that is quicker than car and no parking to mess about with. It does mean that I will be taking them out for Dinner on the Friday :-)
Is it worth going for two days?
Stephen
EDIT Google shows one in February and one in November.. I am confused are they both good?
The Warley club has an open day in February (Sunday the 16th?) with the big show at the NEC in November.
Quote from: JulienW on February 02, 2020, 20:48
The Warley club has an open day in February (Sunday the 16th?) with the big show at the NEC in November.
Ahh thanks.
Quote from: Stephen Rainsbury on February 02, 2020, 17:55Is it worth going for two days?
If you want to see everything then yes, if you restrict what you want (need?) to see then no! Also depends on how long you spend at the 009 Society stand chatting to us... We can make it last 2 days if you want!
Quote from: Hobby on February 03, 2020, 08:29
Quote from: Stephen Rainsbury on February 02, 2020, 17:55Is it worth going for two days?
If you want to see everything then yes, if you restrict what you want (need?) to see then no! Also depends on how long you spend at the 009 Society stand chatting to us... We can make it last 2 days if you want!
As one of the ones doing the chatting sometimes it feels like a lot more...
Deleted
Quote from: Hobby on February 03, 2020, 08:29
If you want to see everything then yes, if you restrict what you want (need?) to see then no! Also depends on how long you spend at the 009 Society stand chatting to us... We can make it last 2 days if you want!
Thanks, I will need her to run me to the station and back, so I think I will stay with my Daughter on the Friday night, and then go straight home from the NEC on the Saturday evening, otherwise it will disturbing her Sunday morning too. :-\