Now Statfold has been and gone, I am very glad to say that it seems to have been the success for which we had hoped.
To all the members who made great efforts to come from near and far and who passed on such appreciative comments, thank you.
To all the exhibitors, traders and preservation society representatives, thank you, because without you there we would not have had a show.
Finally, we should acknowledge the part played behind the scenes by the staff at Statfold for making everything work.
I hope people will now look back on this event with fondness for a weekend well spent with fellow enthusiasts enjoying all that is best about our corner of the hobby.
Julian
Having never been to a purely 009 exhibition or Statfold Barn before it was a fantastic event in a wonderful setting ideally suited to it. I would like to thank everyone who took part or organised the event as it was frankly brilliant and fitting in everything in one day was difficult but in a very good way. Both my wife and myself thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, invigorated with new ideas and enthusiasm we look forward to our next outing to a 009 event.
Hear! hear! The only other time I've been at a narrow gauge only show was the last one 10 years ago. It was a fantastic weekend and the exhibition and the Statfold facilities were superb. A very big thank you to all the organizers and contributors.
Also all the people I've met before or know only via Zoom or through the magazine or online. And thank you and apologies to all who did a much better job of recognizing and remembering me than I did of them!
I lost track of the number of times I walked round the hall over two days in goodness knows how many different directions and every time I noticed something new and interesting.
I've read many positive comments by others, but one I'm not sure has been mentioned was the age range represented by the modellers. In particular it was very encouraging to see younger modellers and trade representation.
Due to a prior commitment helping to run an open day at local church I was unable to attend on the Saturday, and I have other family and church commitments on Sundays.
I also missed the previous anniversary event 10 years ago!
Perhaps I will be able to make it to the next one in 2033?
Having just returned from 19 years in Greece and working shifts before that , it was my first time in about 25 years to be able to attend a model railway exhibition and what a show it was .
The setting was absolutely great , the choice of layouts was superb and to a very high standard , and the organisation was great .
It was fantastic to meet old friends whom I had not seen for years , and put faces to people who I had only corresponded with on forums .
For me it was a very enjoyable and memorable day and I would like to give thanks to all of the organisers & exhibitors for the very hard work they must have put in . My thanks to Andy also from the Beds and Bucks group for very kindly chauffering me to and fro from my home .
Alan Feldon member number 9/009/0009 depending upon the membership numbers we have !
Still tidying up after the show and posting this on behalf of The Statfold organising committee.
Found:
(1) - a purchase from the sales stand on Saturday and left in a carriage on the train.
(2) - a pair of glasses left on a table at the Saturday night meal.
We would like to reunite these with their owners so please contact Julien Webb so that we may do this.
My email is heritage@009society.com
Is it known which table the glasses were left on? I have a copy of the seating plan if there isn't another available, which would narrow the owner of the glasses down to one of 9 or 10 depending on which table it was and as they would have all been members or their partners, emails could be sent to all?
Mick
I haven't benn told which table they were on Mick, sorry. Do you know Julian?
On Sunday we had Lawrie of the You Tube Channel Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels paying us a visit. Here is the result. I get the impression he definitely liked what he saw!
https://youtu.be/X0g21GA0gng (https://youtu.be/X0g21GA0gng)
Julian
I guess so - "the best 009 Model Railway Show ever" :)
That was a good video one comment I did pick up on though was his comment about how few traiders they where and more high quality layouts that should be a credit to everyone involved now could you please have a show that I could attend please and thanks
Thanks
Alan
In fairness, there are not that many traders around these days, unless you mean box shifters and I doubt many of them, if any, would have accepted an invitation, not really their market.
The last bit needs an explanation, a show I could go too ?? Do you mean on your doorstep ?
Stan.
Quote from: Stan Williams on September 23, 2023, 20:33
In fairness, there are not that many traders around these days, unless you mean box shifters and I doubt many of them, if any, would have accepted an invitation, not really their market.
The last bit needs an explanation, a show I could go too ?? Do you mean on your doorstep ?
Stan.
Hi Stan
You got it one sadly I was unable to attend the 50th anniversary due to being 2 far so was expecting the usual complaints full of traiders and lack layouts and yes one on the doorstep would be great and would mean i could attend but as I always say you can't please everyone
Thanks
Alan
Alan,
It was the 50th Anniversary of the society, a one off event, I have been a member of the society since 1977 and I am 78 years of age.
With the help of Alan from our group, we transported a 16 ft layout to Tamworth operated it for two days, spent a couple of days away from home and drove 220 mile round trip.
I have to admit, the concrete floor did my legs no favours and still feeling the effects till yesterday.
I doubt I will make the 60th anniversary, but it really is down to the individual and motivation.
Stan.
Quote from: Stan Williams on September 23, 2023, 20:33
In fairness, there are not that many traders around these days, unless you mean box shifters and I doubt many of them, if any, would have accepted an invitation, not really their market.
The last bit needs an explanation, a show I could go too ?? Do you mean on your doorstep ?
Stan.
I thought the traders were pertinent to the event and of about the right number - Dundas, N-drive, Worsley Works (many thanks for the tutorial on soldering!) and CM3 were ones I spent quite some time at - and of course Peco/Kato (with Kato san too!) and Bachmann. I bought some stuff from one of the more general supplies traders but with so much on offer I wasn't really paying attention.
If I was to come up with my 'fantasy football' trader list, perhaps it would have been nice to see other small kit and 3D print producers. However I fully appreciate that for many it is not their day job and would be major undertaking (as no doubt it was for those there).
Edit: I understand neither Peco nor Bachmann were actually trading. Yes, great publicity for them but also quite magnanimous of them too with respect to other traders as I'm sure many attendees could have emptied their wallets on the two stands.
Graeme,
Perhaps you missed Westcliffe Works that was opposite Tan Yr Allt, with their 3D printing products.
I am certain some visitors missed a lot that was there, difficult to see everything in show time.
I have seen a couple of videos and they missed some excellent layouts.
Stan.
Quote from: Stan Williams on September 24, 2023, 10:32
Graeme,
Perhaps you missed Westcliffe Works that was opposite Tan Yr Allt, with their 3D printing products.
I am certain some visitors missed a lot that was there, difficult to see everything in show time.
I have seen a couple of videos and they missed some excellent layouts.
Stan.
Thanks Stan. I'm sure I must have seen them. Perhaps they were busy with others at the time and I didn't take a good look.
Everyone
I really need some more photos. Let's face it, a man can never have enough photos of model railways.
Seriously, I've been cadging photos from people who have posted on ngrm but I know there must be many more. Please do contact me if you have some photos, especially if you have one of Hugh in that hat! As well as layout photos I really would like to get photos of people, chatting in the hall, enjoying dinner, being awarded prizes, eating lunch (well maybe not the latter). Layouts, traders, engines, really, anything about the weekend. No-one has provided a photo of the evening buses - now there's a challenge.
If you have photos and are happy for them to potentially be used in 009 News (they will be credited to you) then please send them via email or wetransfer to contents@009society.com. I can take files in dropbox and can take onedrive shares but please contact me and I will privately provide the relevant gmail and onedrive addresses to use.
It was a fantastic event and I really want to provide a comprehensive record of the day
Stuart, 009 News Editor
It wasn't just the visitors who missed a lot. As an exhibitor, I missed a lot too! One quick turn around the hall on the Sunday was about all I managed, and I only saw the roundhouse because we had dinner there! Certainly, no time to ride the train, so I think another trip to Statfold (for an enthusiasts day?) is definitely on the cards. Oh for a toy box like that!
I would echo the sentiments expressed by so many. A fabulous weekend, showcasing the best we 009-ers have to offer, and congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in its organisation. Ditto to the Statfold team too.
On the subject of traders, I agree the box shifters probably wouldn't have been interested, but after the sad demise of Eileens' Emporium, maybe someone like Squires would have been interested. Despite the plethora of r-t-r stuff now available, 009 is still a builders scale/gauge and tools, switches, wire, Evergreen/Plastruct sections etc. are always wanted.
As to wanting a show nearer "me", I did 400 miles over the weekend, towing a trailer, which followed 600 miles two weeks before, going to Welshpool to help with Mark Holland's "Spirit of Welshpool". Surely depends how keen you are, especially for a one-off 50th anniversary exhibition? I thought Statfold was a well considered, central location. It wasn't the organisers fault that the Highways Agency decided to dig up every road between West Sussex and Stafford so our expected three hour journey turned out to be five and meant we almost missed dinner on Friday evening!
Finally, my thanks to my operating team on "Llandecwyn" - Phil Savage, Simon Wilson, David Marshall, Steve White, Mark Holland and Andrew Bolton. I'm only sorry that due to the traffic and our late arrival (and therefore, setting up), I wasn't able to give more training in operating before the show opened.
Martin
Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend this important event and it appears I missed a great occasion. However, yesterday a small package arrived in the post containing, to my delight, a coaster and a lapel badge celebrating the 50th anniversary. I hadn't seen any publication to say that these items would be sent, but may have missed it due to recent ill health, fortunately improving now.
So may I take this opportunity to say a big thank you to the Society "management" for these kind gifts, they will be treasured. Co-incidently, this year my wife and I celebrated our 50th wedding Anniversary! She doesn't share my enthusiasm for model railways, but understands and tolerates the fact that its an important part of my life, as are our shared interests too.
Thanks again,
Tod
A very good exhibition showcasing 009 (and other gauges) extremely well, I did enjoy my day at Statfold Barn.
I was in the same camp as Martin, having to set up Long Sibford on the Sunday morning and operating for the day left little time to have more than a walk around the hall, visit two traders and speak to a few friends, and of course, spend money on the Society stand. Didn't get to the Roundhouse or go on a train ride!
I did manage a glance at a few layouts, all very interesting and to a great standard, I wish I had seen the working gravity slate train on Tan-Yr-Allt & Dwffyr Uchaf.
Well done to the organisers and my fellow exhibitors.
Barry
I want to claim I came the farthest (from Ottawa) for the 50th but I think I bumped into a fellow from Australia.
Very well done, dear organizers and exhibitors.
There were at least 2 from Japan (although Mr and Mrs Kato aren't Society members as far as I know) and I believe there was somebody from NZ as well, didn't catch a name so can't authenticate that). Well done anyway Tom and Stuart (Editor) has just shown me a photo that you took that will be published in the News, so congratulations on that as well!
Mick
In 2019, Bill Luty and myself where exhibiting at Paul Towers show in Borth Y Gest.
After meeting Mr Kato, we signed him up to the 009 society, I presume he is still with us ?
Stan.
He is still with us!
Julian
Quote from: MickT on October 01, 2023, 14:14
There were at least 2 from Japan (although Mr and Mrs Kato aren't Society members as far as I know) and I believe there was somebody from NZ as well, didn't catch a name so can't authenticate that). Well done anyway Tom and Stuart (Editor) has just shown me a photo that you took that will be published in the News, so congratulations on that as well!
Mick
Mick; not only can I not compete with Japan or NZ for distance travelled; having had no Society NEWS cover photos, I know I am sixty or seventy behind you in that race too.
I have just uploaded my Photo Report from Statfold. It's a bit rough around the edges, but I hope it will still be enjoyable for those who wish to view the 360+ photos in the report!
Please pass the word to any member you know who is not registered on this forum, thanks.
Happy days!
Mick
https://micksrovingreporter.blogspot.com/
Thanks Mick.
I have just spent some time going through all your photos.
For those like myself who did not attend the event this was one way to see what we missed!!
Everyone
It has already been alluded to but just to confirm there will be an 8 page report on the event in the November 009 News. With the success of the show and the volume of photos we have decided that, rather than publish photos every month in dribs and drabs, we are going to produce a commemorative magazine which will be much more comprehensive than the 8 pages in the November issue. The issue will be available as a pdf download. All members for whom we have email addresses will get an email with the link to the pdf download. We are also going to produce a short run of paper copies that will be available at cost from Society Sales.
The timeline isn't defined yet but I hope to do it as soon as I can whilst also getting the December copy done.
Stuart
I received my pin, pen and coaster last week, a nice gesture from the Society. Makes up a little for not being able to be there. Looking forward to the special publication on the show.
Mal.
I would like to thank the society for my surprise package that I got in our Saturday mail. Pin, coaster and pen.
Thank you.
Robin.
I got a very pleasant surprise opening my mail today, and receiving the pin, pen and coaster. I would like to thank the Leadership Team for this very special memento! Over the last few days, I have been very busy studying the pictures Mick Roving has posted to his web site. Fantastic high-quality photos! It must have been an in creditable experience to see all these outstanding exhibits in real life!
Bruce Wood
Sydney, Australia
Thank you Bruce - very much appreciated. I've not been called "Mick Roving" before (I've been called a number of other things over the years!) and would not call my photos, taken at speed very much in the form of getting every layout featured one way or another within a limited time, anything like "high quality"; "quantity over quality" in many respects but thank you very much for the compliment and I am very pleased that you have enjoyed seeing my effort of making a record of the event.
Mick
I was very pleasantly surprised by the package that arrived from the UK. Many thanks.
Jeff S
Hi Mick,
Apologies for the name confusion! Nevertheless - I love your work!!!
Bruce Wood
Sydney, Australia
Thanks for a lovely set of photos, Mick.
Been busy on the inevitable snagging list following a show, so only just found time to look at them all.
Well done!
Martin
Thank you very much for the compliments Martin and Bruce.
Mick