009 Convention 2013.

[gtmspyder]

Can I congratulate all the people involved in organising, stewarding, exhibiting and presenting there collective expertise at this magnificent event.


I especially enjoyed seeing the layouts in the flesh, that have graced this forum in the past, and attending as many of the informative a stimulating lectures as I could fit in during my one day's visit.

Very well done all of you.

Kind regards,

BrianT.

[cnw6847]

I'm a newcomer to 009  but when I noticed the convention was only a slight detour from our route home from holiday I thought it would be nice to call in.
My wife agreed so we had just over 4 hours there and we really enjoyed it.

There were some excellent layouts, nice people to talk to and lots to buy.

Its an excellent venue (had been to NMRA convention there), my wife enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine and chatted to people while I had a 2nd look round.

Well done and thank you to all involved in organising and staffing the event.

Cheers

Richard

[Hobby]

Like Brian I'd also like to thank the organizers as well. Unfortunately due to work I was only able to get there on the Sunday and also only for a short while due to Jennie having a fall the night before so I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to, especially Julien and Andrew!

One request I would make, though, if it's ever done again or something similar done by another society, please, please, get somewhere that is wheelchair friendly, I regret to say that place wasn't. If I'd have been staying the night and brought Jennie with me we'd have been very disappointed, so perhaps work was a blessing in disguise.

Can the organizers please take that as a constructive comment, I have a good idea of the amount of work involved, not least trying to get somewhere suitable in the middle of the country, so that sometimes something slips through the net, so let's just say it's a point for the future for any other group who may want to do the same thing!

However i don't wish this post to become a downer on the whole Convention, so, once again, thanks to Brian and crew for all their hard work, what I saw was truly an inspiration! I'll have to try to bring one of my layouts along to bolster the Foreign contingent for the 50th!!

[JulienW]

Another thank you to everyone who made the whole weekend a success even with the odd problem here and there.

Hobby, I heard from MrsW about the access issues which surprised me as this was where the Hotel served the breakfasts and (general) evening meals.  As the hotel used it I suspect it had been of assumed by the convention team (I did) that the area concerned was accessible somehow, but perhaps nobody (convention side or more importantly from the Hotel) had tested this out. The lift between the main floors was a pain (small and slow) but then it was an option I did not have to use (and didn't if I'm honest). Sorry it took the shine off the day for both of you.

And I'm sorry I missed you both.

[Hobby]

Yes I thought it was, hence my comment about being lucky not to have stayed. I don't want to make a meal out of it, but felt I had to say something so as we can all learn for the future. Unless you are stuck in a wheelchair or electric buggy or have to push one round it is easy to take the Venue's word for it and they do not always tell the truth. Best bet is to find someone who is in a position to comment and ask for their views beforehand...

As I said, I just wanted it noted as a learning point and not to overshadow what was a great weekend!

I hope you had a word with Tom and we can sort out the Group article next time we meet, I'll draft something up before then!

Blair

[tedp]

There were six of us in the party from Holland, Marcel and myself, and Jan van Mourik, and our wives Ada, Henriette and Elma, who all felt very welcome at the Convention.

The weekend passed in a daze and it was a pleasure to meet many people who I know from this forum and NGRM, but never met face to face.

The organisers must have had a huge task to get this all rolling, and despite a few glitches I think it all went rather well.

Accessibility was a true problem though - the hotel is a maze of levels, stairways and landings, and despite the small elevator giving access to all levels I think it is not a good place for anyone in a wheelchair. In that respect I agree with Blair.

There have been several photo albums published elsewhere, but I haven't yet seen any on the Society forum. Here is mine, still without captions.

The centrepiece of the exhibits to me was P.D.Hancock's Dundreich, brought over by Malcolm Macleod who made an excellent job of restoring it and making accessible very much of PDH's work.

[Graeme Dunbar]

I enjoyed myself immensely. The model railway aspects of the weekend cannot be faulted. Having never been to a 009 Society or other specialist group exhibition it might be imagined that after a few layouts one might wish for a change of gauge or scale, but none of it. There was such a variety and the relaxed atmosphere meant that there was time to take time to chat and revisit layouts several times and see different aspects on each occasion and even just wander round to soak it up.

My only regrets are that I had to leave before lunch on Sunday and that I did not manage to get to all the talks I would have liked to. (Well, so far. The credit card statement has yet to appear.)

The "goody bag" is much appreciated. A huge effort must have gone into cross-stitching all those locos!

Many thanks to all those who exhibited, presented, assisted, supported and otherwise manned the event and especially those who brought it together and to life.

[MickT]

Glad you enjoyed it Graeme, as I did myself. I was nothing to do with the organising team but am able to supplement your comment about the embroidered loco key fob in the goody bag. These were all done by Shirley Harper, who I am told made 300 of them before she ran out of steam - quite a mammoth task!

Mick

[tedp]

I think this says it all - our esteemed Moderator and Layout Coordinator at the Convention!   ;D

[Michael Harvey]

Ted- I remember you taking that  ;D

[rod335]

Anybody got the hammer and nails?

Rod

(Don't start getting all serious about that!)

[tedp]

Garry's only impersonating himself, Rod!   ;)

As I remember it we were having some fun next to Dunreich and Garry spread his arms with a huge grin. I had the camera ready and said 'again', Garry'. That was how this photo resulted.

[JulienW]

Anybody got the hammer and nails?

Rod

(Don't start getting all serious about that!)

It's alright Rod, we won't get cross.... ;D

[invercloy]

A great weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, although I didn't seem to stop for much of it.

Fantastic selection of layouts, clinics and traders to lighten the wallet.

Everyone that I spoke to was extremely positive about the event, and there was a great relaxed atmosphere about the whole thing.

The main highlight for me was seeing Dundreich. Its great that a portion of the CMR has been preserved and is able to be operated to show off the stock that survives, and the replicas Rod has created.

I also thoroughly enjoyed Jeff Bissonette's talk on chassis design and construction.

Sadly I didn't get time to photograph the heritage collection, but I've made arrangements for this to happen at ExpoNG later this month before some of the collection heads off to Warley.

Steve and I were presented with over 2000 images of the event which we've sifted through rather rapidly to get down to a reasonable spread for a bumper issue of the News. It's headed off to the printers very soon so that members who couldn't make it should have a decent feeling for the event in the next issue of the News.

[Martin Collins]

Fabulous weekend (although my wallet might beg to differ!).  Congratulations and big thank you to all concerned for the organisation but especially Brian for driving the vision forward.  Looking forward to next year's already!!!?

Certainly reinforced the Society's reputation for being friendly and sociable.

Martin