Larkrail

[Dikitriki]

Hi all,

LarkRail was a super show indeed - high quality and very friendly. I too spent some time talking to Giles Favell (thank you for your time), as well as Laurie Griffin and Peter Kirmond. Linda was very taken by the 2mm finescale and at the other end of the spectrum, Steve Cook's 7/8ths scale industrial stuff. I may have to fend off pressure to model pastures new. All the layouts were interesting and of a high standard, but I was particularly taken with York (2mm F/S), both in execution and concept.

A big thank you to the organisers and the catering department, and everyone who took the time to attend. We in fact spent the weekend away, visiting Tyntesfield today. Another great day out and recommended to those who like such things. We've only recently got back, but I did want to say how much we had both enjoyed LarkRail.

Richard

 

[NHY 581]

A lovely day out. More of a social amongst many friends really with the added bonus of some quite splendid modelling.

I was quite taken by Foxbury, a lovely little layout. However, Bethesda Sidings and Shelfie were my personal favourites. Tom, my lad, was much taken by Giles's wonderful radio controlled models which were simply exquisite.

I shall leave you with a snapshot of CK in action at the office........



Rob.

 

[Scale7JB]

I just found this on YouTube, if anyone wants to see.

Perhaps a little room for something American based in the future? Is there a maximum size?

JB.

 

[Bob]

Thoroughly enjoyed the day and really nice to meet up with old friends after a few years.
The refreshments were first rate, especially the cheese salad sandwich.
York in 2mm is simply stunning.
Thanks to Simon and Jerry for putting such a great show together.
I've finally decided to give up on the B&B couplings in favour of DG's, this will be done prior to it's next booking at Warley.
Sorry I couldn't join you for a pint afterwards but my other operator, Rich was not feeling too good as you know.

Bob.

 

[PMP]

Thanks to Simon and Jerry and team for another enjoyable show to attend. It was Shelfie2’s first run out as a completed layout, and was well received by the visitors. Always up for another Larkrail

 

[Giles]

We thought LarkRail was a delightful show in every respect! Loved it! Sadly, Di was rather unwell , and we had to make a quick run for home, so we were sorry not to socialise afterwards.
The epitome of the ideal exhibition......
A very big thank you to Jerry and Simon - and it was delightful to chat to so many people. I'm rather sorry I was unable to put faces to names - I do apologise!
We thought that even things like lunch were pitched just right,!

 

[Richard Gawler]

Please can we have the details of this year's show? If the train workers aren't on strike this year I do hope to come along but the details are scattered around individual layout posts. Location and times of opening would be great; if we don't know the complete list of layouts then they will be a pleasant surprise. But it's less than a month a way and I nearly booked a holiday which would have clashed

 

[Richard Gawler]

Voilà! A poster just arrived in the email, so it seems only sensible to post it and answer my own questions.

 

[queensquare]

Evening all,

as its now less than two weeks away I thought it was about time we posted a full list of attactions,

Layouts
Newton Heath Works - Martin Finney
Arun Quay - Gordon Gravett
Sheep Dip - Rob Gunstone
Wantage - Robin Gay
Lochty - Andy Cundick
Arcadia - Richard Barton
Canadian Shelfie - Paul Marshall-Potter
Upwatch Quary - Richard Phipp
Hepton Wharf - South Hants MRC
York Road - Tim Watson and the MRC
Hunslet Works - Andy Ross

Demonstrators
Bob Brown - 3mm modelling
Giles Favell - Radio control and stuff
Andrew Vines, Dave Easto and Steve Cook - various largescale treats from live steam to Hydraulics
Dennis Lepper - figure painting and a few of his late father's wonderful locos

Trade
Branch Lines
Youchoos
Titfield Thunderbolt/Wild Swan

Kims Kitchen, with cake

Looks like a pretty good line up to me!
look forward to seeing lots of you there,

Jerry

 

[PMP]

Shelfie 4, HO scale Maple River’s first exhibition outing

 

[Richard Gawler]

I am hoping to visit the show but my journey will involve using the train from Paddington to Bath Spa. According to the GWR website,

" Saturday and Sunday - All weekend, trains between London Paddington and South Wales will run to an amended timetable, and will
be diverted via an alternative route between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, extending journey times by approximately 30 minutes.
A few trains will not run at all, or will only run for part of their journey".

I imagine, some travellers to Bristol will opt to go to Temple Meads (via Bath) instead. I also know, the 16:30 departure from Paddington to Swansea last Friday was formed of a short set of five coaches giving serious overcrowding.

So it isn't looking good. Please, could anyone with recent, first-hand knowledge of using GWR at weekends advise whether it is worth taking a chance on their trains on Saturday? I cannot cope with standing all the way to Bath, nor with being crammed into a vestibule. Sadly it's too far to drive for a day trip

 

[Tim Dubya]

CAKE!

 

[D6356]

Trip planned and bus times scribbled down, forecast should encourage a few more as defo not gardening weather. Looking forward to show.
Robert

 

[Richard Gawler]

I've bought my train ticket, this is going to be a good day out

 

[D6331]

Oh blimey. I've not missed a Camrail nor a Larkrail for many years but tomorrow is looking bad weather wise. Especially via our appalling "railway service" where services are often cancelled ad hoc and willy nilly.
Sadly I may remain home...

 

[D6356]

D6331, Saturday with fewer services sees TOCS not stretching themselves so much with train crew so hopefully you should be ok. On Friday my TOC altered or cancelled around 30 services Saturday 6 services affected. The Ad hoc stuff is just down to many reasons on the day with over 80% down to network issues displacing crews - TOCs are not bothered as Networks internal industry compensation pays passenger refunds and then some. And why have every eventually covered at your expense when most are NR caused and resources lie idle at other times to the horror of the DFT. I hope you do venture out it will be too good day to miss.
From a fellow 63xx

 

[D6356]

Well that was a grand day out Gromitt. As expected great layout selection, great cake selection and good chat had with Bob Brown who was worrying plasticard into a signalbox front - making it look so easy ! Also a good chat with Dennis on figure painting and lots more, also making it look easy. Hepton Wharf and associated Iain Rice material and models very impressive. I will leave layout comments to folk who put up pics but all brillantly operated and showed the hobby at its best. Hall was very busy shortly after opening and to me shows hobby is doing ok .
I had time to visit the village of Larkhall and a very calm pretty location, two pubs, hardwareshop and coop plus a lovely french cafe, french music blaring out and perhaps the sun helped but folk very chatty. Even the no 7 bus ride was a mini adventure into architecture of the area and folks conversations. Bath so busy in the afternoon with tourists and locals mixing it up. "Long distance"trains all by railcars of some sort Nadir was the 800, it made the 165 turbo a pleasure and the Voyager good... which is worrying. Needless to say booking off staff BHM and BTH aware of press stuff but barely given facts and figures by their management but all freely said public support was high and those less able worrying at ability to travel in the nearest of futures.
Robert

 

[Richard Gawler]

The train travel was less awful than I had feared, but hardly enjoyable; three hours outward with some serious GWR overcrowding, and five hours back with a GWR cancellation and what TfL called “severe delays”.

Bath is rather a long way for me to go for a model train show, but worthwhile to be able to meet @Giles and Rob (Sheep Dip) and other folk who I have “met” on WT. And by travelling out of area, all of the layouts except one were new to me; and given the nature of the show, all were a joy to see.

There is a part of me which wants live in older and simpler times, perhaps beside one of these long-lost railways, and this can explain my Heybridge Railway project. Being able to actually do this would not allow me the luxury of a hobby, let alone a one-day 330-mile round trip to visit a show. We are very lucky to have the railway heritage to recreate, the historical records to show us what to aim for, and this and similar shows to share our efforts. Thank you to all of the organisers and exhibitors, I'm glad I made it if a year late.

 

[Tim Dubya]

Had an absolutely fantastic time, nice to meet up with folks and their trainsets.

Thanks to all, hopefully see some of you at that other show in Wells next month (I'm saving up my pocket money).

 

[76043]

Great time at Larkrail yesterday, thanks to the organisers and layout owners. Top selection of superb layouts and for me, it was good that there was only one trader, which finally forced me to look at the layouts.
Tony