Warley

For a minute I thought I must have missed a section! I've done that before - got home, read the show guide and realised there was a whole section I missed. Every year I say that I'll get the show guide in advance and plan the route, and I never do!

For once I didn't go there seeing it as a trade show, but to see the layouts. Now I've moved to Leics, it's almost my local show! I wanted to go by train, but National Rail Enquiries came up with a big fat zero for trains from Barrow today, and two hours/three changes for Saturday, but Sunday's quieter so I didn't want to do Sat. So I drove...

For me, the big find was York Modelmaking. I'm drawing up a model of a particular station building, and the windows were looking like a scratchbuild job which I didn't relish. Custom laser-etched windows and doors look like an attractive proposition. Layout of the show was Bridport Town (as featured in the current RM). Others I watched for a while were Penlan and Pen-y-Madoc. Pengwynn Crossing (yes, the penguin is still there!) has been around for a while but it's a nice layout. I've built/am building some of the Scalescenes kits, and liked the look of the church. I know the website gives the dimensions, but seeing it in real life, it's bloody huge! Most churches on 4mm layouts are the size of their N gauge version!

Oh yeah - who dumped that scruffy loco in the middle of the hall? 175th anniversary of the GWR, and they "exhibit" some woebegone lump of non-GWR metal. Still, the weathering was realistic :-)

I will be going again, as I have done for most of the last dozen years or so, but the last two shows have just meant an 80 mile round trip instead of 300 miles.

Some un-edited photos of the show are on my website.

Didn't go last year and only went on a late whim this Saturday which I think was a mistake. It's such a large event that some planning is needed beforehand to decided on what you want to see or buy. I hadn't done either. A few years ago ISTR it was in a smaller hall and the aisles and areas around some exhibits /stands got so crowded that some people got angry with each other, that has improved. The layouts large and small are the results of many hours of dedicated work but I hardly looked at any of them,at a smaller show they would get the attention they deserve. I have to admit to entering the hall in a bad mood. After having a smooth drive from the South to find that the NEC despite having been in existence for over 30 years still cannot stream the traffic into it's car parks efficiently.Almost a third of my journey time was spent in the car park queue which when you have come up from Hampshire is an annoying proportion. Not the fault of the Warley club but they could lose out, I was seconds away from abandoning the visit and going home again , I did exactly that a few years back. Probably will have been my last visit In future I'll stick to smaller ones.

G.Harman

We had no such problems with traffic etc - much quieter at our time.

I normally go to shows for both layouts and traders - except perhaps Swad/Gresley where they only have one trader (good 2nd hand) and DEMU where steam stuff is rare, so they are pretty much for layouts only. Was just didnt feel like looking at layouts much - perhaps same as above. Was somewhat wary of taking tot but there were three layouts that were inviting children to have a go at driving, and not just Thomas - although the TT layout was very good scenic as well. So he had a good time.

That US hulk was definately worth seeing - there cant have been much on the rails uglier and more ungainly than that, even in Bullieds imagination. Can see now how Ivatt was inspired to develop LMS engines with labour saving features.

Not annoyed about the cost - bought a new book from RTCS by Harry Jack that was reduced by over GBP15, but entrance and parking was too high.

Cheers, Simon

I went on Saturday and bought advanced tickets...I wasn't sure what to expect as I've only just got into model railwaying but I wasn't much impressed. I only went to see some cool layouts but there were too many trade stands and I couldn't see much of anything because of the crowds...

Also, when I got there I locked my keys in my car and had to call the AA! So that issue put me in a downer...

In terms of the trade stands I was expecting a lot of "cheaper" stuff but it all seemed the same price as my local modelzone. - apart from the 2nd hand stuff....

I did however, love the 2 "logging" layouts...They were smallish but looked amazing.

Also the 1/2lb burger from the burger stand was lush.

-- The Zero ST

On weekends when the NEC as a whole isn't too busy (a state of affairs which is usually the case for Warley, even when it coincides with some other popular events such as the BBC Good Food Show), and the event you're visiting is in one of the halls accessed from the main foyer (eg, Hall 5, as used by Warley) you're better off parking at the rail station rather than the NEC itself. It's cheaper than the NEC car parks, and it's actually closer to the main halls - so you can just walk across the bridge instead of getting the shuttle bus. And, on a weekend, there's plenty of space and no queues to get in. I parked there on Saturday when we went to Warley, and was easily able to find a space on the ground floor of the multistory close to the station entrance - there were only a handful of cars on the upper floors, and large gaps in the open-air sections as well.

Even on a working day the station car park might be better if you have any reason to visit the NEC, although in that case it won't always be cheaper and it may be harder to find a space - Birmingham International is heavily used as a commuter park-and-ride station so it does get more full during the week. I'd certainly be inclined to give it a try, though, as if it is full you can always turn round and go to the NEC car parks instead.

The only time when you're clearly better off parking at the NEC itself is when the event you're visiting is in one of the smaller halls at the north-west of the site, accessed via the secondary foyer (halls 6-20) - for those, the NEC parking itself is fairly close to the entrance, but it's a long hike from the rail station. The tip for those, though, to avoid the queues, is to come in round the back via Bickenhill Lane instead of directly off the M42/M6.

illustrates the above quite well. The rail station car park is pretty much all the white space between the NEC west car park and the service road running through (or, rather, under) the station.

Mark

During the week theres free parking (at the moment) and free bus shuttle from Coleshill Parkway, but could see anything noted for Sunday.

Cheers, Simon

Back in Sept I drove up from Dijon to the S4 exh at Leatherhead. It is many years since my last visit to any exhibition (Bristol

1978) but I doubt very much if I will ever bother again for very much the reasons you experienced.

Superb exhibition - Didn't go by car , but parked at one of the park /rides ( sandwell and Dudley in my case - a minutes drive off the motorway) . Fast trip on a pendo to NEC , no worries and a just a couple of quid train fare.. I was one of the 9.30ams to get in , and they had to kick me out at 6pm . Timed everything so I concentrated on the trade stands till lunch , then a mix of trade/layouts for an hour, then it was layouts, as by then I knew exactly where the layouts were that interested me. Went back to the station looking like a little pack horse, loaded with goodies. Anyone claiming there were no bargains, didn't look, or didn't haggle. I found loads , and unlike Ebay etc, didn't have to rely on the sellers description. The items were in my hands to play with!. Lighting is a bit dark, but its up to the layout owners to provide something suitable. Many layouts have a fantastic atmosphere when viewed with their own lighting , compared to floodlighting for all. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and I , for one , can't wait for next years show.. Well done to all involved , including NEC staff who managed the entrance of large quantities of people so well.

Due to the birth of my granddaughter, I was not able to get to the NEC this year. Is there still a free car park at the national motorcycle museum which is (although not marked) at the bottom of the above pdf off junction 6? Before I started to go by train, I used to park there (apart from when it was burnt down!) as Warley usually coincided with a computer exhibition held at the museum. It's not too far to walk to the NEC from there if you don't mind crossing the roundabout (usually the traffic is at a standstill) and ignore the helpful directions from a policeman which meant I had to risk my life crossing the M42 on the roadway! The url for the museum is:

Alan

I had a similar experience a few years ago. Nice easy drive up from Weston-super-Mare, maybe 1.5 hrs, but it took 45 minutes from entering the NEC site to getting parked, including being directed into a full car park then 20 minutes to fight through the gridlock to the exit (everyone was doing the same whilst cars were still coming in). Fortunately someone else had the argument with the ticket barrier man and he just let everyone out. I have to say that is unusual though, and it also seems a lot better and the hall is quieter on the Sunday.

Like others, I used to go in the "back" way, but going on Sundays timing the arrival at about 10:30-ish it's just as easy to go in the main entrance - it only takes a few minutes to get parked then.

That is a bit of a bugbear, and to be honest I wonder if one of the criteria for being invited to exhibit is actually having sufficient lighting to be able to see the layout. The NEC is notoriously gloomy, and I definitely noticed a trend of bigger crowds around the more brightly lit layouts (and my flash-less photos came out better!). I fully understand that these are often individual's layouts though. Some trade stands could do with a bit more light as well!

Talking of lighting, is it just me or do other glasses-wearers get distracting reflections from the ceiling lights? Yes, I do have an anti-reflective coating!

Anyway, full marks as usual to the Warley MRC for organising the show.

As I hinted at in my first post, I've traditionally seen Warley as a trade show. It isn't, of course, but that's the impression many people have!

Whoops! I've taken to adding "Current location" as a favourite in my satnav once I'm parked. Guess why???

I heard one layout operator comment he had rather quickly added his own lighting when he remembered the ambiance of the NEC halls.

I also enjoyed. Arrived late morning Sunday and left about 1600 with no problems.

I have parked there (before the fire) for NEC events. As you suggest, the walking route to the NEC can be a bit hairy but the traffic is usually stationary. ;-)

On a recent visit to the NEC I avoided the traffic jams and parked in the station car park for Birmingham International. It wasn't cheap but it was very effective, with only a short walk to the NEC.

Reading through the several replies to this thread, I was surprised that it no-one seemed to have gone by train. I always go to the NEC by train when I can - it is possible to waste a couple of hours in traffic queuing to get in and/or out.

Bah!!!!! I would have if there were any trains running from my local station on Sunday!

In which case, I apologise for including you, Paul. Someone from points north also had the same problem. But I have always considered the NEC an obvious choice for a rail journey, and it's sad that the roads in the area get so clogged up with traffic when going by train is such an obvious choice.

Of course the high cost of rail fares purchased on the day means that a lot of people going on the spur of the moment have no real option other than the car.

That was my problem in the 1980s before I emigrated. The first trains were round about midday, and DMUs because they'd turned the power off. Now it's part of Metrolink. If I wanted to go anywhere without driving I'd have to get up early and catch the bus which took for ever.

I have in the past when I lived in Southampton. Now Salisbury is my nearest at 12 miles away. It would have meant a combination of taxi and Bus and an additional £15 or so each way. The other half decided to have a day out as well and that tipped the balance. She not being familiar with how the NEC works wondered if it was possibly to visit one of the other exhibitions as well if she got bored. I explained that each show was independent but it does give food for thought. I wonder if anyone has ever thought of doing a deal so that bored partners can get a discount for a late entry in eg. The Cat show. I hasten to add mine stayed till closing time without a grumble but it did seem a good suggestion.Think of the extra sales the traders may make if the other half is in another exhibition hall. Of course it may work the other way round and she buys a Motorbike.

G.Harman

I would happily go by train if there were any suitable ones. We live part way down the M42 (A42 really). Did check Coleshill Parkway but no bus. Could use Tamworth or Water Orton, but probably the most convenient station would have been Birmingham International.

But even with free parking it would still be GBP20 to get in.....

Didnt meet any Warley people, Shuttle bus drivers were right grumpy, but Car Park and ticket ladies/gents nice.

Cheers, Simon