GL5 Forum

As you may be aware gl5 have been asked to attend the model engineering exibiton at sandown park in december , GEOFF MOORE is organising this event and has asked for volenteers to help with the lending of models and help running a shunting yard ( outside im afraid ) so as many people and models would be apreciated. please contact any of the comitee if you can help as geoff is not internet conected.

SANDOWN PARK, Esher, Surrey – (GL5 at Model Engineer Exhibition 10th/11th/12th December 2010)
Setting up day 9th December 2010

Volunteers required, Drivers, Fireman, Shunters, Stokers, Yard masters, Permanent way, district office superintendents and Porters your help is required to attend the Sandown Park Model Exhibition this year between the 9th and 12th December.

After what was seen as a great success at Ascot a few years ago an idea was born by Geoff Moore when visiting a previous Show, of what would be a great place to run trains, so he has managed to secured a place for the GL5 members to run some trains at the Sandown Park Exhibition this year. Where we can continue to promote the GL5 and what it is about with our prototypical models, also to delight engineers young and old, seeing Freight trains being hauled.

This is a three day event over 4 days with the Thursday being the setup day where much need help would be appreciated, as we have a large amount of track laying to be done, rolling stock to get on site, after that it is all what we do best, having fun.

At this years GL5 AGM at Colchester, we are off to a good start with some 25+ volunteers, 80+ wagons and 12 loco’s but we do need more help and some more rolling stock and loco’s to make this a success.
So if you are willing to help please send an E-mail / letter / call (details below) with the days you could attend.

Even half a day of your time if just visiting the show would be most helpful.... just a pair of hands all would be welcome. So if you have not already done so, please let us know if you can help either by E-mail (preferred) or by phone:

If you indicate where you can help, on Setup day - Thursday, availability for Friday through Sunday and duties you could undertake, loco’s and or Rolling Stock (Wagons, Carriages).
Once we have this information we will setup a roster so everyone can enjoy and will confirm nearer the time. Please also note that Rolling stock etc can only be taken into Sandown on the Wed/Thursday and removed on the Sunday.

If some of you have far to travel it may be worth considering booking accommodation with Premier Inn (Chessington – not too far from the event) some GL5 members have already done and a few are willing to share a room to help keep costs down.


Please Contact:

For Attendance:

Andy Attwell – andyattwell@ntlworld.com or ( 01252 377668 )
Tom Ralston – Thomas@ralston.org.uk or ( 07790 495330 )

Permanent Way:

Geoff Moore – ( 01428 713039 )


Regards

Tom Ralston

Also to add we also have a stand position in the main club room so also looking for part built wagons to put on the stand for people to take a closer look at.

Please contact James Jarvis at steamjim@gmail.com

many thanks

Hi,
Is GL5 having steam locomotives at the sandown exhibition. Is it indoor or outside. How big is the track going to be. Unfortunately I cant come down as I live in Newcastle but can you puts some pics on after the event. That would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Daniel

A few pictures of the track set up in the padock area.

A good few days had by all, hard work thanks for pictures keith...

There's been occasional chat about the GL5 keeping sidings to allow us to visit clubs and carry out this kind of activity if a point spur was provided. Where did the track come from? Was it provided by the exhibition?

Richard Phillips wrote:There's been occasional chat about the GL5 keeping sidings to allow us to visit clubs and carry out this kind of activity if a point spur was provided. Where did the track come from? Was it provided by the exhibition?

Richard

The track was a combination of the Lindsay society, Guildford society and I believe Bromsgrove. This was all pulled together with mating bits made by the Guildford club. This proves that we can consider the event at other venues if asked - It does take some organising though - just ask Geoff Moore at Guildford !

Mike G

It certainly was hard work for all, and the effort Geoff and Tom and George at Guildford put in during the months before the event was huge, measuring drawing, building points and track etc.. We started laying out the track on the thursday at 7am after loading the truck at Guildford at 6am... so very tiring weekend.

So doing it elsewhere is a fine idea but people need to be prepared for the effort required in the planning, as no club is going to have the perfect pitch to lay a temporary track so any track setup would need designing and planning first.

IMHO what would be better is to convince clubs to lay a few sidings and head shunt and expand from there, thats what happened at the old Ascot track years ago, though we currently have quite a few clubs around with yards and private tracks such as Brents and I think again IMHO I would rather see more effort go into helping Brent or others with private tracks maintain their tracks so we can go use them than building more portable tracks for visiting clubs, I feel once a year at the exhibition is enough for me and pulls the biggest audience.

What the event did highlight to me is how everyone pitched in without too much management in the take down, I was so surprised at how quickly it all got taken down and packed away , the laying out takes longer and is a bit slower and requires less people.

Just to let you all know, if you havent already seen it; there is a good picture of Ted Goode's excellent Standard Class 2 Tank in the sidings at Gilling during the May 2010 rally in the January 2011 issue of 'Engneering in Miniature'