Events/Trips in 2018.
The WMR&ES Christmas Show 2018
Here are some photos of the Wanganui Model Railway and Engineering Society Inc Christmas show. It was held on the 7th and 8th December 2018. I had my NZ120 layout in the show.
Auckland Trip
Including the Day Out With Thomas Event at the GVR
9th to 13th of November 2018
We were for the second time involved with the Day out with Thomas Event at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway in Waiuku, Auckland. Like last time we headed up to Auckland on Friday the 9th of November, stopping to look at a few things on the way (Including the Ohakune Choc Elcar shop, Makatote viaduct and the Taumarnui Information centre), getting to the GVR about 6.30pm. We managed to unload the layout and get it partly together before we had to rush off to our camp ground we were staying at. We stayed at the Port Waikato camp groud. All though this was a very nice place to stay and the staff and locals were great to deal with it was a little far away from the event. It added a extra 50 mins to our travel time each way each day. But we would like to stay here again when not up that way for a event, to have a better look around.
Saturday and Sunday mornings were early starts as we raced off to pick Stephen up from Waiuku before heading to the GVR to set up for the event. This year we had my Thomas layout and our Kiddie ride at the show. Like last year we were on the station platform, watching the trains come and go. A train would run every half hour from 9am to 4pm. So this meant on most trips we would have about 250 to 280 people around the layout before each trip. The public once again loved the layout, with most of them being realy good and staying out side our fenced off area. During the two days we got time to go for rides on the trains and to have a look around. Out of the two days (Saturday and Sunday), Saturday was the bussies as the weather was good. Sunday got a bit slow after it started to rain from lunch time onwards. On Saturday night we stopped at the Glenbrook Model Railway before heading into Waiuku for Tea with Stephen before heading back to the camp ground.
This year we decided to stay up there a extra day (Monday), to have a better look around in Auckland. As we headed to Auckland we found a nice little moble coffee/pancake shop, with the trailer shaped like a pancake. This was Breakfast for everyone. Our next stop was at Kelly Tarltons under water world in Auckland. this place is amazing. See all the fish and wild life up close. We got to see baby penqins and some of the fish at feeding time. We spent a good 3 hours here before we moved on to the Sky Tower to have a look at the veiw, followed by a walk around town.
On tuesday the 13th we headed for home. We said good bye to the camp ground and its pets, and we had a quick drive around the Port Waikato village having a look at the beach etc. We then headed for Hamilton stopping at the Base shopping centre in Te Rapa for lunch and Keegan got himself a new toy at a half price clearence sale. Our next stop was a quick visit to Lloryians brother in Kihikihi before heading to Taumarunui for tea and a quick play in the park there. We finaly headed for home after a great weekend away.
Over all this was a great, fun weekend away. I got to see things I hadnt done before and of course play trains. We would like to thank Tim, Sean and the Glenbrook Vintage Railway team for all there help. They have mentioned they love having my layout up there and want us again for furture Thomas events. A big thank you also to my helpers, my partner Lloyian, sister Kylie, nephew Keegan and mate Stephen for the help with my layout and dealing with the public over the weekend. I could not do this without your surport.
Over all this was a great, fun weekend away. I got to see things I hadnt done before and of course play trains. We would like to thank Tim, Sean and the Glenbrook Vintage Railway team for all there help. They have mentioned they love having my layout up there and want us again for furture Thomas events. A big thank you also to my helpers, my partner Lloyian, sister Kylie, nephew Keegan and mate Stephen for the help with my layout and dealing with the public over the weekend. I could not do this without your surport.
A Manawatu Miniature Rail Weekend.
6th, 7th & 8th of July 2018
For the second time I was involved with the Rail X, model railway show at the Barber Hall in Palmerston North, run by the Manawatu model railway clubs. Like the Wanganui club they hold this once every two years. This time I set up on the Friday night and I was displaying in the second hall. With Lloryians help we got there at 3pm and set up my Thomas layout (we also had our Kiddie Ride Train there too). The beauty of setting up the day before is I don’t have to rush things and the layout goes together a lot easier. Just after 5pm my mother turned up with my nephew Keegan. She was dropping Keegan off to me for the weekend as he was going to be my little helper again. We finished the set up about 6pm and Lloryian and Mum headed for home.
But to Keegans surprise, he and I had other plans. We headed across town to the P Nth Esplanade Scenic Railway and to have a look at their Polar Express Night Train. This was a special winter night run they were doing. When we got there the queues were out the gate and along the road with families waiting to have their turn. As we walked up we could see that they had all 3 of their trains running. Now two of my work mates are involved with this group and as we walked up past the loading point to find the end of the queue we ran into these guys. Next thing we knew we were put straight onto the train for a VIP free ride (no waiting in line for us) and with a big smile from Keegan as his favourite loco, the Da was pulling us. They were only running on the short circuit and as we went through the bush, all the trees were lit up with coloured lights, smoke machines going and just before the end of the trip a snow machine going covering everyone in snow as we went under it. We hopped off and decided to have a walk around the track trying to get photos of the trains as they went through the lights before we headed for home. A big thank you to Simon Stichbury (behind Keegan in photo) and Grant Taylor for the free ride, it was great fun. Unfortunately my photos of the lights didn’t come out to well.
But to Keegans surprise, he and I had other plans. We headed across town to the P Nth Esplanade Scenic Railway and to have a look at their Polar Express Night Train. This was a special winter night run they were doing. When we got there the queues were out the gate and along the road with families waiting to have their turn. As we walked up we could see that they had all 3 of their trains running. Now two of my work mates are involved with this group and as we walked up past the loading point to find the end of the queue we ran into these guys. Next thing we knew we were put straight onto the train for a VIP free ride (no waiting in line for us) and with a big smile from Keegan as his favourite loco, the Da was pulling us. They were only running on the short circuit and as we went through the bush, all the trees were lit up with coloured lights, smoke machines going and just before the end of the trip a snow machine going covering everyone in snow as we went under it. We hopped off and decided to have a walk around the track trying to get photos of the trains as they went through the lights before we headed for home. A big thank you to Simon Stichbury (behind Keegan in photo) and Grant Taylor for the free ride, it was great fun. Unfortunately my photos of the lights didn’t come out to well.
On Sunday morning we were again on the road early getting to the show to set my trains up again. Before the doors open we had time to walk around getting photos of the layouts and looking at the trade stalls for something Keegan would like, we found a nice bogie hopper wagon he liked that can go with the trains he already had. The doors opened and it was an even busier day than the one before. We had a lot of great comments about my layout, we were told on several occasions by some of the kids that my layout was their favourite. With some parents struggling to get the kids away from it and the kiddie ride didn’t stop all day. About 2pm Greg and his mum turned up followed by Lloryian about 3pm to have a look at the show and to help me pack up once it was over. Greg and his mum also called into home on their way back to Wanganui and helped me get my layout back into the hobby room. Being the beginning of the school holidays Keegan stayed with us one more night before I took him back to Wanganui on the Monday morning.
We left home early Saturday morning as we still had to set the trains up on the layout. This also gave us some time to have a look around all the other layouts. There was a wide range of layout and trade stalls on display, N, HO, G, S, NZ 120, and Z gauges layouts. There were layouts from all around the world. They also had the Manawatu model Engineers outside giving kids rides on one of the 5”gauge trains on a straight bit of track, and of course Keegan had to have a ride on this too. As soon as the doors opened, the public flooded in. About lunch time Paul M, Mel and Glen turned up to have a look and also manned my layout and Geoff’s trade stand for a while to give us a break, which was much appreciated. During the day Keegan asked for $10 and disappeared into the main hall coming back with a nice S (1/64) gauge wagon for my NZ trains (this looks great in my cabinet with the rest of my trains). My layout was a hit with the kids and the Kiddie ride did very well. At closing time we hung around for about an hour talking to the other exhibitors and getting a better look at the layouts, before packing up my trains and heading home again. When we got home, Keegan still wanted to play trains so we headed into the hobby room where he helped me with some soldering of dropper wires for a layout I’m building.
Over all it was a great show. Everyone that I talked to enjoyed themselves. The organisers were surprised to get a $40 donation from the kiddie ride, but right from the beginning we mentioned that they would get a share of the profit. A big thank you to all my helpers. Once again it would be a big struggle for me if you lot were not there. Since this show I have been asked to attend the Wellington show and Feilding Steams opendays in November, The Steam Traction Society opendays and the Masterton show next year and the Hastings show in two years’ time. At this stage I am confirmed with the Glenbrook Vintage Railway for their Day out with Thomas event in November but may not get the time off work for the other November events. Written and photos by Blair Jordan.
Wanganui Model Railway & Engineering Society Inc.
The Bulls Railway Show
14th and 15th April 2018
I was involved with this show over these two days. I had my Thomas and Match Box layouts at the show. The WMR&ES decided to try something different, the club is always looking at ways of fund raising. Alan and Fay Giles came up with the idea of why don’t we have a smaller show in Bulls. After several months of planning, looking at different halls etc they finally held the show at the Bulls Scout and Guide Hall in Wilson Street. This turned out to be a great little show with local member’s layouts, a couple of out of town ones, a trade stand, Video/DVD sales and a small display from SteamRail Wanganui with some lamps etc. The scouts also ran a sausage sizzle and raffle on the Saturday. This weekend was well supported by the Bulls/Rangatkei community as well us public from Wanganui and P nth passing through town. They had plenty of good feedback from all the visitors about the show. A big thank you goes out to Alan and Fay, Paul and Mel Mallett for all the organising of the show. the club thanks to exhibitors and members who helped out over the weekend. Fay would like to also send out a big thank you to all that brought along food for the weekend, especially the home baking. This helped keep everyone fed for the weekend as well as costs down. Over all the WMR&ES are very happy at how this weekend went and we will look at doing this once every two years on the alternate year to our big show we hold in Wanganui. Photos by myself and Charley Masters.
The Great Manawatu Steam Fair 2018
17th and 18th of March 2018
I was once again involved with the Great Manawatu Steam Fair run by the Steam Traction Society in Maewa (just out of Feilding. For my second year I had my Hornby Dublo layout at the show plus for the first time my Kiddie Ride and also one of my Motor Trolleys advertising both the upcoming WMR&ES Bulls Railway show and the SRW Jigger rides day over Queens Birthday weekend. My layout ran well and I had a lot of good comments once again about the old trains. Everyone I talked to seem to enjoy the event seeing the displays and riding on the Traction Engines and Steam Rollers. There was a Saw mill, rock crushing, grader, hay paling, threshing mill displays all powered by Steam engine. Along with a black smith, stationary engines, vintage vehicles on display and refreshments. A big thank you to my helpers over the weekend. Once again I had my nephew Keegan there for the weekend as my right hand man, with Paul, Mel and Glen Mallett there on the Saturday (This gave Paul a chance to run some of his Dublo models) and Lloryian on the Sunday. The First photo was taken by Shannan Stafford-Hyde the rest were by myself.
Wanganui Vintage Weekend
20th to 22nd January 2018
SteamRail Wanganui (SRW) was again involved with the Wanganui Vintage weekend. This year they had their doors open to the public on the Saturday and Sunday only with some of their gear outside on display. On the Monday they gave Jigger/Motor Trolley rides as well. They also had a KiwiRail truck and some of the track tools on display care of Hamish and the WMR&ES had a layout on show advertising their club also. Thanks to Paul, Mel and Rob for manning the layout over the weekend. I once again had my Motor Trolley there for the event along with the Kiddie train Ride (it gave 24 rides over the weekend). Mainline Steam were in town offering short shuttle runs to East Town and Kai Iwi with their Jb loco on the first 2 days. SRW were hired to do the security of the train overnight. Unfortunately they did have a few issues over the weekend and this resulted in trains running a bit late and one trip was cancelled. There was a miss print in the advertising and ticket printing. SteamRail was named as running the train trips instead of Mainline Steam. This resulted in people turning up at their doors asking for tickets and of course the odd complaint directed at us in error when things went wrong. They have now had an apology from both Mainline and a Wanganui Vintage Weekend Committee member about the mistake. Other than that SRW were well supported by the local public and they thank members once again for all your help. Mainline Steam also sends out a big thank you to the club for all our help. SRW members once again did your club proud. SRW must also give a big thank you to the Wanganui Fire brigade who came out twice to fill the Jb up with water for free.