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Once again UKTrainSimLive was located in the Drama Room, or Black Hole as it is known locally, at the Colchester Institute for
the Colchester and District Model Railway Clubs 39th Exhibition. With Doug, Laurie, Mike and Kieran arriving shortly after us,
we were quickly unloaded, set up and running. A special exhibition as we brought along a number of the Class 89 Appeal CD's and
a Class 89 Appeal begging bucket with the Exhibition Managers approval.
We were joined and ably assisted over the weekend by Doug Kightley, LAD491 (Laurie), Dinmore (Mike), KieranHardy, Coxster (Damon), Mole259 (Adrian),
Damian2 (Mark), memorex and Riche. Thanks for all your help demonstrating and with the loading and unloading.
With the Making Tracks: Great Eastern (The local line) being released on the Friday and e-rails Mole259 being present on Saturday, 1 laptop was
kept busy alternating between the Great Eastern and South Western Lines most of Saturday. Locals from the area of the line expressed considerable
interest in the line and since the exhibition have ordered it. We were joined on the Saturday by Jon Champ (Champy), Darren Dunkley (DrkAngel) and
Dave Babb (Buffy500) to gauge the views of the public to Great Eastern.
A very interesting selection of layouts covering most gauges and scales. Just to show that you can build a large gauge model railway in a small space,
three layouts at the exhibition did just that. Ledsam Street Yard in 7mm, just 1142mm (45 inches) x 406mm (16 inches). Two other layouts classed as
minimal space in 7mm (about 8 feet x 2 feet) were Nile Street Basin and Braunstone Gate. For the continental enthusiast there was Sureva, a continental
O gauge (1:45) layout depicting part of the Glacier Express line based on Albula. As always first class trade support.
It was interesting to see that the number of layouts now using DCC (Digital Command Control) is slowly increasing. Most notable among the layouts that
are American based. With the advent of American outline locos being chipped with sound off the shelf, more and more modellers of the American layouts
are switching over to DCC operation. British manufacturers have a lot of catching up to do.
We would like to express our thanks to Paul Evans (Exhibition Manager) and the Colchester and District MRC members for the invitation, the
refreshments and the warm welcome. Thanks also for allowing us to collect funds for the Class 89 appeal. We collected £120 in total from the
weekend.
Thanks to all the UKTS members who came along to demonstrate, chat etc and for helping load the car at the end, thanks.
We have our invitation for the 40th Exhbition in 2007 over the weekend 3rd/4th November. However, the Colchester Institute will be undergoing
major building works commencing early 2007 so location within the site may change as the year progresses. See you there somewhere.
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