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Exhibition Report

Sunderland
3/4 September 2005
On our second visit to Sunderland and a change of venue to the town centre in the Crowtree Leisure Centre. An excellent turn out from the UKTS Community with Leviathan1949, Cab-It, Neutronic, LAD491, Doug Kightley, Ian Macmillan, Saddletank, King125, Anonymizeruk on both days and joined on Sunday by Morpethcurve and Alan Howat. Both Ian and Morpethcurve brought along additional desktop machines, Doug, King125 and Anonymizeruk had laptops with them.

Doug Kightley, Leviathan1949 and LAD491 driving, whilst King125 sits at the back and Neutronic talks to Nigel. A visitor in discussion with Morpethcurve whilst Saddletank and Ian Macmillan talk donkeys!!!!!!. Doug in an HST, Leviathan1949 in a 37 and Anonymizeruk in an 86, King125 in the back row. Leviathan1949, LAD491, King125 and Neutronic.

The venue was not as visitor friendly as the Seaburn Leisure Centre. Entry to the exhibition meant navigating a flight of six steps down and exit via six steps up. Parking for visitors also proved expensive in the local St Marys car park - £1 per hour on Saturday and £1 all day Sunday. The outcome was that numbers were down on previous years attendance and there is talk of reverting to the Seaburn Leisure Centre in future years at a date two weeks earlier than current.

Unserstadt SBB CFF FFS, European N gauge. Die Kleine Schuhornbahn, European OO9. North East O Gauge Modellers stand. Sunderland & District MRS Thomas layout in OO gauge.

Our location in the Crowtree Leisure Centre placed us behind Nigel Burkin's DCC Demonstration layout and provided ample opportunity for Matt and I to discuss DCC, Model Railways in general and Train Simulation. Nigel is the Consulting Editor for the Modern Railway Modelling Magazine (MRM) and an avid trainsimmer.

Bacharach, European in N gauge. Bacharach, European in N gauge. Stump City, American in OO9. Stump City, American in OO9.
Dalefoot (Bridge Road) in 4mm. Birtley Model Railway Engineers layout in 7mm. Oxenholme in 4mm. Oxenholme in 4mm.

The exhibition was well balanced with a good selection of layouts in a variety of scales. A good variety of traders were also in attendance providing just about everything modellers could want from Tools, electrics, electronics, motors, wheels etc and scratchbuilding parts to box shifters (new and secondhand in UK, European and American outline).

Moorcock Junction in 2mm. Moorcock Junction in 2mm. Dreamland, American in N gauge. Dreamland, American in N gauge.

Sunderland Tramway in 4mm. Nigel Burkins DCC Demonstration layout. Autenbach, European in 3.5mm. Ellison, American in 3.5mm.

Our thanks to all the members who assisted us during the exhibition by demonstrating, helping to unload and reload the car and to the visitors who dropped by for a chat.

We would like to thank the Sunderland and District MRS for the invitation to the exhibition and for the refreshments and warm welcome we received. We look forward to seeing you next year.