expoEM Events 2008.

expoEM events : Why not come along and meet the traders and specialist manufacturers in relaxed and informal surroundings? Come and talk to the layout operators, see how to construct a layout of your own. Plenty of advice and help. Demonstration stands include track construction techniques, modern image modelling, loco construction, signal construction and architectural modelling. Although featuring only 4mm scale layouts, much of the advice and products on sale are suitable for other gauges and scales. The EMGS does not focus on any particular period of modelling, and layouts can be seen representing pre-grouping as well as 'modern image'.

What is expoEM?

It is NOT an exhibition, it is NOT a Specialist Group get together, it is NOT a trader show, it is NOT .... In other words, it's something very special. Back in the 1970's the Society wanted to bring to the attention of a much wider audience the benefits of fine scale railway modelling.  The Society was formed in 1955 but had until that time only really been a small exhibitor at local shows.  An opportunity came about in the Society's 21st Year of staging an event of its own (to become what now is known as expoEM).  It was to be a public exhibition of the work of members of the Society.  It was to be a 'Thank You' to the traders who had supported the Society in its formative years.  It was to be a gathering of members, many whom had never met other than by telephone or post.  There was to be no 'profit' motive - everything being self funded from the membership fees and the sale of publications and spare parts etc.

Being such a huge success, the event has been staged every year since.  We have demonstrators, lecturers, working layouts, layouts under construction, a test track for those who like to run their models but don't have a layout of their own and the specialist trader members.

There is one main expoEM event which has been held for many years in Bletchley (near Milton Keynes) each May. Due to refurbishment of the Centre it will not be possible to use this venue for 2008 and so an alternative at Bracknell, Berkshire has been arranged. (see details at the end of this report).  Each year, however, we also have a Northern event which currently is held at Slaithwaite near Huddersfield in September and a Southern event held in November at Portsmouth.  For EMGS members there is an additional Members' day which is combined with the Annual General Meeting which in 2007 was held in Wakefield, North Yorkshire.  For the 2008 Members' Day we will be at Bletchley, but not the Leisure Centre.  Instead we will be at Bletchley Park (The Home of the Code Breakers).

So come along - you are all cordially invited.

expoEM 2008 NEW VENUE - Bracknell, Berkshire.

SATURDAY 17th MAY 2008
10.30am to 6pm

SUNDAY 18th MAY 2008
10.00am to 4.30pm

THE BRACKNELL LEISURE CENTRE
BAGSHOT ROAD
BRACKNELL
BERKSHIRE     RG12 9SE

We are pleased to announce that we have more or less completed all the arrangements for expoEM 2008 which this year is being held at Bracknell. We will be presenting a good mix of layouts both in EM and P4 representing various modelling periods. We have booked:

Charlotte Road (P4) - BR Southern Region 1967 - Wirral Finescale Modellers

Evenstow (EM) - GWR 1930s - Paul Illif

Liverpool Lime Street (EM) - LMS 1940s - John Holden

Lower Finesse (EM) - 1930s Freelance - Richard Ward

Midland Sidings (P4) - Midland 1920 - Westinghouse Railway Club

Oakwell Central (EM) - LNER 1930s - Dave Woodward

Trewithick (EM) - GWR 1940s - Graeme Vickery

Wainthrop Bridge (EM) - LMS 1920s - Peter Leyland

Whitchurch (EM) - BR Southern Region 1968/72 - Mike Whitchurch

Valleyfields (EM) - LNWR 1920s - Ken Hill and Tony Gee

As at all our expoEM events we will also have the specialist traders who support 4mm finescale modelling and will be providing a comprehensive range of products to our members and visitors.  Modelling demonstrations will be provided by individual EMGS members as well as those from the EMGS Area Groups.

expoEM North 2008

SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 2008
10.30am to 6pm

SUNDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 2008
10.00am to 4.30pm

This is being held at :
COLNE VALLEY LEISURE CENTRE
SLAITHWAITE
HUDDERSFIELD
YORKSHIRE HD7 5AB

This will be our 29th expoEM North, and we welcome members, guests, friends and all those who are interested in railway modelling irrespective of scale, gauge and period they model. We have a very simple entrance fee policy. The entrance fee for 2007 was just £4. This entitled you to spend as much time as you like for the whole weekend browsing, chatting (and hopefully purchasing goods) and maybe joining us on a permanent basis. That entrance fee also entitled you to bring your partner (who may not have initially been interested in railways!) at no cost. The entrance fee for 2008 has not yet been decided but it is unlikely to increase by any significant amount, if at all.

Some 12 EM layouts were arranged for the 2007 show representing various modelling periods and the winner of Best Layout went to Mike Bell with his "Prospect Wharf" layout.

For those of you who wanted to "see how it was done", there were modelling demonstrations of : Loco chassis construction, wagon construction, signal construction, track construction, etched brass coaches, architectural modelling and layout construction. 2008 will see the same popular format being arranged.  There will also be groups who will be displaying progress on their projects and finally the experiences of a group who "Have done it all and still making a mess of it!

Quite a comprehensive range of traders booked for 2007 including the EMGS Trade stand, C&L/Carr's, 247 Developments, High Level kits, Modelex, Alan Gibson, London Road Models, Bill Hudson Transport Books, Model Signal Engineering (inc. Wizard 51L), Ambis (Engineering Divn.) Comet Models, Steam & Things from Australia, David Geen Models, Milnsbridge Models and Hobby Holidays.  In 2008 we hope to see a similar number of traders but Alan Gibson himself will have retired, hence will not be attending.  We wish Alan 'all the best' for the future.  However, his business has been successfully taken over by a couple of guys from the Oldham area and hopefully they will be attending and flying the "Gibson Flag".

Each year there is an Evening Buffet to round off the Saturday. Here in the informal atmosphere there is plenty to chat about. In 2005 there was a guest speaker who presented some rare footage originally taken on 8mm cine film and now converted to digital DVD.  In 2006 a speaker gave a very fascinating insight to the development of Bus Tickets and Ticketing systems and for 2007 we saw the link between railways and philately and this illustrated talk covered the mail of the Travelling Post Offices etc.  We understand the Guest Speaker will have another 'unique' presentation for 2008 which is eagerly awaited!

Slaithwaite is a few minutes drive west of Huddersfield City Centre
on the main A62. Close to the M62 and a short walk away from Slaithwaite station. Plenty of free car parking on site.

expoEM South 2008

NOVEMBER 2008

We have just had the South show for 2007 held at The Admiral Lord Nelson School in Portsmouth. This was a great success with some real quality layouts attending.  "Alkham" by Ian Hollis from the Isle of Wight won the "Best Layout" award.  Hopefully we will be getting some photographs of the layouts quite soon and these will either be published in our Photo File or in the next edition of our Newsletter. 

We are now working towards arranging a show for 2008 and details will be made known as soon as possible.

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