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Exhibition Report
Ipswich
13/14 September 2003
Our first exhibition of the new season was at Ipswich. This was our second visit to this venue and we were made extremely welcome. Large area for our stand, more than adequate for 3 large screen projections and room for an extra table at the side for Alan2, Horgy and SouthCoastTrains to work on.

Very nice to see a few new faces at the exhibition including markw, snowcrashandy, hawklord, simuk and dcduncan. Jimbinn, Saddletank, Alan2, Horgy and SouthCoastTrains joined us as demonstrators.

Leviathan1949, snowcrashandy & markw snowcrashandy, markw and Saddletank. Jim in the background taking a rest break. Just before the doors opened on the saturday, jimbinn, Leviathan1949 & Saddletank performing last minute checks. Now there's Alan2 on the end with his own table. The adjacent layout was at the exhibition all the way from Holland.

Unfortunately the weather was against the exhibition over the whole weekend as the sun came out and it just shone and shone. People obviously decided to go to the coast and enjoy the late summer sunshine rather than come to the exhibition. Attendance on both days was down on previous years. Nevertheless we had a steady stream of visitors to the stand including a large number of other layout operators and trade stand vendors. Those with TrainSim went away with operating instructions and a free CD. Almost at closing time on the Sunday we were visited by another exhibition manager who went away with a copy of the exhibition managers notes.

Recognition at last as we receive our own exhibition plaque. Just before opening on the Sunday and we receive a visit from Bob Pearman of Bob Pearman Books. Horgy & SouthCoastTrains route building around bopeep junction. Alan2 gives his latest version of PeakRail an airing.

This was our first opportunity, with approval from BlueArrowTS, to demonstrate the stunning Severn Valley Railway route. This was well received by all our visitors and by UKTrainSim users as this was their first opportunity to see the route. We had this route running almost continuously over the weekend. Other routes to get an airing were MidEast, Woodhead, PeakRail, Canton, Ohio Rail, Highworth, and LBE. Alan2 also took the opportunity to give a showing to the Welshpool and LLanfair Route which had only been uploaded on the Friday prior to the exhibition. As always, some of the punters couldn't believe what they were seeing as well known landmarks were passed on the various routes on display. Our thanks are due to the modellers and route builders without whom this would just not be possible. THANK YOU.

Horgy, dcduncan and SouthCoastTrains discussing the finer points at bopeep junction. Must be getting warmer, jimbinn has undone his coat and rolled up his sleeves. The offspring of another visitor, probably didn't get a wink of sleep the night before and fell asleep standing up. TeeHee.. Cab-It does her thing, wooing the punters with print outs of beginners guides and Cd's.

Our thanks always go to the kind people who come along and help us demonstrate the routes and models and promote UKTrainSim Saddletank, Alan2, Horgy, SouthCoastTrains, Jimbinn and to those who drop in for a chat and a drive.

Thanks also to the Ipswich Railway Modellers Association for the invitation and we look forward to seeing you again in 2004. I should point out that the dates for next year are slightly earlier in September - make a note in your diary for the 4th and 5th September 2004.