‘User-friendly’ focus for railway display
Organisers of an annual model railway exhibition will continue a ‘user-friendly’ focus following a successful 21st instalment.
About 1500 people walked through Stawell’s SES Hall during the weekend to explore more than 20 displays at the Grampians Model Railroader’s event.
Club treasurer Clyde Humphries said the club would rethink layout arrangements for next year’s event to increase visitor appeal and better showcase professional exhibitors entered in the competition.
“We are becoming a lot more user-friendly and aiming for the exhibit to be appealing to everyone, from the people who need to go because they’re taking their children or grandchildren, as well as the ones who want to go,” he said.
“We had the artisan mod- ellers in a separate room this year and looking forward, we will reshuffle things so we are not hiding them away, because they are the real artists, and the standard is very high.”
Mr Humphries said despite an overall decrease in numbers there was growing interest from families and children, with three new members joining the club.
“We had a good response, people were there for two or three hours, and the SES Hall is not overly large,” he said. “A lot of younger people came through, which we were quite surprised about.
“I think the Youtube side of it helps in getting the hobby out a bit more, and we have a good Facebook presence.
“Overall, the exhibition from the public’s perspective was a success, the exhibitors loved it and ticked it off as one of the best they’ve been to, and for the club it was probably the smoothest running we’ve had.”
Mr Humphries said members would like to continue to expand their reach by hosting exhibits in other regional towns.
“We would really like to be able to go to Horsham, and other regional towns,” he said.
“Between members we can present half a dozen layouts, which for a town that’s not had a model railway exhibit before, is quite good.”
Tasmanian layout ‘Black River’ won best layout at the event.
The club will host its next model train show at Ararat in February next year.