Well, following on from the demise of Hattons on Monday, come Thursday, another bombshell….

Warley has been perhaps the largest model railway show in the UK for 30 years.  It’s always debatable whether it’s been the best – that is down to personal taste – but it has always had a wonderful cross-section of our hobby with some fine layouts in all gauges and scales, and a broad selection of the modelling trade.

I commented on RMweb:

Perhaps it’s in order to again thank both Hattons and Warley for their integrity and transparency in handling these major decisions. We can only wish them well, as both have made a significant contribution to our hobby.

This is probably not the place for too much analysis of these events.  They are very different.  One will have people looking for work in an area with significant unemployment.  The other will have Warley club members wondering what to do with all their spare time!  I have been sad to see comment on the lines of, “It wasn’t as good as it used to be.”  Nothing stays the same and I’m sure that both Hattons and Warley improved in some ways over the years, but probably also slipped a little in others.  That’s life.

Perhaps what can be said about Warley is how model railway exhibitions seem to be changing.  I tihnk that there are a number of factors involved.

1. The aging profile of the hobby.  This is partly physical capability, but not everything – most of my exhibition organisation is done over a red-hot keyboard.  Perhaps more significant is the way that the current generation are less inclined to get involved in clubs, and take responsibility.  This is not a criticism of individuals – it’s just the way society seems to have gone.  We have replaced the corporate with individualism.  And it’s not just model railways.  All clubs and societies are finding it more difficult to recruit volunteers.  I find the same at our church.
2. Covid has had an effect on shows.  Perhaps we all got out of the habit of attending?  I certainly go to less than I used to.  And the availability of venues has decreased, and their costs often increased.  With certain exceptions, the trend seems to be towards large commercial shows, and smaller club or specialist shows.  Nothing wrong with that, as there were probably far too many model railway exhibitions in the calendar – you’d see the same layouts week after week.  Some I’d be delighted to have another look at, others I’d just walk on by.
3. Finally maybe the cost of living.  Prices have shot up, for living essentials as well as model trains.  However, I did see an analysis that suggested that the cost of the hobby was relatively similar in the 1970’s.  Perhaps the difference was that in those days we were happy with a small branch line, rather than a train of 20 ballast hoppers.  And we tended to make things out of brass and cardboard.   

 That’s enough random thoughts.  I did however like one comment on a forum:

The biggest loss of course will be felt by non visiting foamers regarding back packs, soap marketing gurus and the well regarded car park team.