Thanks for the show guide link.

Stand GG looks worth a visit, and so conveniently close to the entrance

The most knowledgeable source of information regarding silver soldering and brazing for the model engineer is there.

Just ask Glen or Shaun on the CuP Alloys stand.

Regards to all

Keith

Mick, A friend of mine drives from Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk, to Kings Lyn to catch a train down which saves him money could you not drive to Peterborough. I can beat your cousin, I live near Sandy, Beds and its £9 return on Saturday.

Martin P.

A few decades ago our club used to arrange a bus up to the midlands show. About five years ago we just managed to fill a minibus to get to the Bristol show which had curiosity value as only a few had been before. Now it is difficult to get people to man the club stand even with free entrance.

In some areas of the country, eg midlands,  it might still be possible to get several clubs together to fill a bus which seems the best hope for both modellers and exhibitions. Unfortunately if left to a commercial operator the profit motive would just whack the price up to the train level.

Edited By Bazyle on 14/01/2019 13:35:25

Mick H – I don't know the geography, but I am thinking that you have to change trains somewhere. Sometimes the cost can be reduced by buying 2 return tickets – ie split the journey somewhere. Or drive to Peterborough ?

How about starting a thread for a lift if anyone is going from your area? Costs to be shared or whatever arrangement could be made.

Mike

Buying cheap railway tickets is a right game – since privatisation it's got so complicated I get my daughter to do it.

First thing to understand is there isn't a single simple ticket system like that once operated by British Rail. Instead there are a multitude of offers that you have to find and buy at a particular time from a particular vendor, usually online. The lady you spoke to wasn't able to sell you those cheap tickets, only the expensive ones on her system.

Privatisation replaced BR with several companies who each have to make a profit. The intent was that competition would force prices down. The trouble starts because the railway system is packed at peak times on most commuter routes. There are no spare seats. Therefore no bargains and anyone who has to travel at busy times pays peak rate.

Cheap tickets are available for those prepared to travel off-peak, or to those in a position to take advantage of railway companies miscalculating demand and scheduling too many trains – usually weekends and holidays, or because rolling stock has to be distributed around the system. Cheap tickets might be sold direct to individuals by a railway company, but more likely they are sold in bulk to third-parties who sell them on to punters, usually online.

Travellers are most likely to get good prices on routes not used by commuters by booking months in advance, by travelling at anti-social times, and by searching repeatedly for better prices. Bargains sometimes pop up close to the day and are offered cheap to avoid a total loss. It ain't straightforward.

I find the system highly annoying – it penalises people who don't play the game, or know there is a game to be played. Joining in requires imagination as well as persistence, for example recently the cheapest way to travel first class to London from Bristol was to buy first class Eurostar to Brussels and get off the train early. Second class, it used to be cheaper to buy a ticket from Bristol to Reading, and another to cover Reading to Paddington. About 20% cheaper than a through ticket on the same train…

The most expensive way of travelling by rail is to buy a ticket from the guard on the train (DON'T!), next most expensive is to buy one at the station on the day, third most expensive to ask the staff to find their cheapest option. How helpful staff are depends on the size of the queue behind you!

How about a coach? They tend to be more competitive, though the journey will be less comfortable and take longer. Bristol to London on the motorway is OK, but Boston to London might be exhausting.

Dave

A friend of mine used to regularly return travel to Euston from Wellingborough, it cost £98 return until he found that if he bought two tickets, Wellingborough to Bedford and Bedford to Euston return was around £60, same train just didnt get off, unfortunately the Midland trains dont stop at Bedford anymore so he drives to Bedford and goes by train from there.

Martin P

p.s. he lives in Rushden

Anyone going in that direction from Boston?

Mick

Went to the show today, a fair amount of the usual traders were there so made a few purchases. The Steampunk display was amusing with a radio controlled R2D2 running around. I like steampunk style but although I could manage the engineering the art part is not something I’m good at. A reasonable day out.

Mike

I haven't been to the show for a couple of years, definitely smaller and a lot of model boats some were superb. I didn't have a shopping list picked up a few files. What made it an enjoyable day was meeting up,with old friends

I went today too. I generally agree that it felt a little thin. Quite a few dealers I expected to be there were absent. I probably spent the least I've ever spent at any show. I also left earlier than any previous year. Made up for it by dropping in to Hannant's near the RAF Museum in Hendon on the way home to top up my "fix" for the day.