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Glad you all enjoyed it. I spent most of the weekend operating Maiden Lane as well as the clubs own layout Highbridge Road.

In answer to the above questions of will we do it again:

The Mega Modelex was a 1 off show and the first club show using the Melksham venue. We had just about 900 people through the door, we really needed a 1000 to break even so unless we get some sponsorship etc we are unlikely to do it again.

In future Trainwest (which was held in Chippenham previously) will be held in the same venue in Melksham. The Melksham venue provides better facilities than Chippenham in terms of sufficient car parking and improved catering.

 

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The problem is in terms of attracting visitors peoples interests are so diverse that you need a large number of layouts to keep all the punters happy. Bigger layouts means less choice in the same space. For example we had no N gauge Layouts or Narrow Gauge UK layouts there.

My personal preference as a viewer and an operator is for a layout where you have shunting and operational interest. Highbridge road which was at Melksham is a simple double track main line, no points at all on the scenic section. It is popular with our younger members especially because it allows them to run long trains at fast speeds, whereas my personal favourite club layout is Pengwynn Crossing because of the shunting potential. I am sure I am not alone with this view so potentially the big layout tag which was attractive to most visitor, potentially turned some people off who prefer shunting etc.