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Yesterday was the 2024 Narrow Gauge North Exhibition at the Pudsey Civic Hall and I attended, as usual, with the EDM Models trade stand.

It was a excellent show by all account but because I was there on my own I only glimpsed bits of it (mostly on trips to/from the loo).  What was great was to catch up with customers and spend much of the day just talking.

It was the memories feature on Facebook that reminded me that I didn’t take any photographs during the day hence the image of our stand from 2018.

For some excellent pictures of the show I can recommend you have a look at my mate Panda’s blog “Rails in the Melyn Valley” here.

I did deliver the first two of the production 014 converted Lionheart Lynton and Barnstaple Railway 2-6-2’s.

In the run up to the show there was a lot of gloom as Leeds Clowncil proposed a load of cuts to deal with a budget shortfall and amidst claims that the Civic Hall made a loss it was down for closure or being flogged off.

There was considerable outcry which prompted a closer look at the claims. It would seem that there is hope as the detail seems to suggest that the Hall makes a profit but is lumped in with the large adjacent two part car park as a business unit and, post covid, with the lower attendance at in the neighbouring businesses the car park isn’t the money spinner it was. Add to that its only underperforming if you judge it by the same returns criteria as a city centre car park. Apparently it is to be reviewed in June but they need to be decisive or it will become a self fulfilling set up as the hall can only “pencil you in” for next year rather than take bookings.

One advantage for me of Narrow Gauge North is that its local and I was home by 18:20 but still twelve hours from when I set off.  At the time of typing the stock is still in the car as its chucked it down all day.