SWAG '25

[Flaxfield]

Afternoon all,

SWAG'25 is taking place on Sunday 6th April 2025, 10am - 4....ish.

Full details are here

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/189603-swag25-sunday-6th-april-2025/#elControls_5688021_menu

Rob.

 

[Flaxfield]

Evening all,

A gentle reminder that SWAG is now four weeks this coming Sunday......

 

[Flaxfield]

Morning all,

A reminder then that we are SEVEN days away from opening the doors to SWAG'25.



It will be lovely to meet up with some of the Western Thunder crowd so do come along.

Rob

 

[Flaxfield]

Morning all,

For the information of anyone who might be travelling to SWAG, please note, National Grid are digging big holes in Staplegrove Road which means traffic is being disrupted.

Urgent National Grid works needed on A358 Staplegrove Road

Drivers urged to plan ahead with one-way system needed on key route into town

www.somerset.gov.uk

Expect delays and plan accordingly.

Rob

 

[-7007-]

Morning all,

For the information of anyone who might be travelling to SWAG, please note, National Grid are digging big holes in Staplegrove Road which means traffic is being disrupted.

Urgent National Grid works needed on A358 Staplegrove Road

Drivers urged to plan ahead with one-way system needed on key route into town

www.somerset.gov.uk

Expect delays and plan accordingly.

Rob

Passed the hall last night. Road was back to normal.

Tim

 

[Flaxfield]

Passed the hall last night. Road was back to normal.

Tim

Hi Tim,

Thank you. Good news. I shall update accordingly. Just the M5 South of Bridgewater to negotiate ( those of us travelling pre 08.30 ).

Hopefully see you at SWAG ?

Rob.

 

[-7007-]

Hi Tim,

Thank you. Good news. I shall update accordingly. Just the M5 South of Bridgewater to negotiate ( those of us travelling pre 08.30 ).

Hopefully see you at SWAG ?

Rob.

Yes, I plan on being there.

 

[Flaxfield]

Well, SWAG is done and I'm now in the admin phase.

It went well and it was good to see a few Western Thunders there, Tim and Chris to name but two.

It was a lovely relaxed day. Much standing about chatting trains and catching up with old friends and making new ones.

Here are a few photos....

 

[Flaxfield]

 

[Flaxfield]

I'll post some more over the next couple of days.

 

[paulc]

Okay , I'll be the bunny . What/who/was/is 'Swag' .
At a guess ' South Wales Area Group ' , shopping with aunty grace , she who as gout ???

 

[Alan]

South West Area Group?

 

[Flaxfield]

Okay , I'll be the bunny . What/who/was/is 'Swag' .
At a guess ' South Wales Area Group ' , shopping with aunty grace , she who as gout ???

Hi Paul,

SWAG is the Members day put on each year by members of the South West Area Group of RmWeb, hence the link on the opening post to the main thread on RmWeb. Started by Tim Maddocks, who was helped to get things going by the late and much missed Andy York, back in 2008.
Now in it's 17th year ( we missed one in 2021 due to the ongoing restrictions at the time ), it's a small show which is really more of a social occasion. I assumed responsibility for the organising side in 2022, following in the footsteps of Tim, who organised it for it's first ten years, then Stu Hilton who took it on after Tim. I'm just a small part of a great team who look after the catering and the bring and buy.

It's only promoted on RmWeb, here and by way of word of mouth...... it's also free to enter. We simply ask for donations to keep us going and rely on the proceeds from the catering and a percentage from sales on the bring and buy stall.

Very relaxed, very friendly and I like to think it's how a nice day out for railway modellers should be.

That's pretty much it really.

Rob

 

[timbowales]

Hi Paul,

SWAG is the Members day put on each year by members of the South West Area Group of RmWeb, hence the link on the opening post to the main thread on RmWeb. Started by Tim Maddocks, who was helped to get things going by the late and much missed Andy York, back in 2008.
Now in it's 17th year ( we missed one in 2021 due to the ongoing restrictions at the time ), it's a small show which is really more of a social occasion. I assumed responsibility for the organising side in 2022, following in the footsteps of Tim, who organised it for it's first ten years, then Stu Hilton who took it on after Tim. I'm just a small part of a great team who look after the catering and the bring and buy.

It's only promoted on RmWeb, here and by way of word of mouth...... it's also free to enter. We simply ask for donations to keep us going and rely on the proceeds from the catering and a percentage from sales on the bring and buy stall.

Very relaxed, very friendly and I like to think it's how a nice day out for railway modellers should be.

That's pretty much it really.

Rob

If only there were something like that in South West Wales

 

[Mike Walker]

Well...

 

[timbowales]

Of course it would require a different name to differentiate it from Taunton SWAG
Gwrp Ardel y De Orllewin = GADO ?

 

[NewportRod]

How come you can never find the Hoffi emoji when you want it?

 

[NewportRod]

I was really disappointed to miss SWAG this year, but I had totally empty my brownie account preparing for and taking my train set to NewGOG the day before. I’ve heard of reports that it was a good show so I’ll try and arrange my affairs better next year.

 

[paulc]

Hi Paul,

SWAG is the Members day put on each year by members of the South West Area Group of RmWeb, hence the link on the opening post to the main thread on RmWeb. Started by Tim Maddocks, who was helped to get things going by the late and much missed Andy York, back in 2008.
Now in it's 17th year ( we missed one in 2021 due to the ongoing restrictions at the time ), it's a small show which is really more of a social occasion. I assumed responsibility for the organising side in 2022, following in the footsteps of Tim, who organised it for it's first ten years, then Stu Hilton who took it on after Tim. I'm just a small part of a great team who look after the catering and the bring and buy.

It's only promoted on RmWeb, here and by way of word of mouth...... it's also free to enter. We simply ask for donations to keep us going and rely on the proceeds from the catering and a percentage from sales on the bring and buy stall.

Very relaxed, very friendly and I like to think it's how a nice day out for railway modellers should be.

That's pretty much it really.

Rob

Thanks Rob , is this a group that also meets up weekly , monthly or just annually?

 

[Flaxfield]

Thanks Rob , is this a group that also meets up weekly , monthly or just annually?

Morning Paul,

It's an annual get together drawn mainly from the South West ( and South Wales this year ). However, in previous years we've had layouts from Derbyshire, Cheshire and Yorkshire to name but three far flung corners of the Empire.

2026 is already pretty much planned and booked. I'll post full details this coming Nov/Dec though I will drop the date for next year's day out once I've finished the admin from this year's show, probably this coming Sunday if I apply myself.

There are still a stack of photos to come from Jamie Warne who each year does a fantastic job of photographing the day.

Rob