Suggestions for The Great Gathering Pt 2 (October)

I headed to the NRM to see the six A4s together this past weekend. I enjoyed the couple of hours I was there - as much as the crowds on a stinking hot day allowed - but I would like to make a couple of suggestions for when the event is re-run in October:

1. Pull all the locos nearer the turntable, remove the barriers between them and the turntable pit and put barriers at the 'outsides' of the lineup - so that visitors can only view and photograph the fronts of the locos from the turntable.
With so many visitors, one of the major irritations was that so many proud parents and grandparents insisted on taking photos of their beloved offspring in front of each loco. It made manoevering around the front of the locos a real ordeal - not wanting to tread on small children lurking between the front buffers, while at the same time trying not to fall over the parent or grandparent who was kneeling down to take a photo of them, while also trying to move as quickly as possible out of the way of others taking photos.

Given the huge level of public interest in the event, I felt that here was an accident waiting to happen. While I realise the proposed solution would result in more of a scrum on the turntable, it would be a lot less hassle for a lot of visitors and mean that the risk of people treading on little kids and going 'a over t' over kneeling grand/parents is greatly reduced.

(Another advantage for many visitors would be it being a lot easier to get all six in one photo)

2. Get some merchandise made with all 6 A4s on it.
I realise that the NRM's tag for the event is Mallard 75, but I am really surprised that nobody seemed to have thought of doing any Great Gathering merchandise, especially given that the reunion of all six A4s was a big attraction and selling point.

I had a look both in the merchandise area in the Great Hall and in the museum's main shop, looking to fork out for some souvenirs which celebrated all six A4s being together. There was nothing and, therefore, I spent nothing.

By all means sell the Mallard 75 items, but why not also do a range of Great Gathering merchandise, with (as a suggestion) the proceeds to be split equally between the owners of the six locos?

 

Outrageous! How dare people try and get a treasured memory of their day out at Mallard 75. Should never be allowed.

Sorry but if you wanted "people free" photographs then you should have booked an "early bird" ticket. Those people who so irritated you had as much right to a photo as you.

 

Part of the event for me has been the electric atmosphere of people thronging the Great Hall. The practicalities of barriering off are more than at first it may seem (says he who was dragging barriers around last Tuesday night and Wednesday morning) - and also the knock on effect of access to cabs etc. Trying to balance the event between enthusiasts and general public was always going to be a hard call hence the photographic sessions.

As for the souvenirs, I will feed that back, but it was going to be difficult as the first time all 6 were together was 8am last Wednesday with people around them already and no chances for a clear photo. There may be a book/DVD but that will be after the end of the event.

 

I was there all day on a very busy Saturday & came away with some lovely photo's, all it took was a little patience. Granted there were a few people who were rather ignorant of anybody wanting to take a photo (equalled by a number of arrogant & rude photographers who thought the event was just for them), I mean people who would stand in front of he locos just chatting to one another, or checking their phones, things they could do anywhere, but I'm glad that everyone had such open access to all of the locos as it's this sort of event that will fuel interest in steam in the younger generations & thus hopefully keep things going for our continued enjoyment.
On the point of the locos being pulled further forward: yes, this would make it easier to get all 6 in one shot, but as they were it wasn't impossible from the turntable, also if they were further forward then you wouldn't be able to get some of the shots I like to get of multiple nameplates in one shot, or they'd be too close together meaning you couldn't get a side shot, all of which I was able to manage as they are.
A couple of ideas for the next event:
- for just photographers (for a small donation, pre-register & a time limit), a raised platform that's a similar height to the footbridge, erected probably in the turntable well behind the table so as not to disrupt the view from there. I found that the raised view from the footbridge offered some good views, it was just a shame it's behind the locos.
- would it be possible to open up the South Yard to the public as @ Railfest, as surely this would raise the museums capacity and minimise the queueing that we've seen. There wouldn't necessarily have to be anything in it, or there could be a small steam fair, rides etc that wouldn't take much planning and that wouldn't steal the limelight from the A4's. Also I was surprised that the shuttle line wasn't in use.
- it would have been nice if there had been better access to Oli when she was coaling up on Saturday, even if it had simply meant that the roller doors were all open with crowd barriers in place so you could get an un-interrupted view of her. I realise that this wasn't part of the event, but it was the reason why I chose Saturday as it was a nice added bonus which the museum could have capitalised on more.

 

(Sigh) I knew there would be someone who would completely miss the point of my post and jump on their keyboard of indignant outrage without bothering to read and digest the post properly.

However, for the hard of understanding, I will explain it slowly...

I am not saying that I wanted people-free photos. I'm not stupid, despite your evident (and completely misguided) opinion. If I wanted people-free pics of course I would have forked out for one of the 'early bird' tickets.

As it was, taking photos of the sheer number of people surrounding the locos was quite fun, given its comparative unusualness in a 'preserved railway' setting. It rather reminded me of the exhibition in the Thomas book The Eight Famous Engines, which I read as a young kid.

What I am saying is that it was difficult to negotiate the front of the locos - especially 60007 and 4489, which were drawn up fairly close to the turntable pit barrier - with lots of 'normals' taking photos of their kids in front of them. As I said in my post (but I will repeat), the problem was trying to keep out of the way of others taking photos, while trying not to fall over people kneeling down and weans who weren't much taller.

I can only assume that you have not been to the NRM this past week and seen the sheer mass of humanity surrounding the six A4s, Spamcan? If you had, perhaps you might not have been so quick to condemn what I believe is a fair point?

I agree and completely see the point. My suggestion is to pull the locos nearer the turntable pit, but have barriers to stop punters from falling in the turntable pit between the locos - say level with the cylinders.

That way people can still get in the cabs and around the locos, they can still photograph the nameplates and there's no falling over weans at the front. But there, on second thoughts, maybe just pushing 60007 and 4489 back a wee bit is the answer? That would prevent the likes of Spamcan from having a needless collective coronary at my expense, at least

With the Mallard 75 merchandise there are no photos on the tea towels, mugs or T-shirts. Doing those with side view drawings of the six A4s, showing the different locos, liveries and nameplate colours they are present at the NRM with, could be done pretty easily. No photography required - sorted!

 

Like what I did......well worth the money, and a somewhat surreal experience.....total silence and an occasion I'm sure I'll never see again, but a fantastic tribute to Sir Nigel Gresley and his A4s.......

 

Apart from missing the OP's health and safety point, the "early bird" tickets sold out long ago, so only people who are able to plan months ahead were able to buy them.

 

Oh dear Elf n Safetee rears its ugly head again. I'm sure the NRM has had to do pages of safety case work in preparation for this gathering and if they're happy with the number of people in the Great Hall at any one time the. I don't see the problem. As for some people not being able to plan in advance, that's life I'm afraid and you have to deal with the consequences. For the record I'm visiting on Sunday, don't have an early bird ticket but won't be bothered one iota if grandad wants to photography Little Johnny in front of Mallard. In fact I'll be delighted that so many youngsters will be getting what may be their first introduction to steam preservation and just maybe some of them will want to become involved at so e time in the future.

 

I'll be there on Tuesday, not bothered about having my own personally taken people-free shots either, the magazines and photo sites will be full of them.
A chap I spoke to at the weekend said some people were getting annoyed about others getting in the way of their shots, it's laughably unrealistic to expect clean shots at an event of this nature.
The OP is perfectly entitled to raise a safety concern though, big crowds and excitable tiny tots has accident potential.

 

Well I agree that the merchandise didn't appeal to me and came away empty handed but I did go on the first day so there wasn't much chance to get stuff with the 6 A4's on (as Anthony said) but that was the only downside for me.

But Hornby will soon be releasing their Great Gathering models which all sold out at pre-order (I pre ordered them so hopefully get them as there were only 510 of each) are due for release soon, Corgi have released models of 2509 Silver Link, 4468 and 60007 with the other 4 A4's coming out soon, I think some visitors were saying that some things were appearing with the 6 A4's on. Also Mortons Media have or are about to bring out a Mallard 75 bookazine.

But I suspect there'll be more things brought out in time for the other 2 Gatherings.

Is 60009 attending the Autumn Gathering, as I glanced at an article in Steam Railway saying she wouldn't be there as it had other arrangements for hauling a tour for the Gresley Society I think it was.

 

It's been a while since the great days of the six A4s at York. Wonderful memories though. I was just wondering whether there is any memorabilia (from postcards upwards) featuring all six locos? None was evident on my visit but that was some time ago. I will be passing close to York next week and could be persuaded to part with some hard earned cash!