Hold the dates

[PJW]

Is the answer to get the study weekend dates fixed in the diary well in advance - before leaving this year's event?

I suggest:  Propose a date a year before, review it in February (is it still convenient for enough people), then get on with planning and publicity.

We can give it a go; we did do that once but for some reason didn't continue.  Certainly worth doing for 2018 as there is an additional constraint for me.

Weekend of 24th June is the formal reopening of Swindon panel and we have Francis How booked to do the honours.  In fact we are aiming to make it a special signalling weekend at Great Western Society Didcot and aim to arrange quite a signalling gathering.  The IRSE Minor Railways section will be holding their AGM and we are expecting to have quite a few come to the "bring a bit of signalling" party; we should have the Crowley Bridge simulator from the Romsey signalbox group, Birmingham university, the computer demo that is being developed to take into schools in association with the IRSE and hoping for Signet etc.   
We have also acquired the ex NR mechanical signalbox signaller's training simulator that used to be at Redhill from the Bluebell Railway and no idea if it'll work if we connect it all together again.

Not only does that occupy a weekend at the relevant time of year  but there is quite a bit of organisation to do for the event which will conflict.  Indeed Swindon panel is a few thousand wires short of a commissioning at present and once we have done all that soldering we'll really find out how good the correlation and computer data turns out to be- so there is a lot to do over the next year.................and that's not counting the day job and the mountain being made out of a molehill in east Manchester.

[Jerry1237]

As we're drifting off-topic, but onto something wonderful, i.e. Didcot and the Swindon Panel there, may make a huge effort to come to that. Is it open to all? The GWS base at Didcot is a wonderful place to visit. Proper gauge Fire Fly (7' 1/4") and plenty of "narrow gauge" GWR rolling stock. A wonderful museum reminding us of a Great Western world as was. The TPO demonstration is also excellent if you've never seen it.

On-topic: appreciate the dates were difficult but some pre-planning dates and fixing dates without being concerned about when the results are out is probably more profitable than waiting then being overly limited with choices. Would it also be worth considering two events (maybe only for M1/7). One in the south, the other more northerly?

As Dorothy said, many thanks to the organisers and those who volunteer their time for the betterment of others.

[PJW]

As we're drifting off-topic, but onto something wonderful, i.e. Didcot and the Swindon Panel there, may make a huge effort to come to that. Is it open to all? The GWS base at Didcot is a wonderful place to visit. Proper gauge Fire Fly (7' 1/4") and plenty of "narrow gauge" GWR rolling stock. A wonderful museum reminding us of a Great Western world as was. The TPO demonstration is also excellent if you've never seen it.

On-topic: appreciate the dates were difficult but some pre-planning dates and fixing dates without being concerned about when the results are out is probably more profitable than waiting then being overly limited with choices. Would it also be worth considering two events (maybe only for M1/7). One in the south, the other more northerly?

As Dorothy said, many thanks to the organisers and those who volunteer their time for the betterment of others.

Well we have more or less done what Dorothy suggested and Tom Corker is doing a grand job trying to coordinate the disparate parties for the Signet event.  Flyer in the next IRSE News, but also here: https://irseexam.co.uk/thread-2254-post-...ml#pid6897

The Didcot GWS Signalling Gala will be open to
a) any member of the public who pays the admission charge to the centre,
b) an exhibitor who is bringing a bit of signalling to contribute to the party,
c) those people who book to attend the IRSE Minor Railways section visit and AGM on 23rd June, which includes some extra perks like exclusive access to the new "Signalling the Trains" building before Francis How formally opens it to the public.  Flyer for this also coming in IRSE NEWS, but the following issue I believe.

There is absolutely no reason why events could not be held in multiple places; however last year the total number of candidates worldwide for mod1 was 44 and for mod 7 was 18, so let's not get carried away.  Agreed the events can serve more than the immediate candidates.  However there are only so many weekends and we have enough difficulty fitting in a schedule as it is; also I personally am just about max'ed out on the amount I can / willing to do, so it'll need someone else to step up to the plate.