Currently we are enjoying our Xmas break in the South Island of NZ staying at an awesome spot called "Hanmer Springs", famous for it's thermal hot-water pools and generally a great spot - and hot hot hot (by NZ standards).

Anyway, I'm a fan of taking roads I've not traveled before but also conscious of the comfort of the passengers, in this case the awesome wife (and the two teen girls, not known for repressing their displeasure should things not go their way). One of the roads I planned to take was quite winding and an alternative was suggested by a friendly Crayfish (Lobster) seller we called in to. So I took the alternative and all went well with us passing through a quaint little country town called "Waiau" (why-ow). :-)

So we stopped for a cuppa, the girls let off some steam in the playground and we were just about to depart when I spotted a sign... "Trains" it said with arrows pointing to a small hall. What?? Damn-near missed it. Quick sprint across and in I went to be greeted immediately by a reasonable-looking Marklin (M-track) layout and an LGB layout, plus a circus-fairground style display without any trains.

Awesome, entry appeared free but I noted a donation box by the door. Naturally I summoned Nadine to take a peek and remarked right away to the two persons present my delight at finding not only a model railway but a Marklin one at that. There was a mumbled comment relating to trying to fix a problem and sadly, these two were very pre-occupied with trying to sort a problem with a turnout, and pre-occupied... and pre-occupied. Squirts into the mechanism with (possibly WD-40 or CRC) were not having the desired effect and they continued on totally ignoring the two visitors.

Nadine gave up and left but I waited almost a further full ten minutes before also leaving without a further word (a delay I might add that ended up making us too late for the last grocery store that was open on Xmas Eve). I live life on the edge making the missus miss out the last minute necessities!!

Maintenance must take place of course, and it was near the end of the day, but on the other hand they still had the sign out and this brought in two visitors (us).

Number one rule of any public display; you talk to your visitors, and above all you keep (some) trains running. A partially operating display is better than nothing. I didn't bother taking any photos in the end but the layout appeared such that at least one train could have been running without impeding the running-repairs.

Whenever I having been assisting with a display and someone begins that they already know the brand it's a perfect conversation-starter.

Honestly?, I can't imagine how often they might get a visitor through there who not only knows the brand but also connected to one of the largest Marklin-communities in the country. Needless to say we never even got to those details. I did spot a small sign indicating that the items on display may have been bequeathed and the display was being kept open in memory of that and I'd have liked to know more but sadly, they were just not interested.

Their donation box did not receive a single coin from us whereas we would have happily supported such a community endeavour.

I doubt I'd bother again with this one and in all conscience I cannot recommend the detour to anyone else. But, perhaps I just caught them on a bad-day?

Steve