'Tour the South West with awesome Scalextric train set'

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the First Great Western press release:

Tour the South West with awesome Scalextric train set: Video

First Great Western is taking a model train set on tour to showcase the great destinations and amazing attractions on offer across the South West.

Enjoy in the dramatic scenery of the Clifton Suspension Bridge or whizz past the National Assembly for Wales^ Senedd building, as you conscientiously drive a train through undulating landscape and have your time recorded on a score board. 

Tour the South West with awesome Scalextric train set video here. Have a go yourself at the Devon County Show from Thursday 22 May to Saturday 24 May or at the Bath and West Show from Wednesday 28 May to Saturday 31.

First Great Western Campaign Manager Jamie Anderson said: ^Supporting our Be a Great Westerner advertising campaign, this model showcases the entire Great Western network and helps to remind people of some of the beautiful attractions available on our own doorstep. But, not only that, it also brings back childhood memories of setting up the Scalextric on the sitting room floor and is great fun.^

The interactive model invites people to join the ^First Great Western Challenge^ and try their hand at driving a First Great Western-branded train along the track to see who can make it around the track in the best time.

The concept was created by Blackjack Promotions and the agency will also provide a dedicated team of staff to help at First Great Western sponsored events this summer.

Holly Neufville, Account Director, Blackjack Promotions, says: ^The aim with this bespoke First Great Western track is to bring something fun and interactive for guests to enjoy at these events, all the while capturing customer data, to help customers better take advantage of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) offers, in the process.^

The Scalextric model tour complements Monday^s launch of our latest ^Be a Great Westerner^ multi-media advertising campaign, which will see a ^6 million investment in TV, print and online advertising promoting travel to the South West, managed by MEC Manchester.

[Red Squirrel]

I've watched the YouTube vid - a few minutes of my life which sadly I can't get back; but can anyone explain to me why on Earth the so-called 'train set' has what I assume is supposed to be a Class 43 running on Scalextric track - and on the bang road (thanks, BNM) for some of the way, to boot? All I could think was that someone had got the wrong idea after watching locos going for maintenance during the Dawlish blockade...

The dreadful vid can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7-OS89y5t8

[JayMac]

I echo those thoughts Red Squirrel.

Was it beyond the wit of the advertising execs to commission and build a landscape and railway using, oh I don't know, some OO^▸ ((Double O) - model railway, 4mm to 1 foot scale) gauge? It's not perfect for reproducing scale, but it'd've been a darn site better than sticking a god awful representation of a Class 43 on some Scalextric track.

One word for what I've just watched. Naff.

[Ollie]

I've watched the YouTube vid - a few minutes of my life which sadly I can't get back;

You watched it 3 times?

Would have been nice to see them use Hornby or something, but I think it's still nicely done

[JayMac]

Sorry Ollie. Cant agree with 'nicely done'.

To add to 'naff' I'll also say, 'shockingly inept'.

[Red Squirrel]

Was it really only 1.03? Seemed longer...

[Brucey]

Are FGW^▸ (First Great Western) planning on removing passenger coaches from their HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)?  That is all I learned from the video.

[bobm]

I wonder what the budget was to produce it?

[Surrey 455]

Are FGW^▸ (First Great Western) planning on removing passenger coaches from their HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)?  That is all I learned from the video.

Perhaps they got the idea from BNM's signature.  

Is it just me or did that "train" look like a blue version of Postman Pats van?

[Rhydgaled]

I agree with those who cannot understand why a locomotive on a Scalextric track was used. Hornby and Scalextric are even parts of the same company I believe, so why didn't they use Hornby rather than Scalextric? (I think Hornby do their IC125 model in FirstGW's Dynamic Lines livery also). The track-guage of 00-guage may be to an incorrect scale compared to the rolling stock, but it's close enough that I don't notice it. I've seen photos of 00-guage models that look like real-life at first glance.

[plymothian]

They had this at the Devon County Show.
Apparently they were having technical difficulties in getting the track working.
Art imitating life