London Festival of Railway Modelling - Ally Pally - 27/28th March

[gwrrob]

Hi guys,

 

I'll be travelling down by rail Tomorrow on a booked ticket.... First GW HST from Cardiff to Padd, then I need to get to Kings Cross BR station for a connecting service to Alexandra Pallace...

 

However I now see that some Tube lines are having engineering work carried out.... Does anyone have any advice on what I should do, I see A replacement bus service is running but I couldn't find out if kings Cross was affected.

 

 

Thanks in advance for any help guys...

 

 

Cheers.

 

Get on the tube at Kings Cross and take the Picadilly line to Wood Green.Theres a free shuttle bus from there to AP.

[The Stationmaster]

Typical Underground 'service' this weekend I am afraid:

 

No service whatsoever on the Victoria and Circle Lines

No Hammersmith & City between Hammersmith and Baker Street

No District Line Earl's Court to Edgware Road

No Metropolitan Moorgate to Aldgate

 

For Paddington to King's Cross you can either try Bakerloo to Baker Street then Met to King's Cross or Bakerloo to Picadilly Circus then Picadilly to either King's Cross or on further to Wood Green and then free bus or W3 bus to Alexandra Palace.

 

Unfortunately with all these closures which are now getting beyond a joke quite frankly, there is some serious overcrowding occurring which if it anything like the last time I experience the system on a Saturday with these sort of works on effectively made the Underground unusable.

 

As a result (plus an early start on Monday) I have decided to tear up my advance purchase ticket and not bother going after all.

 

In the end I did the same (but fortunately didn't have an advanced ticket to bin ). After a week with a grotty cold I wasn't fit for an early start on Saturday and as I then considered how long - and how much messing about - it would take to get there I dropped the idea.

 

Didn't fancy driving it today so the diesel will remain in the tank for a trip west on 10 or 11 April (thank you Mr Endacott ).

[St. Simon]

Hi,

 

I went to Ally Pally yesterday (Saturday), we drove instead of taking the train, as we usually do. We decided do go early was we had a chance of getting a space, and we did!

 

Both dad and I agreed that the layouts were all of superb quality, but those in the main hall were lost in amongest the traders. We thought that it would be better to have all the layouts in the West Hall and the traders in the Grand Hall. I was a bit disappointed that there were hardly any really Modern Image layouts, I found one (by the Bachmann stand), but the rest were 'Blue & Grey', which I have no interest in.

 

In Terms of traders, there was a large selection and variety, but it would of been better if people like Comet, Parkside Dundas and 247 were there.

 

All in all it was a good day, but because of the reasons outlined above, I'm seriously doubting going next year

 

Simon

[Trevellan]

Hi,

 

...the layouts were all of superb quality, but those in the main hall were lost in amongst the traders....hardly any really Modern Image layouts.

 

All in all it was a good day, but because of the reasons outlined above, I'm seriously doubting going next year

 

Simon

 

I agree with the comments above. Some fantastic layouts, but my feeling is that in general the overall show was not quite as good as last year. Mostyn was nice, but there was nothing in the Blackmill mould, so my nephew missed out on a nice modern DCC sound layout. However, he was mightily impressed by the large scale layout in the West Hall which was an esoteric mix of LGB-style stock, plus some live steam and beautifully chunky models of metre-gauge prototypes.

 

Once again the poor standard and mix of catering was a concern and we even found it difficult to find a place to sit down for a breather. LFoRM is a great show, but I doubt if I'll be visiting next year. Too much hassle getting there and too much when you do!

[Ian J.]

In comment re the difficulties getting to Ally Pally this year, the biggest problems with the tube and overground systems at the moment is they are all being intensely concentrated on to make them fit for the 2012 Olympics. Now I'm not against the Olympics (quite the reverse) and welcome the upgrading work being done to the railway systems, but the sheer scale of the efforts being put in, all at the same time, are making weekend travel in London notoriously bad at the moment. This is likely to go on for at least another full year, more likely two, so it's unlikely the AP show will be 'easy' to get to until the 2013 event.

[Coombe Barton]

... been better if people like Comet, Parkside Dundas and 247 were there.

Can they afford the fees to go to a show like this? Or rather, is it profitable for them or would they make just as much with lower sales and lower costs? Specialist shows like ExpoEM (yes, declare an interest as I'm a member) http://www.emgs.org/ at Bracknell cost them much less to go and they're in the company of specilaist traders and specilaist buyers. I'll be going there and also to ExpoEM North to see some of the same guys.

[Chrisr40]

Hi

 

a few random pics from the saturday at Ally Pally - thanks to the layout owners for letting me take them, to the organisers for putting on the show and particularly to the very kind gentleman who showed my son how to make model trees for his layout - I apologise for forgetting your name but if you read this Im sure you will know who you are.

 

Chris

[pirouets]

Had a very enjoyable day there, and probably spent more time in the West Hall bit oggling at Mostyn, Wibbenshaw, Crumly & Wickhill, and the 2mm scale collery layout, plus all bar one of the traders I bought from were in the hall.

 

The other 2 that I enjoyed an got chatting to the team that ran them were the Frank Dyer layouts, Borchester and the other one I cannot remember. (Program is in the car) As well as the layouts, to be able to see the supporting documents they have for Borchester gave a really good insite in to the creation process.

 

I've only been a couple of times in 8 years, so cannot really comment against past years.

 

Roll on Bristol at the end of the month.

[Coombe Barton]

Can they afford the fees to go to a show like this?

Having said that, Comet and 247 are at York. It's physically impossible to go to every show.

[Trainshed Terry]

Hi

 

a few random pics from the saturday at Ally Pally - thanks to the layout owners for letting me take them, to the organisers for putting on the show and particularly to the very kind gentleman who showed my son how to make model trees for his layout - I apologise for forgetting your name but if you read this Im sure you will know who you are.

 

Chris

 

I do wish people learn to rotate images by 90 degrees as it dose tend to put a crick in ones neck.

 

Good Photos though.

 

Terry

[PhilH]

I do wish people learn to rotate images by 90 degrees as it dose tend to put a crick in ones neck.

 

You don't have to look at them......

[micklner]

Some [pictures from today. The show wasnt particularly busy while is was there. I much prefered the layouts at St Albans a while ago. Met Tony Wright on the BRM Stand nice chap and bought his excellent LNER Pacific book.

 

Copenhagen Fields a vast layout in which the locos are "lost" due the distance from the viewing point and most of the track is in a cuttiing. Superb modelling of the buildings

 

 

 

Latest on Hornby and Bachmann Stands of the L1 B17 28xx and the ROD and A2

 

 

The best layout at the show in O gauge in my opinion

 

 

A couple of nice American HO layouts

 

 

Mick

[andyrush]

Excellent show !

 

I spent nearly all day there and was very pleased to find no less than three largish layouts being properly operated (Mostyn, Wibdenshaw and a big US H0 roundy roundy), a couple of superb scenic layouts with rather less in the way of operating potentional (Copenhagen Fields and Gordon Gravett's magnum opus).

 

The rest of the 4mm and above (N gauge branch lines don't do it for me !) were only of passing interest (5 minutes apiece) and a lot were characterised by either rubbish design, operating or standard of running - and in several cases all three..!

 

But to find five layouts at an exhibition to suit my tastes was bliss !

 

Next exposure to exhibitions is on the other side of a layout at Melksham....

 

Regards

 

Andy

[Redkiterail]

Got back from the show just to say that all the layouts that were there would not fit in the west hall as well as people missing the trade stands and not making the show profitable or economic sound

[Redkiterail]

I agree with the comments above. Some fantastic layouts, but my feeling is that in general the overall show was not quite as good as last year. Mostyn was nice, but there was nothing in the Blackmill mould, so my nephew missed out on a nice modern DCC sound layout. However, he was mightily impressed by the large scale layout in the West Hall which was an esoteric mix of LGB-style stock, plus some live steam and beautifully chunky models of metre-gauge prototypes.

 

Once again the poor standard and mix of catering was a concern and we even found it difficult to find a place to sit down for a breather. LFoRM is a great show, but I doubt if I'll be visiting next year. Too much hassle getting there and too much when you do!

 

Seats were available in the corners of the great hall and some at the back of west hall centenary park road did run some sound locomotives on Saturday and on Sunday we had a sound deltic for a while

[Highlandman]

Had a great day at Ally Pally today. Arrived early and was able to pleasantly stroll around without to many crowds. A little disappointed at the lack of some specialist suppliers but what was there was excellent. Many thanks to DCC Supplies for their help in choosing two chips for my new locos, and suppling them. ( Bachmann 57xx and Collett Goods).

 

The layouts were great. Mostyn, Wipers, Borchester Market and Wibdenshaw stood out. It's always good to see Borchester Market as I remember Frank Dyer exhibiting it at Central Hall many years ago.

 

As always spent to much money and will no have to work extra hard to keep 'er indoors happy.

[Trevellan]

Thanks redkiterail - I was alert enough to spot the seats in the corners - all occupied, with lots of people sitting on the floor. I fully appreciate the effort required to put on a show of this standard and my feedback was intended to be constructive. There's always something that can be done better and small details (like 50+ extra chairs) often make a difference to the visitor experience.

[roythebus]

Speaking as one who has helped in organising the erstwhile MRC exhibitions at Central Hall, Wembley and the Horticultural Halls, I think i, like andy rush, can speak with some experience.

 

My trip from Ashford International to the Hall took under an hour, including the walk up the hill from the BR station! The joys of the 10:12 Javelin, then the 10:56 KX to Ally Pally!

 

I find the admission fee quite realistic considering the cost of putting on such a show, full marks to the organisers and the MRC on that. the choice of layouts was good; traders likewise, though I couldn't find anyone doing bits like nickel silver strip which I needed for as project.

 

The operating standards of some layouts still leaves something to be desired. i was a bit disappointed by the apparent lack of operation on Borchester, sorry chaps, but I used to help Frank run this at home years ago, and remember the layout from the good old days. Cemetary Park, formerly Keengate was not very good at all, with nothing running every time I saw it, loads of button pushing on the DCC controller, but nowt happening, then when it did, it was a wrong road move at full speed. 

 

Complaint about lack of British N gauge? I know Copenhagan Fields is 2mm fine scale but, surely that's near enough to British n gauge (sorry Tim!). I particularly liked the French layout, very good attention to detail and something different, the Wipers line, again attention to detail; the Sherwood clockwork o gauge, complete with working wooden track in the fiddle yards, brilliant. You could only do it with clockwork. The blue era BR layouts were all good, and WORKED. Too often I go to shows and nothing moves; if that is so, so do I, to another layout where things move. That is what I pay for.

 

As for DCC layout, some work, others seem to have the operators fiddling with buttons for ages. Are these things over complex for what we need? Yeh, I know the sound effects and lights are good, but cab control works just as well without all the fiddling about. Like a good rock band or orchestra, you nee dloads of practice away from the exhibition to get it right.

 

Catering, well, they done a very nice steak and mushroom pie for lunch, loads of seating there and reasonable prices considering it was an exhibition centre; beer was cheaper than tea at £3 as pint, and tea at £1.40 a cup (1/4 pint)!

[Redkiterail]

Re Centenary Park Road Considering that the layout leader took the project on from November. At in relation to the operation if certain MRC members dont provide ablib comments about previous experience with keengate certain operating procedures like the use of computer control.

 

Would be have been use which avoided the problem design in bottlenecks on the corner and allowed great range of train movements of course its always better just two trains since the punter cant not be asked to wait a 1min- 2min for the route to setup and clear I did not know that network rail operate the points motors at 125mph, plus I dont remember new addington being ready in 6 months. If you like to share your expert opinion your more that welcome to we dont mind advice as long its done with respect. Perhaps we should not have a 4mm modern image layout since the young members who are prepared to work cant be do it to pendon standards sorry I am not prepare to work my whole life on one layout and be treated as a lower class member just because I am prepare to get my hands dirty.

From

Samuel Bennett MRC Member and worker on Centenary Park Road

[Revolution Mike]

Complaint about lack of British N gauge? I know Copenhagan Fields is 2mm fine scale but, surely that's near enough to British n gauge (sorry Tim!).

 

Well if you think OO and EM are the same then perhaps you will agree, but either way there was shockingly little 2mm or N at the show (particularly compared to the amount of O gauge).

 

The blue era BR layouts were all good, and WORKED. Too often I go to shows and nothing moves; if that is so, so do I, to another layout where things move. That is what I pay for.

 

It always puzzles me when people say that - trains moving is obviously integral to what we go for, but observing some of the fine modelling on display can be just as rewarding (if not more so). With some of the best layouts you don't need a train flying past every minute to be thoroughly absorbed and entertained.

 

As for DCC layout, some work, others seem to have the operators fiddling with buttons for ages. Are these things over complex for what we need? Yeh, I know the sound effects and lights are good, but cab control works just as well without all the fiddling about. Like a good rock band or orchestra, you nee dloads of practice away from the exhibition to get it right.

 

Who wants all the fiddling with switches when you can have full route automation ;-p

[David Bigcheeseplant]

I was working on the Wild Swan stand all weekend, I didn't get to look around till the Sunday, and was disapointed with the lack of finescale traders, I needed some MJT buffers but there was not one trader that had them, there was no Eileens and the general things I need to stock up I could not get.

 

As for the lack of N gauge layouts, as Andy C has said there really are very few I would consider worth looking at, although I did like the 2mm stuff that was at the show, I managed to book the 2mm Collery layout for a future Railex.

 

David

[Pinkmouse]

Samuel, could you please add some punctuation to your post, it's very hard to tell what you're trying to say.

[Redkiterail]

Pinkmouse does my edit help sorry to the mods and andy if i went to close to the line in the sand but I wont have a layout worked on publically bashed by a fellow member and I will be adding some pics later after coursework is done.

[Revolution Mike]

As for the lack of N gauge layouts, as Andy C has said there really are very few I would consider worth looking at, although I did like the 2mm stuff that was at the show, I managed to book the 2mm Collery layout for a future Railex.

 

Well as a starter how about:

 

Basingstoke

Law Junction

Stoney Lane Depot

Dragonby (ex Acton Mainline)

Moorcock Junction (though I believe Moorcock may be in storage at the moment)

Kinlet Wharf

Shaweport

Castle Cary

St Denys

Daleside Parkway

Holmbury Jn

Grange over sands

 

I know that some of those eg Stoney Lane Depot have been to Ally Pally recently, but others have never been. Apart from Basingstoke and Moorcock Jn those are all modern image layouts. Someone more knowledgable than me could add steam layouts of equal/better quality.

 

Cheers

 

Mike

[298]

 

Complaint about lack of British N gauge? I know Copenhagan Fields is 2mm fine scale but, surely that's near enough to British n gauge (sorry Tim!).

 

 

Well if you think OO and EM are the same then perhaps you will agree, but either way there was shockingly little 2mm or N at the show (particularly compared to the amount of O gauge).

 

 

I've noticed this worrying trend, after another recent show a similar comment was made that there only one British N gauge layout present, which completely ignored the fact there were two 2mm ones plus all of the other British layouts in the more popular scales. Are punters getting so insular that they won't even consider looking at other gauges within their own modelling scale, which seems odd when in many cases it isn't readily apparent what the gauge actually is...!!