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The London Festival of Railway Modelling- 21 & 22 March 2020


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2 minutes ago, 40F said:

You will NEVER find the perfect exhibition venue

 

We thought we had 5 years ago at the Ricoh in Coventry but too few attended to make it viable to consider repeating.

 

It's amazing that a large venue inside the M25 doesn't already charge for parking. None of us know yet what the charges will be and therefore what the potential impact may be.

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54 minutes ago, Andymsa said:

It would be a great shame if parking charges are introduced. My partner can't get up the hill and hence having the drive there. But all this will do for me is that I won't bother going anymore. If you feel strongly on this fill the survey in.

 The show website states that there will be a shuttle bus running from Wood Green station.

https://www.warners-shows.co.uk/indoor-shows/the-london-festival-of-railway-modelling/the-london-festival-of-railway-modelling-directions

 

Also the W3 bus serves Finsbury Park, Wood Green and Alexandra Palace stations amongst others.

 

So if it's just the walk up the hill that is an issue, there are alternatives available.

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26 minutes ago, Wellyboots said:

 The show website states that there will be a shuttle bus running from Wood Green station.

https://www.warners-shows.co.uk/indoor-shows/the-london-festival-of-railway-modelling/the-london-festival-of-railway-modelling-directions

 

Also the W3 bus serves Finsbury Park, Wood Green and Alexandra Palace stations amongst others.

 

So if it's just the walk up the hill that is an issue, there are alternatives available.

 

Its just not only the hill, I mentioned that as to keep things simple. The real issue here is A. Public transport and a quick check would cost around £25.00 and B. The car park charge which is unknown. Petrol usage would be about £5  so the cost to now go would be around £35-40 from just £11+ petrol, less if you share, Which would anyone choose. It's been said many times about younger visitors and attracting them into model trains this is just one example of why they don't come into the hobby. How many young families can afford these additional costs. Bottom line if there are charges it will be two less visitors. And more money to spend on trains

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Here is the proposal document https://assets.alexandrapalace.com/uploads/2019/11/Proposal-Document.pdf

 

Nothing has been decided yet, the charges are not yet set. Although the propose £6- £8 on top of the ticket price is a bit steep. ( most visitors would probably stay more than a couple of hours).

 

Rob

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London has a great public transport system, and in this case the accessible buses (both the TfL scheduled W3 and the event shuttle buses from Wood Green)  and the accessible shuttle  from the lower car park stop in almost exactly the same place with a flight of steps between that and the front door. 

 

As others have said the cost of parking (if it is introduced) is unknown, but the prices suggested are quite cheap for London. Once we know what they are, people can make a choice as to the costs of driving (including fuel and parking) or train(s) and bus. 

 

I would have thought it's better to charge everyone who knowingly and consciously chooses to use the car park (on the basis of users pay the costs of running the car parks), rather than increasing the cost of hiring the hall which would only pass back to all visitors through the ticket price - including the (I suspect) majority who visit this show by public transport. 

 

Meanwhile, back to the exhibition and I need to check we've got enough barrier for all the layouts...could be tight this year.

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On 31/12/2019 at 13:50, 2mmMark said:

There's a proposal to charge for all parking at Ally Pally and the consultation finishes today!

Here's the link:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ALLYPALLYPARKING

 

Also, from October 2021, Ally Pally will be inside the expanded London ULEZ so visiting using a non-compliant vehicle will result in a fine.

 

Or organise a coach from your locality. Many coach operators are upgrading all/some of their fleets to Euro 6 vehicles.

 

If you live in Norwich and down the A11 corridor ICTravel (.co.uk) are running a trip on the Sunday this year. 

 

(I have to declare a connection to ICTravel as it is a relatively new company owned and operated by a friend who I have been helping in a variety if ways as he gets his business established.)

 

 

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10 hours ago, RichardS said:

 

Or organise a coach from your locality. Many coach operators are upgrading all/some of their fleets to Euro 6 vehicles.

 

 

Great idea - coach or minibus. We know several groups have done this regularly. 

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Any chance of any information  or pictures of layouts and traders attending Alley Pally exhibition ?

 

I think we have had enough posts on transport and parking etc

 

Terry 

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1 minute ago, ELTEL said:

Any chance of any information  or pictures of layouts and traders attending Alley Pally exhibition ?

 

I think we have had enough posts on transport and parking etc

 

Terry 

 

Layouts - https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/information/the-london-festival-of-railway-modelling-layout

 

Traders - https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/information/the-london-festival-of-railway-modelling-exhibitors

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On 11/01/2020 at 11:58, mezzoman253 said:

Here is the proposal document https://assets.alexandrapalace.com/uploads/2019/11/Proposal-Document.pdf

 

Nothing has been decided yet, the charges are not yet set. Although the propose £6- £8 on top of the ticket price is a bit steep. ( most visitors would probably stay more than a couple of hours).

 

Rob

 

I went to the London Model Engineering Exhibition at A.P. on Friday I've (been going for years).  It was noticeable that the number of Traders present appeared to be less than for previous years (I tried a Google search for copies of previous show programmes in order to check numbers, to no avail).  In talking to other visitors it did seem to be a common opinion, with some saying they wouldn't attend next year (I've a feeling they might though, unless travelling a long distance).  A couple of Traders I spoke to all mentioned the costs involved in being there were a big impact.

I do hope I'm wrong, but if Trade presence continues to diminish then naturally the attendance will also suffer, which will become a vicious circle.  Throw in parking charges and it will do little to help the situation (I usually drive to the BRM Exhibition in March when travelling with others, though going by Train when alone is a bit easier for me - though the walk up the Hill gets steeper every year....).

Obviously the Books must balance, but A.P. Management need to be aware that if costs of attending exhibitions here (in conjunction with diminishing Trade attendance due to increasing costs) then there's a real danger that something will break.

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The trade at Ally Pally (in my opinion) whilst still decent, definitely has declined over the years with the move very much towards the cardboard carton relocators and away from the small bits and cottage industry specialists.  Also bargains are becoming increasingly harder to find now at shows in general too.

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17 hours ago, John M Upton said:

The trade at Ally Pally (in my opinion) whilst still decent, definitely has declined over the years with the move very much towards the cardboard carton relocators and away from the small bits and cottage industry specialists.  Also bargains are becoming increasingly harder to find now at shows in general too.

 

Dave Ellis at South East Finecast gave up AP several years ago - he told me it had (for him) become a "box shifting exercise" with no profit to show for a lot of effort.

As for bargains, the Traders have to cover their costs so giving stuff away for little profit just doesn't compute

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Hello All,

 

That time again trying to get tickets for the show, who do i raise my disappointment with this year?.

 

I've been to the website I've put my details in entered my promo code and the transaction went through at the standard price.

 

So what should i do now?.

 

Help.

 

G.

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I would try in the first instance Ticket Factory, but I must admit that the chances of getting a refund for the price difference are very small indeed.

You`ve got to be absolutely certain after you entered your promo code and the new ticket list came up, that you actually clicked on the 2nd line down - subscriber ticket and not the top line which is the normal adult price.  I have just purchased my ticket for Doncaster and I almost made that mistake of clinking onto the top line for an adult ticket believing that was for a discounted subscriber ticket. It is very misleading to say the least.

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On 27/01/2020 at 15:54, itsthegman said:

Hello All,

 

That time again trying to get tickets for the show, who do i raise my disappointment with this year?.

 

I've been to the website I've put my details in entered my promo code and the transaction went through at the standard price.

 

So what should i do now?.

 

Help.

 

G.

 

Hello Fellow Show Goers,

 

So just to follow on after some good advice 'boureagain' I emailed the ticket factory which is no easy feat several webpages later I got a contact us style page.

 

But once I did it was plain sailing they responded in good time took some details emailed me another ticket to print out, I guess the first one is cancelled, and refunded me £2 to make the ticket total £10.

 

I did explain the note on the site saying enter promo code for BRM on the next page, the next page, the next page - it was harder to find than an honest politician (yep never found it).

 

But hey were all good happy campers here looking forward to the show.

 

I've subscribed to the new offer for a free second ticket for the little lady just waiting to see if that will show up and then it's off the the BRM stand for the wagon.

 

Cheers all.

 

G.

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Electrics query for exhibitors

 

1) Does every single piece of cable and equipment have to be PAT tested or just the RCD at the head of the run?

 

2) If yes, can someone (from the MRC?) do that at the event? Cost of getting even the simple stuff I use on the Society stand will make use of power unaffordable. I may have to cancel our power hook-up booking if this is correct.

  • 1 RCD
  • 2 lights,
  • 1 monitor
  • 1 phone charger 
  • 1 (possibly two) laptop chargers
  • Printer
  • Several plug boards and extension cables. (Depending on how far away from the source we are will dictate the actual number needed)

3) Finally - are the restrictions to plug boards with only four outlets, and no extension lead to be longer than 2 metres, correct as per the notes on the website? If yes, add into the above cost new extension leads as several of mine are either longer than 2 metres or are 6 outlet units.

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Another interesting one

 

Undercutting: As Organisers’ of the event we would request that traders do not enter into a price war by undercutting. This is not in the best interest of the show or the hobby.

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15 hours ago, john new said:

Electrics query for exhibitors

 

1) Does every single piece of cable and equipment have to be PAT tested or just the RCD at the head of the run?

 

2) If yes, can someone (from the MRC?) do that at the event? Cost of getting even the simple stuff I use on the Society stand will make use of power unaffordable. I may have to cancel our power hook-up booking if this is correct.

  • 1 RCD
  • 2 lights,
  • 1 monitor
  • 1 phone charger 
  • 1 (possibly two) laptop chargers
  • Printer
  • Several plug boards and extension cables. (Depending on how far away from the source we are will dictate the actual number needed)

3) Finally - are the restrictions to plug boards with only four outlets, and no extension lead to be longer than 2 metres, correct as per the notes on the website? If yes, add into the above cost new extension leads as several of mine are either longer than 2 metres or are 6 outlet units.

 

I believe you'll be getting a reply direct from the organising team John but the rules have been the same for several years. Have you encountered any problems on your previous visits?

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1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

I believe you'll be getting a reply direct from the organising team

 

The response you should have received from the team includes the following which should be helpful to others too:

 

Quote

The electricians are permanent in house electricians who have worked on our show since the first year.  They are fully aware of the equipment/supply needed for our event.

 

They have their own blocks protected and monitor the exhibitors/traders during set-up – over the years we have never had any issues and the equipment you have listed should be fine a this event/venue.  (I cannot speak for other venues though)

 

Regarding the length of the cable.  It’s is recommended by the venue no more than 4 sockets on a 2m cable.  However, each show is different and as our stall holders only use minimal power they adapt each show to its requirements.

 

The electricians are extremely helpful if they find anything that isn’t right, they are on hand to sort.

 

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The free bus starts from Wood Green underground and stops at Ally Pally, however by the time the bus stops at Ally Pally it is full and standing. Could the organisers arrange to have some seats left free for the Ally Pally pick-up? Thanks

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