RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted March 22, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 22, 2013 Weather forecast is that the snow will be moving south and will reach Ally Pally at around opening time. The good news is that its only going to last about a couple of hours. But it will be bitterly cold so winter drawers on. Most recent BBC forecast on the telly showed it about 3 - 5 hours later than that. But they're all the same sort of thing I think - our Met Office local forecast for tomorrow has changed three times in the last 5 hours. But it can be extremely difficult to forecast how a front like this will move so it's just about anybody's guess what will really happen! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barchester Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Was at Ally Pally yesterday and today as part of the MRC setup. I am living less than a mile from the venue, and as of now, it is not snowing ! Mid you it is wet, windy and horrible. The layouts being set up looked good. Come and see us with Lacey Dale, our new N gauge layout on the MRC stand. Only warning, it was very cold in the hall today, so wrap up warm ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 About 4 miles from the venue in Oakleigh pk, currently snowing but doesn't appear to be settling on the roads at the mo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted March 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2013 Snow/sleet here in Essex at the moment. Trains are reported as running OK at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Trainshed Terry Posted March 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2013 B\e safe and have a great day everyone Terry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm@gwr Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 When we woke up at 7am it was snowing in Stevenage. It is settling, but we should still make Ally Pally by the time it opens. See you there, Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach bogie Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Despite aweful weather, I made it to London overnight from North Yorkshire. For once the Met line is working so I can get to Ally by train.Now if only I can get my young son out of bed we could set off He isists on coming too and I am not going to discourage him. Mike Wiltshire Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 At the venue, public transport all working well, no worries. At the venue, public transport all working well, no worries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted March 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2013 Don't forget to post photos folks for those who can't attend.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Don't forget to post photos folks for those who can't attend.... Seconded - stay safe, and wrap up warm, people - it is not very nice out there Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Who will post the first photo, today? I'll put my money on Martyn...... Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted March 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2013 I've literally just got back so I shall post these as a sample of what was there: Overall, I thought this the best Ally Pally in a while, decent layouts, not too crowded (the weather may well have played a part in that) and some nice things to spend obscene amounts of money on. Also a couple of the tatty second hand tat shifters have gone at last. Couple of negatives: The show guide has become a cheap and nasty single bit of paper of unwieldly dimensions. I felt that especially considering the artic conditions outside they could have let us into the Palm Court at 09:00 rather than letting us freeze to death outside. It would have put a few pennys in the tills of the cafe for a starter. The usual photography ban - wildly ignored by all and sundry!! Overall, enjoyed it, even the opening minutes Bachmann scrum despite someone beating me to every Class 20 in the place. They were cleaned out of them by just one individual about thirty seconds after the doors opened... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium mezzoman253 Posted March 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2013 Not too bad a journey via the M25 & A10 & A406, BUT, please check you have your headlights on, not your sidelights. Lost count of those with no lights or sidelights on the M25. You may be able to see where you are going, but we can't see you coming in the blizzard. Rant over. The show was good and due to bad weather, I presume, lots of missing visitors. We arrived at 09:15. It did build up around lunch time, but was never busy. Some lovely layouts, Leavesden probably my favourite. View from the terrace, what a difference a year makes. Sorry no show pics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdChap Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 In response to John Upton, I think everyone should be allowed to enjoy model railways, able bodied or not. What a shame all the Class 20's had gone..... Edwin P.S. It was not me buying the Class 20's. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dickerson Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Overall, I thought this the best Ally Pally in a while, decent layouts, not too crowded (the weather may well have played a part in that) and some nice things to spend obscene amounts of money on. Also a couple of the tatty second hand tat shifters have gone at last and there were refreshingly few if any mobility scooters about (a personal bug bear of mine!) Probably the ones I was looking for . Some of us need that "junk"; I was lucky but I thought the overall "random stuff" options were down. I think this show needs to decide if it's a surrogate national or regional, as a major city is running out of choice for oddments.. It was good to see MRC LUL models walking in, but the BRM stall felt isolated in the other room. I hope, I really hope I missed a LU150 announcement, but didn't see anything. Still there's now a card LNWR OERLIKON UNIT out there . Personally, some real bargains, but US HO less good this year. I walked to the MRC stand and got *the* item I needed, but thought it was generallly more UK RTR this year. Some of the specialist suppliers appeared more muted. Layouts: enjoyed Hospital Gates (subject matter notwithstanding); good US stuff (although I didn't get to see any of the prototypical US HO kitbashes move on the modular layout); and I'm not a D&E (or "Passing By") layout guy but I really enjoyed West Midland Blues. There's probably a place for more stuff between the various societies' demo stuff and the smaller layouts, despite the venue. And I like a layout that encourages prying hands Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Why Class 20's? Have they suddenly become worth their weight in gold?.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted March 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2013 Don't know. I had planned on picking up a couple of cheap headcode disc 20's of whatever flavour as they had plenty on the Bachmann stand cheap last year. One minute after opening time I saw one chap departing with an armful of them and was all of them gone. Someone I reckon has probably stocked their workbench with projects for a good year there!!! By the way, the catering. Where were the slightly underwealming bacon butties? All I could find were overpriced pastries this year and really expensive tea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Why Class 20's? Have they suddenly become worth their weight in gold?.... I wonder how many will resurface, in the not to distant future in the Classifieds Section? XF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted March 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2013 Snips 35024 Nice! I've no issue with mobility scooters, apart from those that are driven like a weapon, at speed, with no regard for people and things around them. I recall there was at least one at the Donny show whose driver seemed to get joy from aiming at people. BCB looking good with Flavio's buildings. I've literally just got back so I shall post these as a sample of what was there: Overall, I thought this the best Ally Pally in a while, decent layouts, not too crowded (the weather may well have played a part in that) and some nice things to spend obscene amounts of money on. Also a couple of the tatty second hand tat shifters have gone at last and there were refreshingly few if any mobility scooters about (a personal bug bear of mine!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Ok John wins the photo race. Looks like Flavio turned up OK from the photos?????? Best, Pete. PS My post crossed with Chris'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapland Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 First time visit to Ally Pally for me and first visit to a large exhibition since my teens when I visited Manchester and Rochdale shows. Thats over 30 years ago. Copenhagen Fields is a stunning bit of work even though its only 2mm. Stoke summit was also a lovely model of open stretch of track allowing the display of realistic length trains as is Black Country Blues. As others have said about BCB the backscene is a great bit of work and certainly given me some inspiration. I agree the wait outside could have been avoided and brought good business. Mind you not sure organisers expected snow and 1C temperatures. Finally I also experienced the Bachmann Scrum where I could have spent a fortune but managed to get a Green 45 D27 for a good price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Wasn't able to make the show this year as we're down on the south coast but I did find some pictures on uksnowmap from someone who had obviously been to the show, of the outside of the building in the snow. http://www.flickr.com/photos/arendle/sets/72157633067732387/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Hi All, If you came through Paddington at the right time you were able to see this: With one of my Didcot friends on the regulator (!), as well as this too: Which was a start to a really great day out! Myself and three mates went round and we had a cracking time so thanks to the exhibitors and everyone that made it possible. It was great to meet up with some familiar faces on RMWEB and meet some new ones too! All the best, Castle Edit: Joke of the day was the steam engines got smaller, the further from Paddington we got! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted March 23, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2013 Essex Belt Lines More layoits to follow tomoroow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Nile Posted March 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2013 I thought I'd post some pictures of Franklin, an On2 American narrow gauge layout, as I ended up operating it for about half an hour. It's the first one I've been to for a few years and I enjoyed myself despite the weather. There were bargains to be had if you looked hard enough, and I ended up with a few. The pre-show queueing could have been handled better, with some pre-bookers having to stand outside in the snow while us non-bookers queued inside.There was plenty of room inside for everyone, it just takes a bit of organising. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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