The London Festival of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace

[2750Papyrus]

10 hours ago, hayfield said:

As for Alley Paly, its one of my favourite shows, especially the smaller room. Firstly I love the demonstrations, secondly the grouping of the specialist traders together.

Ally Pally is one of my favourite shows also.  60+ years ago my friends and I would catch a 233 to the Palace to fly our balsa wood planes.  In later years, we would drive up to walk the dogs with my Mum and Dad. (After he was widowed, my Dad took a nun to watch a file in the Great Hall, but that's a different story!). 

 

From the terraces, I can still see my childhood home and the site of my school, whilst the views of London are different on every occasion.  My Dad used to maintain that it was going to rain if you could see the mast of the Crystal Palace transmitter!

 

In terms of the exhibition, I find the smaller room is interesting because of the specialist traders.  There used to be one stand that always had kit-built LNER coaches and i was fortunate to acquire both an 8 coach suburban articulated set and also a Leeds triplet restaurant set.  However, in general, I prefer the Great Hall for it's light and airiness.

 

Sadly, it is unlikely I shall be attending this year unless the Covid risk falls or the organiser toughens entrance requirements, as last month I spent a week in hospital with pneumonia. 

[Michael Hodgson]

1 hour ago, 2750Papyrus said:

 

My Dad used to maintain that it was going to rain if you could see the mast of the Crystal Palace transmitter!

 

If you couldn't, it was raining.

 

And you could see the acne marshes if it wasn't for the 'ouses in between.

[2mmMark]

On 04/02/2022 at 19:01, Michael Hodgson said:

I  don't know about the current rules, but I understood the original scheme allowed you to drive across London provided you stuck to certain major through routes, like A1/ Tower Bridge / A2.  I think that was required under some EU directive aimed at allowing free travel across Europe (except obviously for ferry fares and bridge and bridge tolls).  The charge applied the moment you turned off into silly little side streets though, so quite what happened if there were a diversion because of roadworks, I don't know.

There are still cross-London routes that skirt around the congestion charge zone.  To describe them as "major routes" is a moot point. They do become quite congested as people seek to avoid the congestion charge.

[newbryford]

Just checked with my hire company and got a registration of my intended hire van. It is ULEZ compliant. 

Its an ecoblue Ford Transit.

 

Looking forward to getting Deadmans Lane out on the circuit again.

 

 

 

[black and decker boy]

We are looking forward to bringing Harkness 

 

 

 

[Ian Morgan]

 

I will be there with Freshwater. Fortunately it fits in my EV

 

 

 

I do not plan to bring the nosey cat though.

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Ian Morgan
Image reposted

[eldavo]

The Winchester Railway Modellers will be there with Redbridge Wharf.

 

 

Cheers

Dave

 

 

 

[Sitham Yard]

Can anyone please advise whether or not the restaurant in the basement will be available to show visitors. Thanks.

Andrew

[Nile]

Unlikely, last time I went (a few years ago) it was used for the exhibitors lunches. There wouldn't be room for the public as well.

[Sitham Yard]

1 hour ago, Nile said:

Unlikely, last time I went (a few years ago) it was used for the exhibitors lunches. There wouldn't be room for the public as well.

Interesting you say that. My memories are that the last show or shows there was a sign at the top of the stairs saying that the restaurant was reserved for a private function, presumably exhibitors, in years before there were two serveries, one for exhibitors, one for the visitors and plenty of room if you picked the right time.

Andrew 

[Invicta Informant]

Do we need to show proof of Covid vaccination and/or proof of a negative Covid test upon arrival?

[AY Mod]

15 minutes ago, Invicta Informant said:

Do we need to show proof of Covid vaccination and/or proof of a negative Covid test upon arrival?

 

At the time of writing that's not a legal requirement. If there is any such stipulation from the venue we will, of course, advise.

 

Online Covid passes are valid for 28 days (so it's a fraction early yet) but they are free of charge and can be created here - https://covid-status.service.nhsx.nhs.uk/ - if you want to have some proof for yourself and in case there is any future need from any organisation (we require this for our members' event in Taunton in April for example).

[John M Upton]

I doubt any requirements for Covid negative test and vacc status will be required, Boris has tossed all the regulations on the proverbial bonfire, as far as the Government and the majority of the public is concerned, its all over and now yesterdays chip wrapper.

[tc]

On 16/02/2022 at 10:15, Sitham Yard said:

Interesting you say that. My memories are that the last show or shows there was a sign at the top of the stairs saying that the restaurant was reserved for a private function, presumably exhibitors, in years before there were two serveries, one for exhibitors, one for the visitors and plenty of room if you picked the right time.

Andrew 

Subject to a final meeting with the venue, but in all previous years the servery has been split into 2 - one for exhibitors lunches (with some reserved tables for them) and the other half for anyone else who wants a decent lunch.  It may not be cheap, but the full lunch menu downstairs at AP has always been decent quality and sustaining for the day!

[tc]

On 04/02/2022 at 19:01, Michael Hodgson said:

I  don't know about the current rules, but I understood the original scheme allowed you to drive across London provided you stuck to certain major through routes, like A1/ Tower Bridge / A2.  I think that was required under some EU directive aimed at allowing free travel across Europe (except obviously for ferry fares and bridge and bridge tolls).  The charge applied the moment you turned off into silly little side streets though, so quite what happened if there were a diversion because of roadworks, I don't know.

We're moving off the topic, but the congestion charge is designed to discourage car usage through the very central part of London. There are very few journeys to Alexandra Palace where driving through the CCZ is the quickest route - there are plenty of ways around it including Park Lane and Tower Bridge.  The nearest the CCZ get to Alexandra palace is Euston and King's Cross. (And yes, TfL is clever enough to not divert you into the CCZ when those boundary roads are closed, or if that is the only option waive the charge in that local area.)

 

AP is in the ULEZ which applies to older cars and small vans, and the date of registration for cars impacted is a bit fluid as some manufactures adopted lower emission technology before others. Hence the need to check the online checker. 

 

Whilst many people will want or have to drive, AP is very well connected to public transport, with the regular W3 bus providing links to the front entrance from Finsbury Park and Wood Green. 

[itsthegman]

Hello,

 

Probably something others may ask and apologies if it has already been answered.

 

I bought one ticket for the 2020 show the conventional way and another was through a BRM subscription offer free ticket and wagon deal. I don't remember seeing the ticket but did get the wagon.

 

Can I contact someone to check if this ticket will be sent to me and if the other conventional ticket is still valid?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Gerald.

[AY Mod]

39 minutes ago, itsthegman said:

Can I contact someone to check if this ticket will be sent to me and if the other conventional ticket is still valid?

 

I would suggest the most effective way of finding out would be to contact our subs department on 01778 392002 - they should be able to assist.

[wainwright1]

Hope there are no railway engineering works on that weekend.

 

Ray

[itsthegman]

On 22/02/2022 at 16:45, AY Mod said:

 

I would suggest the most effective way of finding out would be to contact our subs department on 01778 392002 - they should be able to assist.

Thanks have them a call Carly is now on the case.

 

Cheers

G.

 

 

 

 

[gwrrob]

Looking forward to this show although I really hope the current underground strike action doesn’t play a part in the accessibility of the show.

[woodenhead]

I can't get a cheap enough train from Manchester so I am out.

 

But if you want to get to Ally Pally from Paddington by bus, tis but two buses - and a 14m walk from Muswell Hill.

 

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/London-Paddington-Station/Alexandra-Palace#r/Line-27-bus-line-134-bus

[gwrrob]

A heads up to say that anyone who's applied for tickets via Ticket Factory that they are being processed now. My Gold Member freebie has been duly printed off.

[mevaman1]

We (Redruth MRC) are there with ‘Hoopers Aggregates’.  Come and see us ‘Country Mice’ in the Big Smoke!

[TEAMYAKIMA]

If any YOUTUBER will be making a video of layouts of the show may I invite them to make themselves known and I will be only too pleased to run through all my layouts USP's for you.

 

I have finally got all my planned USP's up and running and now would love to have a video to send to exhibition managers to promote the layout.

 

Here is the best so far taken at Glasgow last month. One of the problems at Glasgow was the level crossing gates which seemed to have a mind of their own - see 0.19 and 1.05 

 

That and other minor issues have now been sorted and I would love to see a definitive video showing the layout at its best.

 

https://youtu.be/SfRVHczIPFw

[AndrewC]

Has anyone found out yet whether or not the new car parking charges will be in place. The proposed £8 per day charge for parking is/was supposed to be implemented this spring but no actual date has been stated on the Ally Pally website.