Ally Pally - 15-16 Mar 25

[Arun Sharma]

The London Festival of Railway Modelling is on at Alexandra Palace this coming weekend [15-16 Mar 25].
I shall be on the DEMU stand both days - I will have the Class 455/8 DTSO with me in some sort of stage of assembly together with an RML and sundry other road/rail vehicles.

 

[Tim Watson]

I think I might be there… (with CF)

Tim

 

[James Spooner]

I’ll be there helping out on the EMGS stand on the Sunday.

Nigel

 

[simond]

I shall be there Saturday morning, as a punter!

 

[NewportRod]

I’ll be there with the Newport MRS’s Abergavenny Blackbrook. WTers say hello!

 

[oldravendale]

After my last experience at Ally Pally, two years ago with pre-booked early entry tickets I'll not be attending - probably ever again. The prebookers were kept in a queue, in the rain and didn't gain entry in advance - in fact we were after most of the "turn up on the day" people. Once inside the performance to get our tickets verified was a nonsense. I'd booked there previously for a concert on the basis of "pick the tickets up on the day". The queue and inefficiency was such that we actually missed the performance! Never again! (And a subsequent complaint renders the news that they are really sorry and it won't happen again. Humbug.)

Brian

 

[simond]

Given the train times from Kent, and getting from St P to Ally Pally, I doubt I’ll trouble the early entry queue!

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

After my last experience at Ally Pally, two years ago with pre-booked early entry tickets I'll not be attending - probably ever again. The prebookers were kept in a queue, in the rain and didn't gain entry in advance - in fact we were after most of the "turn up on the day" people.

I can sympathise - I had similar at Stafford Guildex last year (except it wasn't raining) & the last time I ever went to Warley NEC (except we were queing indoors). It does rather put you off - certainly I never bothered with Warley again from over 20 years ago. Guildex is slightly different as it is a bit of a 'must go' - although the scarcity of American O always makes me question that - and it's just about within my 'travel radius'.

 

[Hayfield1]

One of my favorite shows, I often wonder why get there at the crack of dawn unless you want to grab a discounted bargain. For me the smaller hall has the most appeal, specialist trade stands and best of all those demonstrating their skills, and the table top historic layout, whether its 0 gauge tinplate or 3 rail Hornby Dublo

Areas to avoid the large manufacturers and the box shifters in the main room

Area the loss of smaller specialist traders who have been priced out by large fees. I do understand that its very expensive to put on the show, but then there is both sponsorship and high entrance fees supposedly to cover this, sadly specialist trade support has been declining and I know of at least two supplier's who now don't attend down to the economics of barely covering their costs.

 

[Hayfield1]

I can sympathise - I had similar at Stafford Guildex last year (except it wasn't raining) & the last time I ever went to Warley NEC (except we were queing indoors). It does rather put you off - certainly I never bothered with Warley again from over 20 years ago. Guildex is slightly different as it is a bit of a 'must go' - although the scarcity of American O always makes me question that - and it's just about within my 'travel radius'.

Why is Warley so popular? I went 2 years ago after a 30 year absence (was it called Warley then?), against my better judgement I assisted on a friends stand. The chaos of take down has to be suffered to know how bad it is, and as for the show, what I saw of it was less than impressive unless you are into RTR in a big way

For me shows like Railex seem to have hit the right balance, but then I guess that does not float everyone's boat
Back to Alley Pally I do like the idea of grouping the demonstration stands near each other

John

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

Yes, let's not turn this into a 'Warley bashing'* thread, especially as Warley no longer run the NEC show. I'm sure we all have our favourite types of Show and size is not a deciding factor.
There do need to be 'Flagship' Shows I'm sure, and there's always been one in or near London as far as I know. Their existence also disproves the doom-sayers "Hobby is in Decline" trope. If that was true then the WarleyNEC Show would've been relegated to one of the huts at the back of the Harry Mitchell Centre in Smethwick, where they began, rather than the big Show it became.

*other Shows are available.

 

[Stephen]

After my last experience at Ally Pally, two years ago with pre-booked early entry tickets I'll not be attending - probably ever again. The prebookers were kept in a queue, in the rain and didn't gain entry in advance - in fact we were after most of the "turn up on the day" people. Once inside the performance to get our tickets verified was a nonsense. I'd booked there previously for a concert on the basis of "pick the tickets up on the day". The queue and inefficiency was such that we actually missed the performance! Never again! (And a subsequent complaint renders the news that they are really sorry and it won't happen again. Humbug.)

Brian

There seemed to be a similar issue last year with few stewards outside directing the people to the right side of the doors for pre-booked verses pay on the day.

I’ll give it ago again this year, and will no doubt go for the pre-booked early entry time, just because I prefer to get up at the crack of dawn and travel when it’s a bit quieter.

Still debating whether to by train or car….

Cheers,

Stephen

 

[Hayfield1]

Yes, let's not turn this into a 'Warley bashing'* thread, especially as Warley no longer run the NEC show. I'm sure we all have our favourite types of Show and size is not a deciding factor.
There do need to be 'Flagship' Shows I'm sure, and there's always been one in or near London as far as I know. Their existence also disproves the doom-sayers "Hobby is in Decline" trope. If that was true then the WarleyNEC Show would've been relegated to one of the huts at the back of the Harry Mitchell Centre in Smethwick, where they began, rather than the big Show it became.

*other Shows are available.

Apologies to Warley Club, but its the experience of both customers and those showing/traders that in the end ultimately affects whether the show can survive long term, I should have said the NEC was at fault, during the weekend the stewards (Warley club volunteers ?) were superb.

 

[Tim Watson]

Might be of interest:
LFoRM 2025 Layouts - The Model Railway Club

Tim

 

[Terry]

If you fancy a small local show instead, the East Grinstead Exhibition is on over the coming weekend.

Terry

 

[Grahame Hedges]

I'm sure we all have our favourite types of Show and size is not a deciding factor.

Yep, and my favourite show is one I like, enjoy and prefer. There are a huge range of considerations (access, layout roster, trade, food options, crowd, etc.,) and consequently an annual show may only be a favourite for one year as a result.

 

[PaulRhB]

Having been to AP regularly as a punter and occasionally as an exhibitor I find it little different to the NEC. Yes getting there has its challenges and staff can be mostly brilliant or rarely difficult but it’s the show content that keeps me going back.
I was supposed to be there as an exhibitor again this year but my friends layout had to withdraw so I’ll be making a day trip up on Saturday. There are a couple of layouts I’m going to see and I’ll be travelling up with friends and no doubt bump into a few there. I look at the whole trip out as a day with friends so it’d have to be pretty awful to spoil that

Oh and I’ll check the forecast and decide whether a coat or brolly is required
Current forecast is 4-9° over the day with cloud and sunny spells.

 

[chigley]

went to Basingstoke show sun, good turn out, met up with Graham {Dog Star}

 

[Hayfield1]

Having been to AP regularly as a punter and occasionally as an exhibitor I find it little different to the NEC. Yes getting there has its challenges and staff can be mostly brilliant or rarely difficult but it’s the show content that keeps me going back.
I was supposed to be there as an exhibitor again this year but my friends layout had to withdraw so I’ll be making a day trip up on Saturday. There are a couple of layouts I’m going to see and I’ll be travelling up with friends and no doubt bump into a few there. I look at the whole trip out as a day with friends so it’d have to be pretty awful to spoil that

Oh and I’ll check the forecast and decide whether a coat or brolly is required
Current forecast is 4-9° over the day with cloud and sunny spells.

Paul

Like you Alley Pally is the first show in my diary every year, I can accept is some ways they are similar. BUT from the time you drive into the estate as a motorist I am treated totally differently by the site and organizers. Firstly free parking (OK its paid for in the price of the ticket) and a complementary bus service. NEC high car parking charges and an even higher entrance fee, cost for a loan motorist twice as much

Now for me the quality of the layouts at AP is always high, but the most interest is both the folk demonstrating their skills and the smaller specialist suppliers, sadly now dwindling. But for others I accept the NEC is their pinnacle of the hobby.

I like to support local shows, though in the main much is of little interest. However if I were into RTR I may have different thoughts. Whilst its a long journey for me Railex at Stoke Mandeville takes a lot of beating, I am certain in other parts of the country there are equally good shows.

 

[Mike Walker]

Car parking charges were introduced at Ally Pally last year but fortunately they are not as eye-wateringly high as the NEC.

Vehicles entering and leaving the park are park are monitored by ANPR cameras so there's no escaping. The payment machines are located at the hall itself, outside and in the car park. They take card payments so you don't need a phone app. Just enter your reg number when you are heading home and it will tell you how much you owe.

Also, a reminder that Ally Pally is inside the ULEZ zone so best check if you own an older vehicle, particularly a diesel one, to see if it's compliant. This can be done at the TfL website.