London Festival of Railway Modelling 2024

Back in March, the club was invited to take two of our members layouts to the London Festival of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace.

On the Friday before the weekend, a van was hired, and both the Carterton and Abingdon layouts were loaded up. After a trip down the A40, we arrived at Alexandra Palace about 12 where we received our exhibitors wrist bands and unloaded.

We found our layout slots and set about assembling the layouts. Before long, we had two layouts set up ready for the following day.

The team then headed for the hotel and settled in before a delightful curry in a nearby Wetherspoons.

Day one of Ally Pally and we arrived bright and early just as the doors opened for exhibitors. Track was cleaned and tested and all was good to go. Doors opened and before long, there was a line of people watching the layouts. Loads of handouts for our Oxrail exhibition were handed out. Before long, the day was over and the exhibition and covers put back on ready for day two.

Day two of Ally Pally and after breakfast at the hotel in St Albans, we headed down to Alexandra Palace for the doors to open for exhibitors. Upon arrival the layout covers were removed, trackwork cleaned, and locos removed from the stock box. The day seemed quieter with far less congestion getting around the exhibition.

We also enjoyed speaking to the guys from Rapido who brought over their prototype 44xx and B-set coaches for a run.

Before long it was time up, the layouts were disassembled and we headed home.

I know that for some, exhibiting layouts can be daunting, but we’ve had great fun! The layouts now back into its store room ready to be sorted out for its next outing.

Goodbye Ally Pally, it’s been a blast!