ALSRM Reading
- Thread starter lankytank
- Start date
Archie Atkinson
Active Member
Don,t forget to visit the Blackdwarf Lightmoor stand. Ian Pope and myself on hand to sell you books.
cbrailways
Western Thunderer
Yes, I shall be there. Lots to purchase for my two layouts. Wife coming as well to keep a check on my credit card
Heather Kay
Western Thunderer
It wasn't so much lack of trade - though now I think of it there were some notable absences - but lack of punters. I've never known it so quiet.
I hope it's not a sign of things to come.
I hope it's not a sign of things to come.
Jon Fitness
Western Thunderer
Twas a long day out from Chester on the train and things didn't go quite as planned but I spent very little actual money there. Spent loads in my imagination though. Saw several things I liked so when I've saved up a little more the shopping list will have a couple of biggies ticked off.
Just not today..
JF.
Just not today..
JF.
I too was very disappointed with what was on offer...I came home with one set of Slater's wheels and four sheets of brick.
JLTRT hadn't brought much there were no Parkside kits anywhere. I had a few other specifics that I needed but didn't fully expect to find them...just being hopeful. There seemed to be loads of people in the trading area when I arrived at 10:30 and the layout area was quiet for a couple of hours so I presume most were looking for stuff to buy early on. Later, I did hear one trader complain he hadn't sold much.
Loved Addison Road though.
Q
JLTRT hadn't brought much there were no Parkside kits anywhere. I had a few other specifics that I needed but didn't fully expect to find them...just being hopeful. There seemed to be loads of people in the trading area when I arrived at 10:30 and the layout area was quiet for a couple of hours so I presume most were looking for stuff to buy early on. Later, I did hear one trader complain he hadn't sold much.
Loved Addison Road though.
Q
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
The Reading ALSRM Show has never inspired me over much whereas I'd not miss Guildex unless wild horses dragged me away (or, perhaps, memsahib
. I couldn't define precisely why, but perhaps it's just too large scale generalist. For me it lacks the atmosphere of Guildex (or Bristol or Kettering for that matter. I've not been to Halifax/Doncaster, but I see no reason for that not to be the same). It's a particular shame when layouts of the quality of Addison Road attend.
Unless there is some change in the character of the show I can envisage it fading away because of trade support. That would be a shame but probably the single gauge exhibitions serve us better.
Of course, in terms of generalist exhibitions one could argue that the NEC exhibition (which I've also not attended for many years) is the exception which proves the rule. However, in large part it's OO gauge box shifters and with lots of competition on price, if OO is your bag it's probably worth the crush. I wonder how successful it would be if the OO element was removed. Not very, I suspect, and that is precisely the real estate ALSRM are trying to occupy.
Brian
. I couldn't define precisely why, but perhaps it's just too large scale generalist. For me it lacks the atmosphere of Guildex (or Bristol or Kettering for that matter. I've not been to Halifax/Doncaster, but I see no reason for that not to be the same). It's a particular shame when layouts of the quality of Addison Road attend.Unless there is some change in the character of the show I can envisage it fading away because of trade support. That would be a shame but probably the single gauge exhibitions serve us better.
Of course, in terms of generalist exhibitions one could argue that the NEC exhibition (which I've also not attended for many years) is the exception which proves the rule. However, in large part it's OO gauge box shifters and with lots of competition on price, if OO is your bag it's probably worth the crush. I wonder how successful it would be if the OO element was removed. Not very, I suspect, and that is precisely the real estate ALSRM are trying to occupy.
Brian
Heather Kay
Western Thunderer
I've always tried to attend the ASLRM show at Reading. While I have no direct interest in the very large scales, I always felt it was worth going to see what they were up to. In the past, I've found items from the larger scale trade that are hard to come by from the usual suspects.
What was notable yesterday was some of the larger scale trade folk were not there. Agenoria, for example, was very noticeably missing. Wandering round it struck me I was seeing most of the same faces I see at single scale shows. Even the layouts were almost all 7mm scale. Last year's Guildford Group trade show was heaving by comparison.
I can't put a finger on why the change was so marked this year. Could it be the advent of a northern show has diluted some of the likely attendance from further afield? Who knows.
Ironically, I wasn't originally going to the show, but changed my mind a couple of weeks before.
I should add Best Beloved and I really enjoyed ourselves at the show, despite its rather lacklustre feel. We spent a lot of time chatting to friends and traders, and I did buy a few odds and ends to replenish the stores a bit.
What was notable yesterday was some of the larger scale trade folk were not there. Agenoria, for example, was very noticeably missing. Wandering round it struck me I was seeing most of the same faces I see at single scale shows. Even the layouts were almost all 7mm scale. Last year's Guildford Group trade show was heaving by comparison.
I can't put a finger on why the change was so marked this year. Could it be the advent of a northern show has diluted some of the likely attendance from further afield? Who knows.
Ironically, I wasn't originally going to the show, but changed my mind a couple of weeks before.
I should add Best Beloved and I really enjoyed ourselves at the show, despite its rather lacklustre feel. We spent a lot of time chatting to friends and traders, and I did buy a few odds and ends to replenish the stores a bit.
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Mike W
Western Thunderer
As a trader who didn't attend this year I guess I am one of those responsible for allowing the show to fade away. To be frank, whilst there are always plenty of interesting people to chat with, the hard commercial facts are that our sales at that show have fallen steadily year on year and never hopr to cover the costs, whilst attendance appears to have fallen similarly, so we gave it a miss this year.
As a Gauge 3 (only) manufacturer, this show should be right up our street. But I wish I had some helpful suggestions for improving it - I havn't. It seems to be well run, so why doesn't it attract enough people?
Mike
As a Gauge 3 (only) manufacturer, this show should be right up our street. But I wish I had some helpful suggestions for improving it - I havn't. It seems to be well run, so why doesn't it attract enough people?
Mike
Heather Kay
Western Thunderer
You can't argue with that, to be honest. It costs a trader money to attend, and if they don't recoup at least their expenses for the day they're not going to want to come back next time.
On the face of it, I suppose the argument could be that Gauge O will have the larger numbers, and larger scales don't quite have the numbers to support an exhibition like that alone. It's a pity, as I do like to see the bigger stuff although I won't make a point of getting to a "proper" model engineering show to see it.
If the Reading show fades away, there isn't much we can do about it. It's had a pretty good run, I suppose, but nature will have to take its course.
On the face of it, I suppose the argument could be that Gauge O will have the larger numbers, and larger scales don't quite have the numbers to support an exhibition like that alone. It's a pity, as I do like to see the bigger stuff although I won't make a point of getting to a "proper" model engineering show to see it.
If the Reading show fades away, there isn't much we can do about it. It's had a pretty good run, I suppose, but nature will have to take its course.
Dan Randall
Western Thunderer
It did seem a bit quiet at the show, but given the temperature outside, that was probably a good thing!
The main purpose of my visit was to obtain some bits and bobs from Eileen's Emporium and CPL and I managed to get everything I needed. In the second hall, I had a natter with Brian Daniels and had a better look at the Heljan Warship he'd finished in BR blue - can't wait for mine to arrive.
Also in the second hall, were a couple of layouts that captured my imagination. The first was "Tresparrett Wharf"....
I was most impressed by both the layout's presentation and by how much light the minimalist, 12 volt lighting rig was giving out. It gave the feel of a bright, sunny day and the layout's builder took the time to explain how he'd done it using strips of LEDs on a self-adhesive backing, some 10mm x 20mm aluminium channel from B & Q and some simple electrical connectors. I believe the layout was bigger than 4mm scale ("S" maybe?) , but think there is more information to be had on RMweb.
The second layout which really got me excited was "Treloar Sidings" in 7mm scale....
The usual china clay dries are assumed to be somewhere off-stage and instead, tipper lorries bring the clay by road and discharge directly into the waiting wagons by means of a high level platform. There is also incoming coal traffic for the dries, to add some variety to the rolling stock. The 3-way point is a great space saver and the scenic section is only 8ft long, which is why I got excited, as this is the size of my modelling room and it's given me some ideas.
I spent a long time chatting to the various members of the operating team and they were all thoroughly nice blokes. Unfortunately, the layout's builder had passed away a year of two before, so they were exhibiting the layout as a tribute to him. In my opinion, it was worth the 100 mile round trip, just to have seen this.
Regards
Dan
The main purpose of my visit was to obtain some bits and bobs from Eileen's Emporium and CPL and I managed to get everything I needed. In the second hall, I had a natter with Brian Daniels and had a better look at the Heljan Warship he'd finished in BR blue - can't wait for mine to arrive.
Also in the second hall, were a couple of layouts that captured my imagination. The first was "Tresparrett Wharf"....
I was most impressed by both the layout's presentation and by how much light the minimalist, 12 volt lighting rig was giving out. It gave the feel of a bright, sunny day and the layout's builder took the time to explain how he'd done it using strips of LEDs on a self-adhesive backing, some 10mm x 20mm aluminium channel from B & Q and some simple electrical connectors. I believe the layout was bigger than 4mm scale ("S" maybe?) , but think there is more information to be had on RMweb.
The second layout which really got me excited was "Treloar Sidings" in 7mm scale....
The usual china clay dries are assumed to be somewhere off-stage and instead, tipper lorries bring the clay by road and discharge directly into the waiting wagons by means of a high level platform. There is also incoming coal traffic for the dries, to add some variety to the rolling stock. The 3-way point is a great space saver and the scenic section is only 8ft long, which is why I got excited, as this is the size of my modelling room and it's given me some ideas.
I spent a long time chatting to the various members of the operating team and they were all thoroughly nice blokes. Unfortunately, the layout's builder had passed away a year of two before, so they were exhibiting the layout as a tribute to him. In my opinion, it was worth the 100 mile round trip, just to have seen this.
Regards
Dan
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JimG
Western Thunderer
[QUOTE="Dan Randall, post: 134161, member: 4"The first was "Tresparrett Wharf"....
View attachment 54757
I believe the layout was bigger than 4mm scale ("S" maybe?) , but think there is more information to be had on RMweb.
[/QUOTE]
Very definitely S scale - Maurice Hopper's latest small layout.
Jim.
View attachment 54757
I believe the layout was bigger than 4mm scale ("S" maybe?) , but think there is more information to be had on RMweb.
[/QUOTE]
Very definitely S scale - Maurice Hopper's latest small layout.
Jim.
cbrailways
Western Thunderer
Well I arrived just after 1 pm after a long trip up from the South West Peninsula (yes, that's what they call us in the far South West now). Found it to be reasonably busy but not too crowded that you couldn't breathe or get to the stands. Made my required purchases (and those for members of the O Gauge group I belong to) and then went to look at the layouts. I was bowled over by this one which managed to squeeze Gauge 3 into a space no bigger than my under construction O Gauge Blackbridge Town (see layout section of this site):
Sorry for the slightly out of focus photograph. Not used to using my phone camera too much.
The locos are all radio controlled and sound fitted. The chap who owned it was very proud of his creation and was quite happy to discuss it at some length. Made me almost want to give up O Gauge and go for Gauge 3........
CHALFONT
Sorry for the slightly out of focus photograph. Not used to using my phone camera too much.
The locos are all radio controlled and sound fitted. The chap who owned it was very proud of his creation and was quite happy to discuss it at some length. Made me almost want to give up O Gauge and go for Gauge 3........
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oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Following my earlier comments the problem may be that this exhibition tries to deal with too many gauges at the same time. I attended a Gauge 1 specific exhibition some time ago, and also a Gauge 1 garden railway open day and both were very well attended. I still believe that the problem for ALSRM is that they are too generalist, and for that reason there is possibly no way back for them.
Just possibly, if they were to recast themselves as representative of the garden railway community that may be specialist enough, but as I'm both O gauge and have no garden railway I'm probably in no position to comment!
Brian
Just possibly, if they were to recast themselves as representative of the garden railway community that may be specialist enough, but as I'm both O gauge and have no garden railway I'm probably in no position to comment!
Brian
daifly
Western Thunderer
Heather
I think you must have missed them! They were on the far end of one of the middle rows. Mike didn't seem to be busy.
Dave
Heather Kay
Western Thunderer
I must have walked past without clocking them. 
