Reading ALSRM Show

[David Holman]

Arigna Town will be at Reading this weekend for the Association of Large Scale Models show. Have been there before with a club layout & it is a fascinating experience. ALSRM caters for S scale upwards, so that means 0, Gauges 1 & 3, G, 16mm etc, plus three and five inch gauge live steam. As a result, there are some fascinating models & layouts on show - many less familiar than usual [probably why AT got invited!]. The same goes for traders, where you see all sorts of esoteric stuff. Slaters bring out their 16mm scale Welsh slate locos, while from the second hand stands a few years ago one had the choice of a 5" gauge L&Y Pug or a pre-war 3.5" gauge Bassett-Lowke GWR 4-4-0. Both around five grand I seem to remember...

Will try to take a few pictures - hopefully there might be plenty of interest - even if not much of it will be Irish.

[David Holman]

Reading was a very pleasant experience. Arigna Town seemed to run well, though I did little operating, spending most of the time talking to visitors. The ALSRM is very much an enthusiasts show, so for once I did not have to answer the 'why 5'3?', or even the 'is it still 5'3?'. Indeed spoke to several other folk who are into Irish modelling, including one chap working in 1:24 [half inch] scale.

Excellent trade support - indeed, could have spent a small fortune! Ragstone were there, sporting a 16mm scale etch of the Clogher tank [very big], while all the usual favourites were present, including Eileen's, Laurie Griffin, Connoisseur, Slater's etc. Also had a chat with Sir William McAlpine - former owner of Flying Scotsman, who featured on the ITV Robson Green documentary about the loco recently.

Layouts included several 7mm scale, including one of Brunel baulk road mixed gauge. Hence AT by no means the widest tracks for there was Gauge 1 live steam and a fascinating couple of Gauge 3 layouts, one fully scenic.