tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post6312297847295357934..comments2024-03-28T08:32:05.600+00:00Comments on Phil's Workbench: Farewell to Ian Allan, BirminghamUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-70819697260620286192019-09-14T11:50:32.969+00:002019-09-14T11:50:32.969+00:00That's so right. There is not a model shop in ...That's so right. There is not a model shop in Newcastle or Tyne and Wear but a couple of good ones in County Durham and I patronise those because their prices are good, the advice is good and the staff are good - and the patronage appears good. Moreover, the staff are not ageing and some younger successions appears to be coming through. Better than some of the 'Comet' style discount outfits.<br />Re Ian Allan, work permits me to use London, next to Waterloo in a bohemina style street food area. Always a trickle of people in the shop but I hope that's enough to sustain it....<br />Ian Allan use to be such a force in all aspects of transport enthusiasm, but now?Duncan Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14233792711462813228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-60086482025500779712019-09-13T23:18:40.971+00:002019-09-13T23:18:40.971+00:00I'll be sorry to see the Ian Allan shop go - i...I'll be sorry to see the Ian Allan shop go - if only because most of my visits to Birmingham in recent years have included a visit to the shop.<br /><br />OK - I'm not completely convinced that my wallet will mourn their passing quite so much - but then I happen to enjoy books about railways (certainly the sort of books that include information that might actually be of use to me if I move across to the "dark side" and (shock, horror) build models.<br /><br />Not only do I enjoy browsing - and buying - decent railway books, in a decent transport bookstore - but I also rather liked dealing with the people at the Ian Allan shops (both present, as at Waterloo and former, as in both Cardiff and Birmingham).<br /><br />Yes - for me, visiting a book or model shop isn't just about what they sell (although this matters) - it's also about the people who work there - people I happen to like - people I wish the best for in the long run.Huw Griffithshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11664683490163937931noreply@blogger.com