Report - All in one Garden centre, Allostock , Jan 2020

[Shaun]

Closed in 2016, Nothing of real interest wouldn't of stopped if it wasn't for the railway, But worth a stop if you have nothing else better to do if near this part of the m6.
This news article gives a good few reasons why it closed: https://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk...tre-now-closed-due-to-financial-difficulties/

'Family run business, ‘All-In-One’ in London Road, Allostock, closed its doors to the public on Sunday, July 31 after it became financially ‘unviable’ due to a drop in footfall.

Jason Stafford, chairman of All-In-One, which also has a store in Middleton told the Guardian that he is ‘desperately disappointed’ about the closure.

“It didn’t make any money,” he said. “A retail business in a rural location always struggles to get the footfall. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough regular visitors to make it viable.

“It was struggling for the last two or three years. The losses were unsustainable.”'

 

[Ojay]

Well it beats an Orchard

 

[Shaun]

Well it beats an Orchard

I Was under false hope i'd find a little train in one of sheds, Sadly it was not meant to be

 

[Ojay]

I Was under false hope i'd find a little train in one of sheds, Sadly it was not meant to be

Every hole's a goal

 

[Yorrick]

Not seen that before, so thanks for sharing.

 

[xplorer.x]

Since when did garden centres have party rooms lol..? Definitely not a place I'd consider to throw a birthday party.

 

[Yorrick]

Well it beats an Orchard

Since when did garden centres have party rooms lol..? Definitely not a place I'd consider to throw a birthday party.

I think my eldest had here first party in a Palmers garden centre in 1994! it was amazing!

 

[Paulnwillow]

Yeah I went there hoping to find the trains too haha

 

[Shaun]

Since when did garden centres have party rooms lol..? Definitely not a place I'd consider to throw a birthday party.

my local dobbies have had birthday parties before, so its certainly not a stretch

 

[tigger]

Too tacky for the Knutsford set and too upmarket for the jug lot.

Always struck me that the land would be worth much more for housing development

 

[HughieD]

Well it beats an Orchard

Or a car park

 

[Shaun]

Or a car park

Or Denbigh

 

[westernsultan]

The construction of Allostock Miniature Railway at All-In-One Garden Centre Knutsford, began in 2002 and was built by miniature railway enthusiast Chris Halsall.
Initially, a short circuit of approximately 300 yards was laid and work commenced on the engine and carriage sheds, tunnel and turntable. Shortly afterwards came the addition of the station house (named Allostock Junction), platform canopy and signal box. It wasn't until 2005 that the track was extended to a third of a mile, running all around the plant area in a second loop.
In 2009, Allostock Junction Railway Station was awarded the title of 'Cheshire's Best Garden Railway Station'.
The 7.25" gauge meandered throughout the whole site and rides cost just £1 per person (free for children under 2 years, accompanied by an adult).
Rides last for around 10 minutes, taking you through the main sales area, then in a large loop around the growing area, up the hill behind the engine sheds, past the putting green and back through the station before switching to the small loop past the front of the engine shed, through the tunnel and back round to the station.
Locomotives

No​	Name​	Type​	Builder​	Built​
7​	​	S/O 4wBER​	Parkside​	1996​
9​	Biff​	S/O 4wBE​	D.Moss/A.Higgins​	2009​
253007​	HMS Pembroke​	4w-4wBE​	Mardyke​	1983​
​	​	4w-4wBER​	Pfeifferbahn​	1989​
812​	​	6w-6wPE​	D.Smallwood​	1991​
5624/5623​	​	4w-4w+4-4BE​	Express Locomotives​	2000​
20035​	​	4w-4wBE​	MEP/P.Whittaker​	2009​

Meant to have been some 15 inch gauge there as well

 

[Airfix]

Very interesting report, I wonder where the railway rolling stock ended up going?

 

[westernsultan]

Tracking down miniature railways and their locomotives is no easy task, Chris Halsall owned much of the stock at above site. He also appears as far as I can see in charge of Brookside Miniature railway at a Garden Centre near Poynton. That closed in 2018 and he is listed as removing stock and railway items, and then reappears at Barnards Miniature railway in Essex, but he lost the contract to run that miniature railway but some of his stock was acquired by that railway which is still running.