Page updated ... February 01

Layout for sale (Jan)

HAZEL Grove Model Railway Society reports that the award winning exhibition standard High Peak Tramway layout is for sale. The 12v DC layout, which measures 13 ft 3 in by 8 ft, has a number of interesting features including a remote controlled level crossing, working tipper wagons and a working unloading point for limestone.

The sale includes two locos, a rake of five tippers and a passenger vehicle. Full details are on the club’s web site ( http://www.hgdmrs.org.uk/highpeaktramway.html ).

27 layouts booked (Jan)

WESTON-Super-Mare Model Train Show, held on January 12, featured around 30 layouts and was supported by 11 traders, demonstrators and societies. The event was held at the Campus (behind Morrisons), Highlands Lane, Locking Castle, Weston-Super-Mare.

Wirral Open Days (Dec)

WIRRAL O gauge group held successful open days on November 2 and December 7, reports Club Secretary Jenny Elliott. The events were well attended with many different locomotives—ranging from small tank engines to a very large American loco—and regions represented.

International Railfair (Dec)

THE 37th International Railfair, which features American and European models,was held in California, USA, over the weekend November 9-10, reports Dan Mahoney. Layouts in a wide range of gauges were in action, from Z to G, including live steam to ride! Youngsters earned a ‘Junior Engineering Badge’ by operating a children’s model railroad.

Drive a train (Dec)

CHICHESTER and District Society of Model Engineers arranged two special Christmas events on December 8 and 15, and invited visitors to take a train ride behind a selection of different miniature locomotives at their site in Blackberry Lane, Chichester. Secretary Ben Earnshaw-Mansell says the "Drive a Train" OO gauge model railway, Blackberry Junction, which has three circuits of track each with its own controller and donations box, was in use.

Seven layouts (Dec)

FALMOUTH Society of Railway Modellers, which meets at the Athenaeum Club, Falmouth, held a pre-Christmas exhibition at Budcock Village Hall, near Falmouth, on November 30. The event featured seven layouts.

Last outing for layout (Dec)

SOUTH Hants Model Railway Club’s 2013 exhibition on November 30 saw the last public outing of the 7mm/O gauge layout Netherton. Eleven layouts will be on show including three EM Gauge examples, Swaynton, Hope-under-Dinmore and Trewithick. The event is being held at Admiral Lord Nelson School, Portsmouth.

Dozen exhibits (Dec)

POOLE and District Model Railway Society's 2013 exhibition, held at Poole Grammar School on November 10,  featured a dozen exhibits covering all the popular scales. The event also included a demonstration of weathering techniques.

Projects on display (Nov)

FELIXSTOWE Area N Gauge Group held its final open day of 2013 on Saturday November 2 at The Welcome Hall, Trimley St Mary, when the club's modular layout and group members' layouts were in operation. Some of the group’s current projects were also on show so that visitors and potential new members could see how they are progressing.

Busy times ... (Oct)

OCTOBER proved to be a busy time for members of Diss and District Model Railway Society. On the 5th (Saturday) they exhibited Billington at Sudbury MRC, and two layouts, Helendale and Yewchester, at Broadland Model Railway Club Show at Aylsham, while on the 26th they held their own show in Roydon Village Hall!

New members needed (Oct)

ONE of Scotland's oldest model railway clubs, Glasgow and West of Scotland MRC, is on the look-out for new members. The club, which was set up in the early 20th century and is one of the founding members of the Association of Model Railway Societies in Scotland (AMRSS), is based in Bearsden, Glasgow, and meets regularly on Sundays between 2.30pm and 5.30pm.