HILLINGDON RAILWAY MODELLERS 2018 OPEN DAYS -- SATURDAY 25TH AUGUST

http://www.hillingdonrailwaymodellers.co.uk/

Welcome again, it's time for another Open Day at Hillingdon Railway Modellers, these regular events are very popular and the next one will be held on Saturday 25th August 2018.

Haven't attended here for a little while so this is a good opportunity to get myself over there and give a few of my Dads O Gauge models a bit of a run out since I've no room for a layout at home and I don't want them to live in boxes forever. I aim to hopefully get there for the afternoon with a few items in my bag to try out and also update a few pictures too. It's always a popular day and doors open to the public at 10:00am. 

Club Events For 2018

Date	Description
25 August	Test Track Open Day (confirmed)
3 September	Committee Meeting
6/7 October	Grindley Brook to Wigan Finescale Railway Modellers exhibition.
27 October	Test Track Open Day (confirmed)
15 December	Test Track Open Day (confirmed)

Address 

Yiewsley Baptist Church

74 Colham Avenue
West Drayton  UB7 8HF

* the entrance is at the side of the church down a path and the doors at the end should be open, don't try and enter the main doors of the church. 

Owing to rental costs of the hall there is a cover charge of £4 but there will be two extensive O Gauge and OO Gauge Test Tracks available and have recently added a three track N Gauge circuit too (Pic Below) all up and running so if you have anything you wish to see get a good run do please come along.

N GAUGE TEST TRACK 

There are always plenty of refreshments available, Tea, Coffee and cold drinks for the youngster, in addition the freshly made bacon rolls are highly recommended. (just don't scoff them all before I get there!!)

It should be stressed that these ARE NOT exhibitions, so please bring your own locos and rolling stock to run. At busy times we may have to introduce time slots so that everyone can get a chance to operate their stock. Here's a short clip of one of the earlier open days YouTube LINK

Below you can see a busy picture of their 8 road yard in O Gauge it's a very extensive track and will give your models a very good run. A few photo's taken from the previous open days are below, if you read back to some of the earlier postings in this blog I have tried to show the variety of excellent models on show, these guys are truly experts in their craft I only wish I had some of their talents and skills.

People will bring a wide variety of stock to run, nearly all are kit built though and the skills / detail is incredible.

Everyone will get their turn I promise.

I hope that these pictures give a good indication of the size of the O Gauge test track, you can give your models a really good work out here. This formation can also transform into an exhibition layout called Grindley Brook a scenic section replaces the long straight down the back.

This layout was shown at the Warley show at the NEC Birmingham in November 2017 and will be making an appearance at the Wigan Show in October 2018 so well done to all concerned getting this large layout out there to be enjoyed by people far and wide. Will aim to update on that exhibition later in the year. 

A few more pictures from some of the previous Open Days, though they mostly focus on the O Gauge track there are also Test Tracks available for OO and N Gauge too. There are many society members on hand who are both extremely friendly and knowledgeable too so if you have any problems with modelling or questions they will be more than happy to try and help i am sure. 

THE BUSY OO GAUGE TEST TRACK

LONDON UNDERGROUND STOCK MAKE A WELCOME APPEARANCE

N GAUGE TEST TRACK

BRIGHTON BELLE IN "N". SOON TO REAPPEAR ON MAINLINE TOO

HOW TO GET THERE:

If you are Travelling by Car

Check here for Parking Options.

Nearest Railway Stations :

West Drayton [0.34 miles]

BISHOP'S STORTFORD RAILWAY SOCIETY EXHIBITION 18th AUGUST 2018

Saturday 18th August 2018

ADDRESS:
Birchwood High School Sports Hall, Parsonage Lane, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 5BD

OPENING TIMES:  
10.30am - 4.30pm

ADMISSION:  
Adults £5.00  Concessions £5.00  
Children £2.00  Family £10.00  

About the BSRS - Bishop’s Stortford Railway Society was formed in 1969 and draws in members from the town and surrounding area - some coming from as far as Enfield. We meet at The Old Booking Office, Bishop’s Stortford Railway station.  There are 2 room; the smaller holds the club’s static 4 track OO gauge layout which is currently being remodelled while the larger doubles as a committee / meeting room for the Thursday talks and the general clubroom.

Tuesdays - 8.00 pm to 10.30 pm is the modelling night with regular attendees covering N, O and OO gauges.  Sometimes a discussion night but generally some modelling for members own layouts is done and problems resolved.  Parent members sometimes attend with their children to run trains on the permanent OO gauge layout.  A friendly informal evening.

2018 EXHIBITION DETAILS

Our fifth year at this enhanced venue. 20+ layouts in main gauges including some vintage from mostly local clubs and ourselves; 7+ trade stands covering new and second hand stock, and modelling materials, 5 society stands and a number of club stands featuring other transport activities our members pursue. Manhattan Grill catering outside plus ride-on engineers track (small additional charge). 2 mins from M11 Junc 8; large free car parks at front and rear (follow signs please).

HAYLING ISLAND IN N GAUGE

Layouts attending (Gauge);

Binegar       OO

Butley Quay 009

Chilford / Seaford N

Hayling Island N (Above)

Middleton    OO

Midsummer End    N

New Walmington Pier    009

Pre-War French Hornby  O

Pre-War Hornby-Dublo  OO

Round Tuit    OO

Shepherd's Mine    009

Sunnymead    O

Tanglewood Common    OO

Tedburn St Mary    OO

Thomas Town    OO

Tigley Yard    O

Townsend    N

Treloar Sidings (Below) O

Victoria    Em

Wofflington    N

TRELOAR SIDINGS, O GAUGE LAYOUT

Nearest Railway Stations :

Bishops Stortford [0.87 miles] 

Stansted Mountfitchet [1.99 miles] 

Stansted Airport [3.58 miles] 

Elsenham [3.71 miles] 

MAP

RAILTOUR 50 YEARS SINCE "THE END OF STEAM" SETTLE AND CARLISLE

Saturday 11th August, 2018

THE MAGNIFICENT SETTLE & CARLISLE LINE AND SHAP AS WELL - HAULED BY STEAM, 50 YEARS AFTER ‘THE END OF STEAM’.

It was fifty years ago - to the very day - that a glorious chapter of Britain's history ended with the (in)famous 'Fifteen Guinea Special', bringing down the curtain on steam on the main line network. From then on soulless diesels and electrics would rule the rails, with the living, breathing giants confined to short and low speed preserved lines.

Fortunately there were those who had other ideas, and steam returned to the main line in 1971, since which time there have been few corners of this 'sceptred isle' that have not witnessed the majesty of steam.

A feature of that fateful day half a century ago was a run over the Settle & Carlisle line, a route whose popularity continues to grow year on year, and no wonder, for anyone who joins this excursion will sit back and wonder at the magnificent vistas that open up at every turn. And yes, you will be steam hauled as well. We had arranged for no. 60163 'Tornado' to haul the train, but due to ongoing maintenance, we are waiting for a replacement loco to be confirmed, which may well be ex-LNER A4 Pacific no. 60009 'Union of South Africa'.

Our day begins with a diesel hauling the train from Bristol to Preston, where our steam locomotive will take command, northwards to Lancaster, past Morecambe Bay and climbing through Oxenholme to Grayrigg Summit. An easing through the Lune Gorge is followed by an assault on the famed climb to Shap, then descent through Penrith to Carlisle, where we avoid the station and make for the Settle & Carlisle line, following the verdant Eden Valley to market town Appleby for a two hour or so break. A complimentary bus shuttle will link the station with the town.

On the restart our magnificent locomotive will hasten into speed for the climb ahead, through Kirkby Stephen and into the mountains that close in as the line runs on the flanks of Wild Boar Fell, with Mallerstang Common towering across the infant River Eden. A final fling sees our loco breast the summit at lonely Ais Gill to run then across the 'roof of England', high above Dentdale to Blea Moor Tunnel and to the magnificent Ribblehead Viaduct, looked down on by the Three Peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Penyghent. Down Ribblesdale we race to Settle then Hellifield, where we take the cross country line to Clitheroe and the hardest climb of the day, to Wilpshire Tunnel.

Down then to Blackburn and soon to the West Coast Main Line for what will hopefully be a fast romp through Lancashire to a crossing of the River Mersey and to the end of our steam journey today at Crewe, followed by the diesel hauled run back to Bristol to conclude our historic day.

Estimated Timings
Joining Stations	Depart	Return
Bristol Temple Meads	0530	2320
Bristol Parkway	0545	2305
Cam & Dursley	0610	2240
Cheltenham Spa	0635	2215
Bromsgrove	0710	2140
Birmingham New St.	0740	2105
Stafford	0830	2015
Crewe	0900	1915

Fares	Adult	Junior	Party of 4
Standard Class	£125.00	£65.00	£480.00	FULLY BOOKED
First Class	£180.00	£140.00	£700.00	FULLY BOOKED
First Class Plus	£199.00	£159.00	£776.00	FULLY BOOKED
Premier Dining	£289.00	£249.00	£1136.00	FULLY BOOKED

LEIGHTON BUZZARD NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY - Model Railway Show 2018

Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway
  - The Engine Shed Model Railway Show
Sunday 5th August 2018

ADDRESS:
Page's Park Station, Billington Road, 
Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire   LU7 4TG

OPENING TIMES: 
SUNDAY 10.30am - 4.30pm

The Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway will be holding a Model Railway Exhibition on Sunday 5 August 2018 with opening hours from 10.30 – 16.30. Entry is free with a ticket for a train ride (£10.50 for adult return, £6.50 for children aged 2-17), or £5.00 adults and £3.00 for children without the train ride.

Held partly in the unique setting of the engine shed the exhibition will feature a range of narrow gauge themed layouts in a range of scales, including 16mm live steam and gauges together with trade support. The exhibition also offers the chance to get a close look at the wide variety of steam locos based at the railway including the Baldwin 10-12-D 4-6-0 loco, one of 495 built in 12 months for service on the Western Front and currently the only working example in the UK.


A two-train service will be in operation on the 3 mile narrow gauge line all day giving the opportunity to see trains passing each other along the line. Train tickets which will give free entry to the model railway show can be booked in advance using the online booking facility on the website. For entry to the exhibition on the day only, tickets will be available at the booking office.

List of Layouts Attending:
Campbell's Quarry 16mm Scale
The End of the Line 7mm Scale - O / O14 Gauge
Fen End Pit
Gare De Brindille
Pepperwick Green 16mm Live Steam
Wilstone 7mm Scale
Q Dump
Mulldale - (O16.5) Letchworth Model railway society
Private Railway set in Northern England circa 1950's canal wharf and light industry narrow gauge layout (below).

In OO9 Scale:
The Dam Railway
Holbeach
Achairaj
Castle Works,
Heys Wharf
Pym Valley Railway

Royston Wharf -- (left) depicts a narrow gauge line running through a village station which includes the usual facilities of a goods yard, cattle dock and engine shed. The wharf provides warehousing and transfer facilities to a canal. The main industry of the villagers is the local ironstone mine. 


List of Other Displays:
7 1.4" Miniature Railway in operation subject to availability.
Also an opportunity to get up close and personal to Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway's Locomotives.

MAP: