LOCAL MODEL RAILWAY CLUB INFO - STILL NO OPEN DAYS [AUGUST 2020]

As we've already mentioned in an earlier post there are still no signs that Model Railway Clubs will be hosting any Exhibitions or Open Days for at least another month or two, maybe even longer sadly. So while we have some time on our hands have been browsing some of the Model Railway Clubs in my area, some are quite local and a few I've personally attended, have always been well received, the Hillingdon Railway Modellers open days are certainly being missed as it's nice to get out and give Dads models a bit of a run, especially the O Gauge ones as I simply don't have the operating space.

Twickenham & District Model Railway Club
Meetings are held on Friday evenings from 19:30 to 22:30 at Kerswell Hall, Wills Crescent, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 2JF, with monthly workdays on a Saturday. They would normally have held their annual Open Day in July sadly had to miss that one.
Website:- www.tdmrc.org.uk
Chairman: chairman.tdmrc@gmail.com
Secretary: secretary.tdmrc@gmail.com
The club has its main layouts in '0', '00', and 'N' Gauges, which are shown on the club website. The club's superb '0' Gauge exhibition layout, Addison Road, is set in the mid-1920s just after Grouping, and features trains arriving and passing through from Clapham Junction of the Southern Railway and its predecessors, as well as impressive hand-built working models of the former LNWR/LMS 'Oerlikon' 3-car EMUs in LNWR and LMS liveries.  One of the '00' Gauge layouts under construction, is a model based on the former LSWR/SR Station, Twickenham Junction, set in the BR(S) Region era around 1961, on the premise that the original Victorian station was not closed and demolished but replaced by the present BR-built station opened in 1954. The layout features the signature flyover, dating from 1883, as well as accurate models of the various buildings in and around the station, some of which still exist today. Other '00' layouts are Northwick, a south-western coastal terminus and Eastgate set somewhere south-east of Manchester. The 'N' Gauge layouts are Batty Moor, based on Blea Moor on the Settle and Carlisle Railway, and Milton, a simple freelance double-sided modular layout.

This was the final club/society that my late father was a full member of, so always highly regarded by us, usually meets on a Thursday evening in Yiewsley Baptist Church Hall in West Drayton every Thursday evening from 19:30 to 22:00. The hall is located at the intersection of Fairfield Road and Colham Avenue. West Drayton mainline station is a few minutes walk away. 

We regularly publish their open days and exhibition layouts, which include their O Gauge "Grindley Brook" (pictured left and below), they are very knowledgeable people and always worth a visit to give the trains a decent run on their sizeable O Gauge test track. There are also layouts and test tracks available for OO and N modellers too and there is always a project on the go whatever your preference.

East Grinstead Model Railway Club.
The Club room is in the basement of East Court Mansion, College Lane, East Grinstead RH19 3LT and Club nights are Mondays and Thursdays from 7.30 to 10.00pm. Visitors and prospective members are always welcome with tea and biscuits served around 9.00pm.
Website:- www.egmrc.org.uk
They have layouts in different scales and gauges, both 'Eastbridge MPD' and 'Five Ash Down' are exhibition layouts are both 'Southern' prototype.

East Surrey 'N' Gauge Group (of the N Gauge Society)
Meets fortnightly in Redhill, first Thursday and third Wednesday each month at Earlswood Baptist Church Hall, St Johns Road, Redhill RH1 6DZ
Website:- https://www.esng.club
'N' Gauge only, but covers Continental and UK railways. The main object of the club is to play trains with friends - but it also provides an opportunity for enthusiasts of 'N' gauge model railways to meet and exchange experiences, information and ideas! Interests are wide ranging - steam, electric and diesel power, British and overseas. The club uses 'modular' layouts - members build sections at home that can be joined together into one larger layout. Many members have modular boards; most also have their own 'home' layout.
Epsom & Ewell MRC

Meetings are held at Ruxley Church, Ruxley Lane, West Ewell KT19 0JG: Every Monday evening (except Bank Holidays) from 7.45pm to 10.45pm. On a monthly basis one Thursday evening each month from September - April (inclusive) an invited Guest Speaker presents an illustrated talk on a subject of prototypical or model railway interest.
Website:- https://sites.google.com/site/epsomewellmrc
Epsom & Ewell Model Railway Club exists to bring together those who reside in and around Epsom interested in the hobby of railway modelling. The town of Epsom and nearby village of Ewell make up a semi-rural community located about 15 miles (24 km) south west of central London. Founded in 1952, membership now exceeds 50 members. Regular weekly meetings are supported by a varied programme of other events including illustrated presentations, outings and exhibitions.

Orpington & District Model Railway Society
Meetings are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday evenings and on Fridays The Society is based in its own premises located at Pratts Bottom, Orpington, just off the main A21 route to Sevenoaks. There are good clubhouse facilities with ample on- site car parking for members.
Website:- https://odmrs.uk/

Founded in 1951 the Club has layouts in the following scales/gauges: 'O', 'O16.5', 'EM', 'OO', 'HO', and 'N'. One member has a two foot gauge in his paddock with a Simplex (working) and a Barclay steam engine (being rebuilt). The Club usually has an open day there each year.
There is a permanent clubhouse, built by the club, with layout room and library / tea-room (most important). 

The EM layout is Admiralty Exchange Sidings, which is set in the Medway area of Kent, the layout represents the meeting point of a cross country line of the former South Eastern and Chatham Railway with a line serving a naval dry stores depot. Many of the members actively model Southern or its constituents/successors and several of the Society members are active at the Bluebell and KESR. Their next exhibition is on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th January 2021 at Pratts Bottom Village Hall, all subject to change given the unusual circumstances this year.
[updated 20th August 2020]