RISBOROUGH & DISTRICT MODEL RAILWAY CLUB - RISEX 2022 EXHIBITION

Risborough and District Model Railway Club Exhibition February 2022

Saturday 19th February 2022

LOCATION:
Community Centre, Wades Park, Stratton Road
Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire   HP27 9AX

OPENING TIMES:  10am - 5pm

About the Club
We welcome new members of all abilities from newcomers and novices to master modelmakers. Founded in 1971, we have a diverse membership with a common interest in all things railway. Members model across a range of scales and gauges, eras and countries. Bring along your own modelling projects or work on the club project layouts – currently, Okehampton (O gauge, SR/BR, 1948-55) and Aylesbury Town (P4 gauge, 1950s/60s). Or share knowledge and experience of the real thing.

The club meets on Friday evenings at 7pm till 10pm at the St Mary's Church Hall in Princes Risborough. This is located opposite St Mary's Church and near the main car park in Stratton Road.  The club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021, but sadly could not celebrate it in style. We hope to be able to do this when the risks reduce to an acceptable level.

The club have an established history of building entertaining layouts. These have included: Addison Park, Chiltern Road, Radmore, Chiltern Parkway and New Mills, however, we do not rely solely on past successes and we have a number of layout projects under construction in 'O' and P4. We are custodians of the iconic Aylesbury LNWR (High Street) layout which faithfully reproduces the original station as it was circa1910. When exhibited it has generated a lot of interest, not just in the exquisite modelling but in the history of the railway, local industries (e.g. ducks, osier!) and the development of the town.

RISEX 2022 Exhibition
Confirmed Layouts

Rossiter Rise by Terry Tew.
Set in North London this 00 gauge layout has detailed interior section of an engine shed as well as lots of operational interest. A BR built Class 501 three car unit eases into the main line platforms at Rossiter Rise alongside a pair of Q Stock vehicles on the London Transport line. (pictured above left) The background has been built up to suggest distance in this compact scene. This layout featured in Hornby Magazine in September last year. Rossiter Rise is a fictitious through station set somewhere in North West London during the mid-late 1950s.

The layout consists of a main scenic section placed centrally with a traverser storage yard to the left and a second off-scene yard to the right. This section also has scenic interest in front with the interior of a London Transport (LT) works portrayed. At the front of the main scenic section is a small LT depot with two tracks leading into the works plus a head shunt leading to a single road steam shed. Directly behind this is a London Underground bay terminus platform. Then there is a pair of through tracks constructed as four-rail DC in the style of LT and the North London Line. Finally, at the back, is a through bay platform which is non-electrified.

Mothercombe High Wycombe & District Model Railway Society, Junior Section
00 gauge rural Devon station featuring either GWR or BR period running sessions.

Pentrefan by Mike Morley.
Bringing an Edwardian theme to the show. EM Gauge layout set in the 1920’s based on mid Wales light railway lines.

Cobra Canyon By Riley Barnes.
Cobra Canyon is an American N gauge layout built by John Parkinson of wales but was given to the current owner Riley Barnes with the hope to inspire him to build his own layouts. It is a highly detailed model of a stereotypical Wild West scene, it was seen on the tv program “Hornby: A model world” in November of 2021.

North Barneston By Riley Barnes.
North Barneston is a fictional maintenance depot built by Riley Barnes for the tv program “Hornby: a model world”. It uses techniques learnt by studying his other layout “Cobra canyon”. The TMD and running lines are fictitious but is based on an area in the Leeds and Manchester area in the late 2010s

Marlow Station by Graeme Vickery.
A display of buildings, locos and rolling stock in 00 gauge for construction of model of Marlow Station as it was in 1947

Moos by Mike Roualle
Was featured in Continental Modeller November 2020.
This is the first show outing for Moos. Location is Weinviertel in Lower Austria – through junction station, located on a subsidiary line running from Zwettl to Horn, the standard gauge branch heading to Huf. The narrow gauge heading South to Krumau am Kamp. Whilst the main running line is electrified both the narrow gauge and the branch are not relying on diesel and some steam traction.

The narrow gauge merges in the station area using Tillig dual gauge trackwork. The era modelled is from the late 1970’s onwards- This allows a flexibility in the range of rolling stock, so that some interesting items may appear from time to time.

Oakworth to Maidbridge by Andrew Hicks.
00 Gauge layout there is a central back-scene running the length of the layout dividing it into two 8’x2’ halves. One side is a country station; the other is a town station.

All Cars Stop Here 請在此站停車 by Dave Carson
Based upon a Hong Kong street scene where trams run in the Central District

County School Station By Ollie Simons is attending its first exhibition.
Based on a rural junction station that serves the village of North Elmham. The station included 2 through platforms as well as a bay platform and run-around loop in the adjacent siding. The layout has been recreated as closely as possible to the real location while still in service in the late 1950s. This includes some complex point work and some beautiful scenery. The layout is a DCC sound fitted system including both loco sounds and ambient noises with working signals and lighting. The layout also features stunning custom built buildings

A Work in Progress By David Jay.
“00” gauge tramway which is presently in build. The layout features hand built track with very tight curves as would have been in the day.

O Gauge Shunting Puzzle By R&DMRC.
Conversation among members occasionally turned to the possibility of the Club building a second, smaller, gauge 0 layout that could be transported relatively easily and exhibited at smaller exhibitions such as 'Risex'. A dockside scene was one idea mooted, but the concept took on a practical form when it was suggested that a 'shunting puzzle' would be a good choice.

Nearest Railway Stations:
Princes Risborough [0.47 miles]
Monks Risborough [0.73 miles]
Little Kimble [2.31 miles]
Saunderton [3.42 miles]

NOTTINGHAM MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY EXHIBITION - SPRING SHOW 2022

Nottingham Model Railway Society

  - Spring Show 2022

Saturday 26th - Sunday 27th February 2022

LOCATION:

Highbank Community Centre, Farnborough Road, Clifton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire   NG11 9DG

OPENING TIMES:
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

ADMISSION:  Adults £5.00

Nottingham Model Railway Society's Spring Show 2022 will take place at the Highbank Community Centre which is a short walk from the Holy Trinity tram stop on Farnborough Road.

How to get there

Nottingham Express Tram (NET) to Holy Trinity tram stop.

By Car M1 Jct. 24, use A453 to Clifton. There is some on-Street parking or use the free parking at Clifton NET Park and Ride which is signed from the A453 (Satnav NG11 8BF). 

the exhibition will include several layouts including the club's own iconic Woodhead Electrics layout - Deepcar, a number of trade stands as well as a hands on demonstration.

List of Layouts Attending:

North Haston  HO Scale in New England USA

A new OO9 Layout by Dave Jones (Nmrs)

Britannia Mills. 1950s BR steam in OO based around a local Nottingham industrial layout. 

Hazelby Ballast Loader. BR sector era freight facility, Hazelby Ballast Loader is an N Gauge double track oval layout, It features an open fronted ballast Loader rather similar to the one found at Cliffe Hill until the last days of BR. The loading is done at the push of a button and can be seen from the viewing side of the layout.

Welby Lane RTC, OO BR research department with stunning departmental stock (pictured above). Based on the Derby RTC research test tracks of Old Dalby and Mickleover in the 1970s and 80s.

East Midlands Fremo Group With an extensive US based layout in HO.

Netherwood Sidings. 7mm scale O gauge by Graham Clark. This layout represents the Woodhead line in its final years. The layout is based on a set of exchange sidings near Sheffield. The track plan is freelance but based on features taken from Rotherwood and Wath. 

The bridges, in particular, are based on the real ones in the Rotherwood - Orgreaves area. 

The layout has taken around ten years to build. With scratch built Em1s & Em2s

Taste of Alber, Czech narrow gauge in TTe

Nearest Railway Stations:

Beeston [2.07 miles]

Attenborough [3.55 miles]

Nottingham [3.75 miles]

East Midlands Parkway [3.83 miles]

NORTHAMPTON AND DISTRICT MODEL RAILWAY CLUB - ANNUAL EXHIBITION [Saturday 21st August 2021]

Northampton & District Model Railway Club
  - Annual Exhibition 2021

Saturday 21st August 2021

Location:
Roade Village Hall, Bailey Brooks Lane, Roade, Northamptonshire NN7 2LS

Opening Times:  Saturday 10:00am - 4.00pm

Admission:  Adults £4.00  Concessions £4.00
Children £2.00  Family £8.00 

We are again holding our show at this great venue in Roade which is famous for its railway cutting. The hall is easy to find, has good free parking and easy access for all. We hope you will come along and enjoy the day with us and possibly find that elusive model railway bargain that you have been searching for. You will definitely be assured of a friendly welcome from all of their club members. .

List of Layouts Attending:

Northampton MRC - Castle Station

(Pictured left) OO Gauge Layout of Northampton Castle station before the buildings were replaced in 1965. The layout is a scale model of Northampton’s Castle Station set in the 1930s. It shows the area between Westbridge and Spencer Bridge and features buildings that were replaced in 1965. What makes the model special is the quality of the modelling and the attention to detail. As well as researching the station history, this model is based on photographs and actual measurements of buildings that were taken before its demolition in 1965. 

Fenny Stratford
This OO Gauge Layout is an accurate representation of Fenny Stratford station in the 1950s and replicates the line from the Stag Road bridge, which carried the busy A5 over the Railway, to where the railway crosses the Grand Union Canal. Fenny Stratford is located just east of Bletchley and was part of the Varsity Line running between Oxford and Cambridge operated by the LMS. During the 1950s, the location had a double-track station, a number of sidings and a large active timber yard. During this period, the timetable was comprehensive, with a mixture of passenger and freight services.

Fleebight Wharf

O Gauge layout of a small and cramped service facility in the heart of London's dockland set in the period mid 50's to May 1970 when the P.L.A. ceased rail traffic in the Royal Docks. The steam shed and its service facilities have been demolished and a more modern structure provided. A sub shed of 30A Stratford it allows refuelling and minor repairs to be carried out on the diesel shunters that operated in the numerous yards and transfer sidings that abounded in that area. The only surviving building from the steam era is now situated outside the railway boundary and it has been sold or rented to other organisations

Kinross
OO Gauge Layout of a Scottish distillery from the 1970's

Re-united Biscuits
OO Gauge layout set in a fictitious factory in the grimy North of England.

Baileys Wharf
OO9 Gauge narrow gauge layout based around the second world war in a fictitious location that could be somewhere in Wales or England.

Caxton Industrial Estate
OO Gauge layout of a fictitious industrial estate.

Smallbridge Junction
OO9 Gauge Layout (image left) of an imaginary small junction connecting the branch line to Wood Warehouse. (not to be confused with the location on the Isle of Wight railways).

List of Other Displays:

794 Bus Preservation Group
Northampton Transport Heritage - Will be present with a Crossley double decker bus and provide short trips around the local village.

How to find us by road:
By road from M1

Take M1 junction 15 and follow signs for A508. Follow this road all the way into Roade. Enter Roade through a S bend and then take the first turning on the right BAILEY BROOKS LANE. This turning is signposted Village Hall / Tennis Club.

By road from A5
At the Old Stratford roundabout take the A508 signposted Northampton. Follow this road all the way into Roade. Drive through Roade, past the speed camera, and at the mini roundabout take the first exit (A508). Proceed along A508 until you see signpost Village Hall / Tennis Club. Turn left here into BAILEY BROOKS LANE.

Nearest Railway Stations:
Northampton [5.22 miles]
Wolverton [7.91 miles]
Milton Keynes Central [10.93 miles]

LOCKDOWN #3 2021 CONTINUES, NO RAIL SHOWS, EXHIBITIONS, OPEN DAYS. VERY SAD. 😷

😷Lockdown 2021 continues, so no open days, no exhibitions, no fun. I've had my first Covid-19 vaccine jab which was fine, but with the 2nd vaccine dose not due for about another 10+ weeks what can we look forward to instead of being able to go out? There remains a lack of entertainment to look forward to, sport might continue behind closed doors but my enjoyment of modelling, railways, steam tours is still being denied with venues closed. 

The Hillingdon Railway Modellers will be holding regular Zoom meetings with their members as well as their AGM which is due to be held end of February. Pleased to see they are still getting on with their superb work, as are the London Kings Cross based Model Railway Club who also are holding zoom meetings and lectures with guest speakers. 

https://www.themodelrailwayclub.org/events/mrc-zoom-club-meeting/

A few societies are using social media and you tube to try and deliver something to a waiting audience here are a couple of on line 'shows' coming up soon. I've been viewing some of the bigger shows from previous years on You Tube such as Warley, Rail Wells, and this from Weston Super Mare watch the coal tipper from about 3 mins in that's some modelling skill. 

Kenavon Railway Society
It was announced that with great regret the Kenavon Socitey  cancelled their model railway exhibition planned for 20th February 2021. This annual exhibition is now an online exhibition on their website from 10am on 20th February to 5pm on 21st.  With 25 layouts currently booked in, with more to be confirmed, along with traders, demonstrators and prototype videos. These will be uploaded to the "Exhibition" page on the weekend. Check that out here on the weekend.

The Gauge O Guild are also planning to hold an online show in early March. Virtual Spring Show Saturday 6th March 2021 from 10am till about 4pm.

This year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, the 'real' event has been cancelled, and is replaced by a virtual event. Access to the event is via the home page of the Gauge O Guild website. Here you will find links to traders, the Guild sales area, live and recorded demonstrations of various modelling techniques, and virtual visits to members' layouts in their own home. Several of the presentations will include a Q&A facility.

CLASSIC LAYOUTS -- CHILTERN GREEN N GAUGE (MRC)

This blog post is an opportunity for me reminiscing about a fine layout called 'Chiltern Green and Luton Hoo' which for me was one of the classic N Gauge layouts that I remember from my youth of the late 70s and early 80s. My late father was involved in a number of model railway clubs including the BBC, and the MRC itself as well as a few local ones so it had many a happy summer visiting many locations during the weeks as well as a lot of the bigger exhibitions. Central Hall, Westminster at the time (1970/80s) was the big show of the year, I think that is now the Warley Show held at the NEC. And it was here one summer that I was fortunate enough to join Dad and the likes of (MRC President) Tim Watson and other members of the Model Railway Club to show off this outstanding layout. 

I think it was also a big feature in the Railway Modeller magazine or more than one occasion, I have a copy of the April 1980 edition and I know was proud to have been associated with this club, while at the time was also a long standing member of the BBC Railway club too, which like many things has sadly ceased to function. As a young child, taking to my late father to one show I think was at Royston during the summer I had the great pleasure of operating the small branch seen here on the cover of the magazine, the single railcar running under the mail lines back and forth was enough for me, never mind the extensive four track main line, this branch shuttle would eventually become the extension to the layout called Luton Hoo, and would feature again in the Railway Modeller some years later ! 

The layout was rescued by the Devon Railway Centre, further information can be found on their own site, but also managed to find this information about how they came to save this famous layout (thankfully).
Quote from the then manager of the Devon Railway Centre "I am glad to see so much interest in Chiltern Green.  It really was ground breaking when built as it was the first layout to show the railway running through the landscape and to show the merits of N gauge.  When it finished on the Exhibition circuit it went to Walter Harper's Oakhill manor and when that closed to the public in 1986/7 it was just covered up and left in a barn!!  Fast forward 15 years and Walter contacted me and said come and get it if we wanted it but that the barn was due to be demolished next week. Two days later we rescued the layout and carried it out across all the rubble which was around as the roof and most of the top floor of the barn had been removed that day - the builders were ahead of schedule. The layout was repaired over the next winter and placed on display. Since then further work has been done on scenic, wiring and track." 

There is an excellent reminder of the work and sheer quality for this layout found here on You Tube (link below);

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiMa1cUexGE

The whole thing is a decent watch however if you want to skip through to approx 8m 20s there is a decent piece with the MRC President, Tim Watson about the layout. 

With great thanks to everyone at the Model Railway Club, Kings Cross, London. 

OXFORD AND DISTRICT MODEL RAILWAY CLUB - OXRAIL 2020 [Live on-line]

With all planned Exhibitions and open days remaining cancelled throughout October 2020 we have found at least one Society seeking to keep things rolling with an online event. The Oxford and District MRC are hosting their annual Exhibition Live On line this year. Not the same as the real thing of course but good to see people making an effort to get the word out and share their expertise. 

Saturday 24th - Sunday 25th October 2020
OPENING TIMES:  10am - 10pm
Oxford & District Model Railway Club are proud to present our free International on-line model rail show. With totally new and exclusive videos of O, OO, N, OO9 and Z scale layouts. And including some unusual and surprise guest appearances. This Show will appeal to model railway and model railroad followers from across the world. Browse the exhibits. Participate in and watch the live events. Watch the specially made short documentaries.

We have put this show together during Lockdown. Visiting railway modellers and filming their layouts. Asking them the questions you would ask them at a live exhibition. Our featured layouts cover both exhibition layouts and private layouts that have never been seen before. And we will premiere an extraordinary and unique set of short videos made of a long term project to build a highly detailed continental model railway. We will also show you the oldest running model railway in the world. As well as model railways built with the help of youngsters. We will also showcase the best of Oxfordshires historic railways and three of our modelling projects focused on recreating the lost history of Oxfordshires railways.

Show site at www.oxrail2020.com for more information.

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]