HILLINGDON RAILWAY MODELLERS 2018 OPEN DAYS -- SATURDAY 9th JUNE

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 9th June 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
9 June	Test Track Open Day (confirmed)
25 August	Test Track Open Day (confirmed)
6/7 October	Grindley Brook at Wigan Show
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]

DIESEL ELECTRIC MODELLERS (DEMU) SHOWCASE -- 2/3 JUNE 2018

Showcase 2018
DEMU Showcase is the premier UK exhibition dedicated to diesel and electric modelling and will be on the weekend of 2/3 June 2018.

Opening Times
Saturday 2nd June  10.00 - 17.00
Sunday 3rd June   10.00 - 16.00

Venue
Burton Town Hall, King Edward Place, 
Burton upon Trent, DE14 2EB. 

The venue is situated a very close to the railway station in Burton upon Trent (about a 5 minute walk). However there is now very little/no parking at the Town Hall so would recommend parking in the station car park (between the Travelodge and the railway lines) or in Derby Street car park (in front of the Travelodge opposite the station). The organisers politely request that the street parking spaces in front of the Town Hall be left free for exhibition staff and exhibitors.

Tickets
All tickets are valid for the whole weekend to allow you enough time to see all the exhibits.

Ticket prices are:
  Adults   £9
  DEMU members / children (U16)   £6
  Families (2 adults and unlimited children)   £22

Layouts

ALDERFORD OO GAUGE MODERN IMAGE

  Alderford (4mm OO, above) 
  Burton on Trent (2mm N2)
  Deadman's Lane (4mm OO)
  Devonport Road (4mm OO)
  Ebsworth Street (4mm OO)
  Farmer's Drove (2mm N)
  Friday Bridge (4mm EM)
  Fryer's Lane (4mm P4)

Longcarse West (4mm P4 - Right)
Longcarse West is based on a few run down sidings in the Alloa area of Central Scotland in the period 1975/6. This was once a busy area with both the Caledonian and North British Railways building lines to tap into the local coal, glass making, brewery and distillery business. 

  Oil Drum Lane (4mm OO)
  Sandiacre (4mm OO)

Stapleforth St Stephen's 
(2mm N below)
The layout is a ‘N’ gauge mainline of freelance design, with a track plan designed to provide train movements which are entertaining and hopefully appreciated by those watching and a headache to the operators if they make a mistake. Stapleforth St Stephen's is normally set at the time of the Privatisation Era (1995-present) and you will see representations of all locomotives and stock which have run during the period. 

This layout is 15ft x 3ft and provides continuous running to and from the fiddle yard accommodating 21 full length trains (mostly freight) and as an end to end - fiddle yard to terminus station and return for 9 passenger trains. As you can see from the image below it is very busy, plenty for the visitor to enjoy and also for the operators too. 

UK RAILTOUR -- THE QUANTOCK INTRUDER SATURDAY 26th MAY 2018

Our long-awaited tour taking Merchant Navy Pacific 35028 ‘Clan Line’ from London to the West Somerset Railway has now been confirmed and we are anticipating a lot of interest.

Unusually for ‘Clan Line’ departure is from London Paddington with pick-up stops at Slough (for the M25) and at Reading. After a water stop at Theale we head west down the so-called ‘Berks & Hants’ line which should give opportunities for some sustained fast running.

There will be another water stop at Frome before we reach Taunton where our West Somerset Railway crew join for the journey through the Quantock Hills, passing scheduled WSR steam trains along the way. The line is single-track throughout, winding its way through the truly stunning Somerset countryside to the neatly preserved GWR terminus at Minehead, which is directly alongside the promenade, close to all amenities, pubs and shops.

You will have around three hours at leisure in Minehead, which should be pleasant in May before the summer crowds arrive. If you wish you can take additional journeys on the West Somerset Railway using their own scheduled trains, with specially discounted fares on offer (payable on the day).

On the return journey 35028 will be in charge on the West Somerset Railway section of the journey, unusually running tender-first as our giant of steam it is too long for Minehead’s turntable. At Bishops Lydeard the loco will be detached and a Class 67 will be in charge for the journey back to London.

All timings are provisional and intended only as a guide.

Station	Depart	Arrive
London Paddington	08.00	22.20
Slough (for M25)	08.35	21.50
Reading	09.05	21.25