“OO” Gauge Model Railway
Embedded Files
Repurposing The Storeroom
Used as a store room after being re-roofed as part of the 1994 refurbishment, the former urinals block at the end of the station building had latterly become something of a dumping ground and an approach was made to Ian Longworth as Director of Transport for the Friends Of... to repurpose the room as a model exhibition in 2019.
Happily an agreement was reached on the proviso that provision was made for cleaning materials, and work began on panelling out the room and providing an integral cupboard for storage. Paul Cooil kindly undertook the carpentry works in this room for the group and by the early part of the season it was ready for fitting.
Work Continues
Ash Blake kindly paved the area outside the room for better access, and directional signage has been provided as well as historical displays and posters for the walls, on a theme of the pre-war Great Western Railway and with a number of local railway adverts and images. Reliant upon the donation of both models and time, the model is being developed over time.
We always welcome new members and particularly anyone with an interest or skill-set in model railways, and you can contact this site for further details. We have amassed a goodly number of models by donation over time, several of which require assembly, maintenance and painting, please do get in touch if you can help us! We always welcome new members, and there's a kettle on site, always a plus to volunteers!
Thanks & Acknowledgements
These works have been on the priority list for the group for several years and would not have been possible without the assistance of a number of parties, namely:-
Paul Cooil Robin Rice
Qualtroughs Timber Merchants
Bill Galley Marcus Owen
Tony Matthews Arnold Fringe
Jeremy Grimshaw Ian Longworth
Model Building From Scratch
Regular station master and Friends Of... secretary Grant Taylor undertook to carry out the modelling works and began a large, three-loop layout which made best use of the area provided, complete with storage beneath the model; with assistance from Tony Brown the electrics were completed and work started on the scenery and buildings.
It is often said that a good model railway is never quite finished, and this will certainly be the case here; while over half of the scenery is in place, the work is spasmodic and reliant upon volunteer time, but the model room is generally open when the station is, albeit not always running. It has proved a popular additional attraction.
The Second Such Model
The first foray into modelling at the station by the Friends Of... volunteers came in 2012 when a smaller "N" gauge layout was created in the bay window of the stationmasters' office, viewable through the outside window. For operational reasons (installing a computer and printer) this had to be dismantled in 2014 and presently remains in storage.
If anyone has an interest in this, please do get in touch with us, it was built bespoke to fit the space and would need rebuilding, but is effectively a kit of parts that merely requires reassembly on a five foot board. We would love to see it operational again in the future but would need to identify a new area in which it can be displayed, on or off site.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse