Any interest from both sides of the England - Scotland Border?

[Norm81]

Just wondering how much interest there is in my geographical area and those surrounding. Given the idea is a group of module owners meet up for a running session so travel distance is a factor.

 

I definitely fancy a crack at a module but don't want to have to travel hours to meet up with the next nearest module if that makes sense.

[Graham Hughes]

I quite fancy building a module too even though, or perhaps because, it is so different from my usual modelling but probably the folks in the south-east are nearer to you than I am.  

[Dungrange]

I'm quite open to the idea of a modular approach to building, but travel distance is a major factor.  Based in Edinburgh, Peterhead and the North East of England / Carlisle are all roughly two hours away, but in different directions.

 

Whilst interested in the concept, I wouldn't envisage being a driving force in regional meetings principally due to lack of time and family commitments.  As such, I'm interested in the concept of constructing a short 3 foot scenic section simply because I never seem to find the time to make progress with a planned 14 foot layout in my attic, which is only part built.  However, such a module could become a test track / DCC programming track / photographic diorama, but as a modular component of a larger layout it is only of any use if others were interested in developing modules where things could take place; stations, freight yards and the like.

 

If such a regional group is to develop as a result of the RMWeb Challenge 2015, then I'd be interested in getting involved.

[Norm81]

Thanks for the replies. I'm probably going to build a module myself, but thought rather than sitting thinking noone within reasonable distance was interested and it would be destined never to be joined to another I should ask.

 

So just gauging interest in the general geographical area to be honest. A 2hr drive does not bother me, I realise I'm in one of the more sparsely populated parts of the country.

[Steve-e]

Hi,

 

I've been building a module for a while http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/89812-bankside-update-260215-the-final-countdown-modular/

and I'm looking to build another 2, 1 x 3ft straight  and 1 x 3ft curved as these sizes are (hopefully) handy for the car.

 

Based in Carlisle and looking at those who have replied so far, somewhere in the Edinburgh area would look like a good meeting place we could do with a nice group of central Scotland RMwebbers taking the challenge.   

 

 

Steve

[Norm81]

I'm planning something along the lines of plain double track, centreline of board 7ft long and a 30 degree angle, so a wide sweeping curve.

 

Was going to go for a bridge but that's already being done, so back to the drawing board.

 

Steve - is your module single track both ends?

[Steve-e]

My Bankside module is a single on end double the other.

 

The curved boards that I have on order will be single track boards, the straight board on order I'm not sure about a double to single may work in conjunction with my bankside to provide a run round.

 

Once I have the boards I'll start some threads to talk through what I'm doing.

 

Cheers

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi all,

 

I see 'Local Area Module Groups' as a way forward.

 

How local is local? - Yes - I here you asking!

 

Local to me would imply 'A reasonably acceptable travel time'.

 

Obviously in some areas with better road connections the group could be spread further apart but all be withing - for arguements sake - 1 hour travel time.

 

Do you think that is too much time travelling?

 

Bear in mind that an evening meet would become 2 hours travel time and however many hours 'on the module' as acceptable to the individuals!

 

As an example - Scottish Modellers - the society, has members spread throughout the UK but mainly concentrated in the Scottish Lowlands. We mainly meet at shows to provide demonstrations.

 

Most of us are members of DEMU and are on RMWeb regularly.

 

Occasionally we meet at a members house to try and get work done on layouts.

 

Even doing it this way, is a 30 minute drive each way for me.

 

So - I am based in the Edinburgh area - so an Edinburgh location would suit me.

 

The question is - where!

 

Edinburgh costs big bucks for a meeting room - even the hotels with meeting rooms charge.....

 

More thought required!

 

Thanks

[Scottish Modeller]

Thanks for the replies. I'm probably going to build a module myself, but thought rather than sitting thinking noone within reasonable distance was interested and it would be destined never to be joined to another I should ask.

 

So just gauging interest in the general geographical area to be honest. A 2hr drive does not bother me, I realise I'm in one of the more sparsely populated parts of the country.

Hi Norm,

 

Remember - a 2 hr drive means 4 hours travelling in total!

 

How much train time would you get before you have to get going home?

 

Thanks

[runs as required]

... just gauging interest in the general geographical area to be honest. A 2hr drive does not bother me, I realise I'm in one of the more sparsely populated parts of the country.

Even in the NE thats a relative claim - do you mean you are somewhere north of Wooler, or SW of Stanhope? In which case - in my terms (Blaydon) - you are remote

dh

[Norm81]

Hi Norm,

 

Remember - a 2 hr drive means 4 hours travelling in total!

 

How much train time would you get before you have to get going home?

 

Thanks

Yes it does - but I doubt I'm going to find enough interested parties any closer. Ref your other post, I wasn't gong to get down into the details until it was clear there were enough interested parties geographically close enough for the whole thing to be viable. I wasn't considering regular weekday meets at all, purely weekend running sessions.

 

The intent was "who is interested and where are you" to see if it was even feasible.

 

  

Even in the NE thats a relative claim - do you mean you are somewhere north of Wooler, or SW of Stanhope? In which case - in my terms (Blaydon) - you are remote

dh

To put my travel distances into perspective:

 

30 mins is - Alnwick, Haltwhistle, Durham.

1hr is - Berwick, Carlisle, Scotch Corner.

2hrs is - Edinburgh (just), Workington, Pontefract.

 

I'm at 52F (well, that's the nearest).

[Steve-e]

The South East coast Group are having a modular meet herehttp://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97354-secag-modular-meet-27th-june-2015/

While it maybe a bit far for some in the North it provides an insight into the modular meet. I understand there will be plenty of photos taken and will be well documented so worth while following the thread.

 

Cromptonut has put a lot of effort into application packs etc. So anyone interested in the how and where maybe have a word.

 

Steve

[Dungrange]

Hi all,

 

I see 'Local Area Module Groups' as a way forward.

 

How local is local? - Yes - I here you asking!

 

Local to me would imply 'A reasonably acceptable travel time'.

 

Obviously in some areas with better road connections the group could be spread further apart but all be withing - for arguements sake - 1 hour travel time.

 

Do you think that is too much time travelling?

 

Bear in mind that an evening meet would become 2 hours travel time and however many hours 'on the module' as acceptable to the individuals!

 

As an example - Scottish Modellers - the society, has members spread throughout the UK but mainly concentrated in the Scottish Lowlands. We mainly meet at shows to provide demonstrations.

 

Most of us are members of DEMU and are on RMWeb regularly.

 

Occasionally we meet at a members house to try and get work done on layouts.

 

Even doing it this way, is a 30 minute drive each way for me.

 

So - I am based in the Edinburgh area - so an Edinburgh location would suit me.

 

The question is - where!

 

Edinburgh costs big bucks for a meeting room - even the hotels with meeting rooms charge.....

 

More thought required!

 

Thanks

 

Phil,

 

You make some very valid points there.  I agree that 'Local' is the best way forward, but equally this requires a concentration of individuals in proximity of one another to make local modular meets viable.  Ideally, separate 'local' groups could form covering the North East of Scotland, Scottish Central Belt, North East England and North West England, but based on the number of people responding to this thread (which Norm81 posted to gauge potential interest), such local groups are perhaps not viable (due to insufficient numbers: only six RMWeb members have posted in this thread, spread over a rather wide geographic area from Peterhead to Carlisle).

 

I wouldn't envisage evening meetings but rather Saturday meetings on an adhoc basis (say, bi-annual).  Time would be slightly less critical for a day away, although I think your one hour travel time is about right.  As a member of Edinburgh and Lothian MRC, I frequently attend 'local' shows with one of the club layouts, but in general, these exhibitions tend to be in places like Dundee, Perth, Glasgow and Hawick, all within around a one hour drive from our club rooms in Edinburgh.   We've done Berwick and Carlisle in the past, although in the case of the later stayed overnight rather than travelling there and back on the same day.

 

If we were to calculate the location where the aggregate travel time for all of those who have responded to this thread is minimised, a regional meet in the Edinburgh area would likely be most viable, but that doesn't mean that the meet would have to be in the city itself.  One of the reasons for no local Edinburgh model railway exhibition is the higher cost of renting a venue, which in turn makes it more difficult to break even.  Your point about cost is therefore important. However, somewhere outside of the city may be more viable in terms of cost: I'm thinking of Haddington, Dalkeith, Penicuik, Peebles or even Galashiels (sorry Graham - all of these are to the south of the city).

 

However, until there a number of modules actually being built (rather than just planned) I don't think that there is a need to over think a meeting venue or date at this point in time.

 

Hopefully a few more will post here over time.

[runs as required]

I'm thinking of Haddington, Dalkeith, Penicuik, Peebles or even Galashiels.......

However, until there a number of modules actually being built (rather than just planned) I don't think that there is a need to over think a meeting venue or date at this point in time.

Hopefully a few more will post here over time.

Although it might be good to have an objective in mind that we could see if we could mobilise for

- like this place in, say, July for instance

http://saughtreestation.weebly.com/

they have a fair sized room and it is not far on from Galashiels; accessable from from the NW - Cumbria and Galloway - as well as from Edinburgh and from the North East .

 

From what I've just learnt doing some instant research here anyone minded to participate needs to commit to contributing at least three 3 foot long modules of fairly bland anwhere's ville/any epoch trackwork.

 

Plus it seems to need a co-ordinator who might organise some 'turning corners' and/or 'turn out' modules. I'd like to propose Norm81 for this role

 

dh

[Norm81]

It'll take some time for us to build up 3 min 3ft modules each I would think. I'm far from being qualified for the position of coordinator!

 

It's unfortunate the south east coast group are so far away, if a group in Yorkshire or even the Midlands were having a similar meet there would be the possibility to go and see how it is done.

[Dungrange]

....July for instance....

 

From what I've just learnt doing some instant research here anyone minded to participate needs to commit to contributing at least three 3 foot long modules of fairly bland anwhere's ville/any epoch trackwork.

 

Plus it seems to need a co-ordinator who might organise some 'turning corners' and/or 'turn out' modules.

 

Is that July 2015: I wont even have started by then!!!  Later in the year would seem to make more sense and besides I'll be on holiday for half of July.  Your suggested venue is around 1 3/4 hours from my house according to Google Maps, so not out of the question.

 

Besides, I was only intending to build a short test module within the Challenge 2015 timescales (ie by end of December).  I wasn't proposing to contribute at least three modules.  Is that requirement based on attaining a reasonable running length from five individuals or are that many 'bland' modules really required in addition to those bringing modules where things actually happen (stations, yards etc)?

 

I'm also going to rule myself our for a regional coordinator role.

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi all,

 

First off.......

 

Whoa!

 

Who said anything about anyone having to have a minimum number of modules?

 

The whole point is that anyone can contribute however many modules they choose to.

 

So - if you have time, funds and inclination - build as many as you want!

 

Otherwise - you just build what you can and can transport.

 

The whole point of being modular is:-

 

No matter how many modules are brought to any get together - they can all connect!

 

Once you get the feel for what is available - then decide if there are any specific modules that are needed to make things more functional and how they are to be funded/provided.

 

Thanks

[Steve-e]

 

However the goal will be to look at the locations of those participating to look forward to a non-public event where all module participants can bring their modules along and take part in an enjoyable social and operational event; date and location dependent on participants and venue availability.

 

 

Good luck all!

 

Hopefully as above there is something organised at the end of the challenge where we can all get together until then it's a case of making boards and if someone comes forward to lead a meet then that would be great.

 

There are people out there who this would appeal to, there are those who like the planning, those good at control systems, those interested in timetabling, scenery, signalling, weathering, detailing, scratch building, the opportunities of the principle are great in that everyone can be included with their own little module(s) .

 

Unfortunately I don’t see myself as an organiser so also rule myself out as a co-ordinator, however I think the whole principle is great and something for the future of the hobby and will try my best to attend any meets I can.

 

 

Cheers

[runs as required]

Hopefully as above there is something organised at the end of the challenge where we can all get together until then it's a case of making boards and if someone comes forward to lead a meet then that would be great.

 

There are people out there who this would appeal to, there are those who like the planning, those good at control systems, those interested in timetabling, scenery, signalling, weathering, detailing, scratch building, the opportunities of the principle are great in that everyone can be included with their own little module(s) .

 

Unfortunately I don’t see myself as an organiser so also rule myself out as a co-ordinator, however I think the whole principle is great and something for the future of the hobby and will try my best to attend any meets I can.

 

 

OK in terms of a Borders 'meet-up', it's obvious my suggestion of summer 2015 is much too soon - so there is no hurry.

 

Also thinking more about it, I doubt the room at Saughtree station could accommodate more than 4 modules of Steve-e's 6 x 2ft (or 3ft) dimensions.  Plus I hadn't even considered insurance - does that mean cover against the premises burning down by our actions, or of the individual layout modules or both ?

 

mmm....

Some quiet planning and careful research into module potentials/limitations lies ahead for me.

dh

[Steve-e]

 

Also thinking more about it, I doubt the room at Saughtree station could accommodate more than 4 modules of Steve-e's 6 x 2ft (or 3ft) dimensions. 

 

 

My first board is 6ft x 18" the next will be 3ft x 18"

 

The standards are here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/88537-rmweb-modular-project-standards/ there are useful diagrams in this thread http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/87665-british-modular-system-the-initial-ideas-and-debates/?p=1505084  to how to build but you will need to sort the wheat from the chaff though  .

 

Cheers

[Dungrange]

OK in terms of a Borders 'meet-up', it's obvious my suggestion of summer 2015 is much too soon - so there is no hurry.

 

Nothing like striking while the iron is hot!  Yes, I think you’re probably too eager by about a year.  All this thread has indicated is that there ‘may’ be the potential to hold a Scottish Border Counties modular meet at some point in the future.  Would five attendees be viable?  I have my doubts, but it is largely dependent on what people produce and can transport.  I think that the SECAG meeting on 27 June may be a good way to judge this.

If five of us were to build a three foot single track board, all we would be able to erect would be a 15 foot test track!  Would a three and a half hour round trip by car, plus another hour for unloading, erection, dismantling and packing up be worthwhile?  In my opinion, the answer is a most definite ‘no’.

To create a layout of interest, the collective would probably require (as a minimum):

• At least one junction board;

• Three termini (one for each arm of the junction); plus

• Half a dozen plain track boards to increase the distance between the various termini and the junction board.

At the end of the 2015 Challenge I doubt very much that we as a collective will have sufficient modules to build an interesting modular set up, but that is probably the time to take stock and discuss more seriously what would be needed to get a meeting outside the south of England off the ground.

I think that the Southeast meet in June 2015 was first discussed at the start of the year, so we are probably looking at a six month lead time to allow participants the opportunity to build additional modules (should they so choose).  Personally, I think that we would need at least seven attendees to make a meet viable, so possibly need to recruit first.  Perhaps demonstrate the concept at a few ‘local’ model railway exhibitions.

Once there is the prospect of a potentially viable meet we can discuss DCC systems, time periods, type of operation, stock requirements etc.

In the meantime, I have decided to formally commit to the 2015 Challenge and have posted a separate thread on my plain track module here.