Moderators AY Mod Posted July 11, 2019 Moderators Share Posted July 11, 2019 From Kent Online Quote AIMREC - the Ashford International Model Railway Excellence Centre - is set to move into Unit 2 of Elwick Place, Ashford after signing a 12-month contract for the premises. Staff will spend around six weeks setting up a number of interactive model railway sets in the 3,541 sq ft space. It will use the Elwick Place unit as a marketing suite to promote their longer-term places to create a permanent model railway entertainment and educational centre in the town - giving potential investors a glimpse into what the project could look like. The suite will be then open to the public free of charge on weekends. "While AIMREC’s board continues to seek a permanent home for a model railway experience that has the potential to draw tens of thousands of visitors to Ashford every year, this temporary arrangement gives them a chance to show off what they can offer. AIMREC website I know from talking to Cliff Parsons that several very exciting developments may take place and this is a great stepping stone towards the ultimate goal. 15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Endacott Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Excellence or Education? Geoff Endacott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted July 12, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 12, 2019 52 minutes ago, Geoff Endacott said: Excellence or Education? Geoff Endacott Their website quotes the acronym as excellence, but yes, education will occur if people see C21 modelling standards in place of R1 curves and big flanges. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Endacott Posted July 13, 2019 Share Posted July 13, 2019 Their website says Education. It's the report which says Excellence. Geoff Endacott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted July 14, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 14, 2019 I've no idea what will happen to Roy Jackson's layout "Retford" (by all accounts that is still to be decided), but wouldn't AIMREC be a fitting home? Options must be very limited for a layout of that size.... 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AY Mod Posted October 29, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted October 29, 2019 Preview opening date, Saturday 7 December 2019 Quote AIMREC (Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre) is pleased to announce that Ashford Borough Council has given us a shortterm lease of Unit 2, Elwick Place, Elwick Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1AE, in close proximity to Ashford International Railway Station, within the new Picture-House Cinema Complex in the town centre, which we will be turning into a showcase suite. The suite will be used to display some sample model railway layouts in various scales, along with display information panels showing the public as well as potential investors and sponsors of the project, our aims and vision for a future 38,000 sqft Centre located in County Square. The suite will be open every weekend until further notice, from 7 December 2019,10am to 4pm with free admission on both days for all. We are especially pleased to announce we will be hosting the layouts of the “Men of Kent’ team from the Chanel 5 series The Great Model Railway Challenge, there will also be opportunities to meet the team themselves and talk about their experience on this TV show. AIMREC If you would like to come along and volunteer your services to help man the layouts at the suite, explain the concept and our vision to the public and/or volunteer to help at the future Centre, we would very much like to hear from you. Please contact us in the first instance at friends@aimrec.co.uk There is ample parking near the unit which is opposite the Debenham’s department store in Elwick Road, Ashord, Kent. AIMREC, Unit 2, Elwick Place, Elwick Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1AE 4 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 A timely reminder that the AIMREC marketing suite opens this Saturday (7th December). It will then be open each Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm According to the updated web site, featured layouts include... Gresley Beat Pempoul Theobald's Yard Railmen of Kent http://aimrec.co.uk/index.html/ . 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEAMYAKIMA Posted December 9, 2019 Share Posted December 9, 2019 Any feedback? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold sjp23480 Posted December 14, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2019 Dropped in today to take a look round, only Pempoul was not working. Speaking to one of the trustees they had 550 people through the door last weekend. The current set up is intended to gauge interest in the concept before they make a decision on permanent premises. The standard of the modelling on the layouts is exceptional, I was also very impressed with the Railmen of Kent layouts - all three are there per the show finale. Well worth dropping in if you are in the vicinity. Perhaps while your SO is looking round the shops or the designer outlet, or if you are on your way to the KESR or RHDR down the road? Steve 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Does anyone know what the opening times will be over the Christmas period? Will it be the normal opening times over the weekend of the 28th & 29th ? Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Well, I was in Ashford over Christmas, but not while the AIMREC showcase was open. Hopefully I’ll be back there at the end of January and will get an opportunity to “escape” from the mother-in-law’s for an hour or two, to pop down and make a visit. Has anyone else been there yet? Any more reports? Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 I popped into the showcase a couple of weekends ago, just for a look. Not a lot to see, but another chance to admire Pempoul and the Gresley Beat, although each only had a solitary train continuously circuiting the layout and no other operation or action taking place. The Great Model Railway Challenge and children’s layouts had no interest for me, but there are a couple of other layouts there; a rather tired looking Theobald’s Yard and a small N scale layout based on Dungeness. Sadly, particularly with Pempoul and the Gresley Beat, it felt to me like discovering a forgotten and abandoned fairground, where everything was still in its place and in perfect working order, but all the people had long disappeared and the life had gone out of it. Maybe that’s just because it was a miserable damp, grey February afternoon and there weren’t many people about. There were only another 4 adult visitors and a couple of small children present in the showcase itself whilst I was there. All credit to the volunteers who are making the sacrifice and putting in the effort to man the exhibition. If it’s normally that quiet, it must be quite discouraging for them. Who knows, I might have been unfortunate to visit at a very slack time. I hope they can make a go of the project. . 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 On local news website https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/model-railway-centre-closes-its-doors-231945/ Stu 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AY Mod Posted August 12, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted August 12, 2020 I wish Cliff and the team all the best in moving forward with alternative approaches. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW_AIMREC Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 Hi All, I see this thread is a bit old, but I thought I'd add a much needed update. At present AIMREC has moved out of our exhibition site at Elwick Place. We had hoped to move into Debenhams, but for the time being that is on the backburner. As of next month, we will open up at our new workshop site shared with Railmen of Kent. This is just outside of Ashford in Bethersden. This is a interim location whilst we try to locate and secure funding for a larger premises within Ashford town center. Due to space restrictions, we'll be running sessions with up to 10 people per hour. These will be more interactive with control of some of the layouts being handed over to our guests, gone are the days of "look but don't touch". For more information it's best to look at our website https://aimrec.co.uk/ or Facebook It's been a long road to get this far, but the future for AIMREC is bright. I will be an active member of the RMWeb forum and I am happy to try and answer any questions you may have. Thanks Mike W 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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