The annual Macclesfield Model Railway Exhibition will be held over the weekend of 5th and 6th April 2025 at:
 
Tytherington High School,
Manchester Road,
Macclesfield,
Cheshire.
SK10 2EE
 
There will be the usual High standard of modelling on display, as anyone who has visited the show before will attest.
Each and every year, we go to extraordinary lengths to try and ensure that the visiting content is not only of an extremely high standard, but also has not been seen in the North West of England previously.
 
In line with that mantra, we have 4 of the gathering layouts that will be making their Exhibition debuts at our show - one of which is a 42ft long, 4mm finescale LNW inspired layout from Peter Thomas.
We will also have the fantastic restaurant on site yet again, offering hot and cold meals, plus snacks and drinks.
 
There will also be the FREE vintage double decker bus providing nostalgic travel from Macclesfield railway station and pick up points around the town, to the venue.
 
Further details will be entered on here when available, but this show is not one to be missed!

Event details

Pratts Bottom Village Hall
Norsted Lane (off Rushmore Hill)
Orpington BR6 7PQ
 
Organised by the Orpington & District MRS a model railway exhibition with something for all the family and enthusiasts alike. A wide variety of layouts in and interactive fun exhibits for all ages to enjoy.
Pick up a used bargain at our well stocked club shop or buy new from the  Kent Garden Railways  stand.  OO loco clinic
 
Layouts and exhibits attending will be :
 
Ranscombe Lawn Railway      SM32
A Train Set For Christmas. 1:12 scale, 3mm gauge
Cule’s Quarry. 009
Foss Islands Road. 0
Lightermans Yard. 2mm finescale (2FS)
Foldham 00
Chrilvinton Town N Gauge or 2mm to 1ft
Northport Quay 7mm scale, 36.75mm gauge
Railroad Crossing HO
The Yard 7mm
Little Totston                               OO
Kenco Lake (coffee table)          N
CoombeTemple                          N
Mont Blaireau                             HO
Tomytown                                   Tomy
Wooden Rails                             Brio
 
Admission £6 adults, £1.50 children (under 3 free). Family Group - 2 adults & 2 children £13.50
Wheelchair users are admitted at a reduced rate as they will not be able to access the stage area. All other areas are fully accessible.
 
Light refreshments
 
For further information Email; [email protected]

Event details

The SWAG RmWeb Members day for 2025  is scheduled for..........
 
 Sunday, 6th April 2025. 
 
That's........
 
10AM- 4PM , Sunday 6th April 2025
 

 
Where
 
Staplegrove Village Hall, 
214 Staplegrove Road,
Taunton.
TA2 6AL 
 
The event is held on the ground floor only and is fully accessible. 
 
Serious stuff. 
 
************PLEASE NOTE***********
 

 
IF TRAVELLING BY CAR, REMEMBER,  THERE IS LIMITED PARKING AT THE HALL ITSELF.
 

 
THE VENUE SITS WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL AREA SO PLEASE PARK WITH DUE CONSIDERATION TO LOCAL RESIDENTS.
 
FUN STUFF.........
 
LAYOUTS. 
 
The Running Shed-7mm-Ian Statham.
 
Ian flys the 7mm flag this year with his 7mm micro layout depicting the interior of a Western Region engine shed and features his lovely builds of Western Region locos. Subtle interior lighting really showcases his locos in a typically gritty but nicely subdued manner. Some lovely figures and interior fittings add to the ambience. If you think you can't fit a 7mm diorama into the house or model large GWR locos in 7mm, think again. 
 
Juniper Hill Tip- 4mm 00 gauge by@46444 aka Mark Branson. 
Mark brings his new London Transport inspired cameo layout along this year.
Set somewhere in Hertfordshire, just off the Metropolitan Libe, near Watford, you can find a site called Juniper Hill Tip. Owned by London Transport, waste permanent way materials are brought out of London, along with hot ashes for disposal. Expect Red Panniers and old ex Metropolitan Railway E Class locos shuffling about this quiet backwater.............but beware the sneaky Sentinel waiting in the wings.......The end is nigh for steam, I tell ye !!
 
Helland Wharf-4mm 00 Gauge- by @Mike_Walker
 
Mike, inspired by the work of well known photographers such as Peter Gray has modelled this well known location on the Boscarne Junction to Wenford Bridge line. Mike has devised a rather cunning operating schedule which has rung the most out of what is a very simple track plan, surrounded by a very faithful depiction of the immediate area. Expect Beattie Well Tanks in a protypical setting and no doubt other equally typical motive power appropriate to the 1960s period. 
 
Trerice-4mm P4 by the late Iain Rice @queensquare.
Jerry has forsaken his usual 2mm F/S contribution to bring us Trerice, Iain Rice's well known and arguably seminal China clay cameo layout. A personal favourite of mine and inspiration to many. I don't think I need to say any more than that.
 
Bethesda Sidings-4mm 00 F/S @Captain Kernow aka Tim Maddocks
Bethesda Sidings’ represents the goods yard of Capel Bethesda, using the road bridge that carried the lane to Penybont over both the goods yard connecting line and the main line to Rhayader as a scenic break.
The layout is goods only and a variety of typical W.R. motive power appears, such as pannier tanks, 14XX tanks, and the occasional Ivatt 2-6-0 or a ‘Dukedog’.
As the layout is set in the post-November 1962 period, trains from the Vale of Radnor Light Railway are authorised to run over BR metals from Vale of Radnor Ground Frame into the goods yard, so a variety of industrial and light railway types will be available.
 
Abergain- 4mm EM Gauge by @Abergwaunaka Graham Tierney. 
 
Graham will be recognised by many visitors as a member of the Cardiff 4mm Group who have brought us many fine Welsh pre-grouping EM Gauge layouts over the years. This is Graham's own layout which depicts a joint Taff Vale/GWR coastal terminus in West Wales set around 1922. Expect a good selection of pre-groupagery including a rather tasty Taff Vale Railway Steam Railmotor. 
 
Juniper Hill-4mm 00 presented by @wiggoforgoldbut originally knocked together by @46444
 
Alex now has custody of Mark's lovely little Juniper Hill micro layout.  Based around a Northamptonshire ironstone quarry line, this delightful layout appeared in the May 2014 edition of BRM. 
Based on a  a 3 ft x 7inch shelf found in the garage and using some SMP track and a couple of PECO Code 75 points which Mark had to hand at the time, the idea behind Juniper Hill was that it shoukd represent the end of a Quarry system where loco's could take water. Also present is a store which acts as a view blocker and provides a bit of operational interest. Another example of how a small layout can provide the space starved modeller with a working layout. 
 
Templegate Wagon Works - 7mm @Bungus the Fogeyman Dave brings us his Micro layout which demonstrates how we all can accommodate a 7mm layout, despite a lack of space. Dave's build, as is often the case for me, arises from a particular loco. In this case it's Dapol's excellent 08 shunter. Go on, you know you want to do it. Have a chat with Dave, buy a 7mm wagon and it's downhill from there...........
 
 DEMONSTRATORS.
 

 
 
Once again we have a selection of specialists to entertain and advise on really cool stuff.
 

 
Stu, aka @Stubby47 will be there to discuss your requirements for a bespoke building or two. He'll also be demoing a selection of buildings by Railway Laser Lines, who are localish to Taunton.
Stu will also will have some of his own kit designs they are ( or will be) producing . He
can offer a custom building service for this lovely range of buildings and accessories. If you struggle to locate him, he'll be once again lost under a mound of chocolate cake crumbs. 
 
Martyn aka @mullie will be returning with something small and East Anglian and once again be sharing how he achieves such lovely colouring on his models. 
 
Chris, aka @Gilbert will be able to advise on various couplings and will possibly have other bits with him relating to his ongoing projects. 
 
Simon aka @Not Jeremyonce again brings us a selection of Big Boys Toys in Gauge 1 as operated on his garden railway at his country seat. 
 
Corbs aka @Corbs/ @RapidoCorbscomes to SWAG'25. No idea what he's doing, but he has a table. I'll be as surprised as you are ! 
 
James Daniels also joins us. James models in EM Gauge and has a penchant for producing ridiculously small but perfectly running locomotives from etched kits ( I can see him and our own CK getting on like a house on fire !). He'll also have his first layout, a test build in EM ( Obviously !) with him which will illustrate how small a project can be both fulfilling and provide a bit of stress relief when needed. Ask him about anything.....but he's not very good on football. 
 
Last, but by no means least Phil Parker @Phil Parkerwill hopefully have a selection of his builds as  featured in BRM to hand......well, if his hand is not full of cake that is. 
 
CATERING DEPARTMENT. 
 

 
Our crack catering team, in the form of Peter, aka @peter220950 and Muz, aka @Graham_Muzwill be on hand to serve up a veritable feast of delights. The usual pasties, scratch built cakeage, cups of tea and coffee along with the usual smorgasbord of biscuits and Welsh cakes will feature. 
 
All we ask is if possible, please bring your own mug to help keep the amount of washing up to a minimum and prevent the catering team’s little pinkies from drying out. (Costs a fortune in moisturiser for them otherwise)
Profit from all sales on the day will go towards supporting future SWAGs with the excess being donated to charity. 
 
☆Please note...Following a successful trial at SWAG'24, Catering purchases can be made with either cash or card☆
 
BRING AND BUY.
 

 
Once again our highly trained Retail Executives, Godfrey aka @Godfrey Glyn and Aidan aka @Culmheadwill be on hand,  running the Bring and Buy stall to their usual unparalleled, highly efficient standard. 
 
Exhibitors and visitors are encouraged to raid those 'roundtoit' shelves and cupboards and offer those little nuggets for sale. Remember, 10% of the selling price will be payable to support future SWAGS. 
 
☆Please note.......purchases can be made either by cash or card..☆
 
TRADERS. 
 
Please give some thought to anything you might want to be able to pick up from the traders on the day. Please consider contacting them prior to the weekend and arrange to collect on the day. 
 
Lord and Butler. 
 
Peter @Lord and Butler Model Railways will be along with a good cross section of items from the shop, both new and some previously loved nuggets. 
 
247 Developments. 
 
Brian @247 Developmentsis a long time supporter of the event and will have his usual selection of hard to find detailing parts, etched products along with his ever expanding range of 3D prints. 
 
 
Taff Vale Models. 
 
This year we welcome Julian and Sue who provide finescale model railway kits, motors and related components under a number of labels.
Dragon Models: Locomotives and Welsh railway rolling stock, mainly 7mm/ft. scale, some 4mm/ft. too.
Celtic Connection: A range of fascinating non-Welsh prototypes from the rest of the UK in 7mm/ft. scale.
Taff Vale Models: Any new kits produced since we took over Dragon Models will fall under this brand. The brand also covers 12volt DC 5 pole skew wound motors together with etched gearboxes and other components.
Camkits: A range of finescale 4mm kits of pre-grouping Cambrian Railways stock.
 
ADMIN 
 
☆☆☆THIS IS STILL A FREE TO ENTER EVENT☆☆☆
 

 
 
Yep, this is still a free to enter members day. However, there are running costs associated with the event which are getting increasingly challenging to meet. 
 
To help with this, there'll be suitably labelled receptacles dotted about the hall.
 

 
PLEASE donate a few coins into these at your discretion, you'll be helping to ensure we can maintain the funding to guarantee the continuation of this event. Once again future events will be funded by way of the catering, a percentage from the sales in the bring and buy department and , yes,  any donations made. 
 
We will still see a post event donation made to charity but the priority remains to safeguard the event itself. 
 
LOUD SHIRTS 
 

Image courtesy of the Gauge O Guild
 
As ever, these are DEFINITELY encouraged.
 
 

 
Image courtesy of the EM Gauge Society. 
 
Wear your worst* ! 
 
*not Wurst. That's something entirely different and depending on how it's displayed, possibly quite offensive.........
 
So that's it for now. 
 
So, make a note. 
 

 
 
 
Sunday 6th April 2025.
 
Be there or be square. 
 
Rob.
 

Event details

On Sunday, 6th April we will be opening the doors of our new clubhouse for the first of this year's two Open Days, an informal session open to the public.
 
All the club layouts will be on display and also some of our members' own layouts in 2mm, N, 00, 009 and 0 covering a number of eras, so about 11 in total and a couple of local traders too, more than you get at some exhibitions but with free entry!
 
Club layouts
Beggarwood Lane 00 DCC 1970s/80s Southern 3rd Rail
Camford Junction TMD 2mmFS and N Gauge
Lulworth and Winfrith Road 00 DC 1950s/60s Southern Steam
Lynton 009 DC and DCC Lynton & Barnstaple
The Royal Albert Bridge in N Gauge WR 1950s-1970s
The Club's New 0 Gauge Layout
Modules from Junior Section Layout Stratton Park
 
Members' layouts
Boxed End 00 
Edge Hill Cutting 00 Liverpool & Manchester 1830s
Kantravel Junction N
Lines End N Finetrax
North Quay 2mmFS IOW 1940s/50s
 
Traders
Model Railway Bits - Scenics and accessories
Neil Cresswell - Pre-loved rolling stock
 
We can be found at
The New Clubhouse, Stratton Park, Off Pack Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 5HN
Details can be found on our website at https://www.basingstokemrs.org/open-days.html
 
We look forward to seeing you if you are able to make it.

Event details