The Bournemouth West Model Railway Group / Now known as The South Coast Model Railway Development Group / TSCMRDG

[Roger Sunderland]

Just heard that a coach is being arranged to run from the Model Railway Solutions shop in Alder Hills Poole on Sunday 10th April.

Details can be had from the model shop or ring 01202 798068.

This is turning into quite a show . As well as the biggest model railway in Britain, Heaton Lodge Junction, and Bournemouth West there are a growing number of other superb layouts that have been invited including Bath Green Park, Evercreech New and Wimborne, to name just three. There will also be a large trade support. I will post more details when I know them.

[Combe Martin]

Does anyone know who the organising club is for this exhibition.  So far I've only found the web site for where its at, which is the Bath & West showground at Shepton Mallet, so not at Bath.  Not much info on there so far.   

[Roger Sunderland]

Not a club Combe Martin. Simon George, the owner and builder of Heaton Lodge Junction is the organiser. Following on from his first showing of the layout in Wakefield, in his attempt to get as many people to see it as possible, and spread the word about our hobby, this is the layouts showing for the South west. Unlike Wakefield a number of other layouts have been invited and there is trade support.

I think Simon has a website on which there are more details.

[4630]

12 minutes ago, Combe Martin said:

Does anyone know who the organising club is for this exhibition.  So far I've only found the web site for where its at, which is the Bath & West showground at Shepton Mallet, so not at Bath.  Not much info on there so far.   

This might give you a bit more information.  
 

https://www.britainsbiggestmodelrailway.com/tour.php#EventEVENT08

[Combe Martin]

Many thanks for the above 2 answers, that gives me a bit more info.  I have to confess that the attraction for me is Bournemouth West (I've missed it so far, work and now covid and I'm a very keen S&D modeller having done lots of S&D research and stock preparation) and any other S&D layouts.

 

I'll be travelling all the way from Ramsgate at the east end of Kent and want to avoid driving if I can (I've done enough of it in my lifetime) so was thinking of coming by train (I always use them if I can now). 

 

Does anyone know if there's a bus service from Castle Cary or does it have a taxi rank at the station ?

[Podhunter]

8 minutes ago, Combe Martin said:

Does anyone know if there's a bus service from Castle Cary

There are 3 ways to get from Castle Cary to Royal Bath & West Showground: visit this guide.

[Combe Martin]

Many thanks for the above, now I've got plenty to think about.

[Roger Sunderland]

Hi all

Its Monday and I’m taking it as a rest day after the show supporting Britains Biggest Model Railway at Shepton Mallet. We all enjoyed the show and getting the layout out for the first time since 2019. How long we can do it is an issue as our limited number of operators is dwindling fast and we are all 2 years older. 
Overall the layout performed pretty well. A dead section on the slip was an irritant as was 2 sprung point blades but there were some great running sessions, notably on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning when everything was running exactly to plan. Good to see many familiar faces and talk to many people.

Special mention to Combe Martin of this parish who watched all day Saturday and saw over 300 sequence moves!!!

[PaulRhB]

It was working well both times I stopped to watch Roger  

[Combe Martin]

14 hours ago, Roger Sunderland said:

 

Special mention to Combe Martin of this parish who watched all day Saturday and saw over 300 sequence moves!!!

 

 

Many thanks for that,

 

Fame at last !

Edited April 12, 2022 by Combe Martin

[Roger Sunderland]

AN UPDATE

As some of the followers of this thread will be aware we have been struggling to get enough people together to attend some exhibitions. That coupled with the fact we are all getting older and work commitments has made things difficult.

After much discussion we have accepted an offer from a group of younger individuals to purchase the layout from us.

They have the backing of a club and a lot of modelling experience, the main thing is they intend to keep the layout on the exhibition circuit.

We have 3 exhibitions lined up as follows:

New Milton 30/31 July 2022

Southampton 28/29 January 2023

Wimborne 16/17 April 2023

We hope to be joined at these shows by the new owners who will help with setting up, breaking down and operating. Doing this will hopefully ensure a smooth handover and allow time for the new owners to get up to speed.

Edited June 29, 2022 by Roger Sunderland

[AY Mod]

Quite understandable Roger but you'll always be the man that instigated one of the best exhibition layouts of the last few years.

[Roger Sunderland]

Thanks very much for all your support. I haven’t stopped building model railways though so maybe something else will come along in the future.

Incidentally we had Charlie Bishop from Chadwick Model Railway YouTube channel down to film a half hour video this weekend - looks to be some good footage and Paul’s smoke fitted locos get a good showing. Afraid you’ll have to put up with my voiceover but should be worth a watch.

It will be out in 2 weeks time and Charlie is agreeable to me putting a link on here so, if I can work out how to do that, I’ll post it here.

[luke33]

The link below is for the recent video of Bournemouth West taken by Charlie Bishop from Chadwick Model Railway which can  be seen on his YouTube channel :-

 

https://youtu.be/gWfP7wUhQxo

 

Many thanks to Charlie for an excellent and very professional filming session. We hope you enjoy it.

 

From Roger Sunderland and all the members of the South Coast Model Railway Development Group.

[Melangoose]

Really enjoyed the Charlie Bishop video of Bournemouth West.  Absolutely brilliant and so informative.  Nice to see those long length trains running without having to negotiate the x7 deep crowd with the layout attracts wherever it goes.  Well done to all those involved.  

[spamcan61]

46 minutes ago, Melangoose said:

Really enjoyed the Charlie Bishop video of Bournemouth West.  Absolutely brilliant and so informative.  Nice to see those long length trains running without having to negotiate the x7 deep crowd with the layout attracts wherever it goes.  Well done to all those involved.  

Agreed, I seem to have the attention span of a goldfish these days but I watched it all the way through in one go, very informative.

 

[Ian J.]

Very good video. Nice to see an actual usage of the Preci Models DCC controlled Kadee uncoupling system in action. I'm wanting to use something like that to control an AJ-style design for DCC controlled uncoupling, but I have to figure out how to get a spring return into the arrangement (something Kadees have already built-in).

[5BarVT]

And nice to see shunting happening at a ‘got a job to do’ pace whilst still stopping short for the final more controlled couple up.

Paul.

[Roger Sunderland]

So just an update on things for those who still follow this thread and a little teaser as well.

Things are progressing, albeit slowly, to affect the transfer of ownership to the new group. All being well (and a control panel blow up at New Milton show is not helping) the layout will have its last run out under our ownership at Wimborne show in April 2023. 
so I and a few other like minded individuals have been discussing what to turn our hand to next. A decision has, at last, been reached to build a scale model of Bournemouth Central station from Beechy road bridge to Holdenhurst road bridge, including the shed. At some 28 scale feet, not a small project. Now I am well aware that others have done this before but I believe this model will be worth doing. One reason is we have within the group a number of people with suitable skills eg. Track building, scenic, weathering etc. but we now have someone with access to a state of the art 3D printer. Not only that but he has all the skills to use it to its max potential.

I will shortly start up a new thread on this project as the printing of parts for the main station building is well underway.

 

[Combe Martin]

Did you consider Templecombe (upper), I don't believe anyone's tried that ?, a nice mixture of S&D and Southern, or is it just too big to do it justice ?

[Roger Sunderland]

Yes a bit on the large size but mainly the reason is letting our 3D printer guy have full reign on the buildings at Bournemouth. There is quite a lot.

[Dunsignalling]

5 hours ago, Roger Sunderland said:

Yes a bit on the large size but mainly the reason is letting our 3D printer guy have full reign on the buildings at Bournemouth. There is quite a lot.

If he fancies going "into production" with that, I know someone who might well be interested in a second set of parts for his "at home" version of Central!

 

John

[Roger Sunderland]

John

 

Give Steve a ring at Model Railway Solutions 01202 798068, in the shop. He may be able to give you the contact number for our 3D guy. 

Incidentaly I was at Frank Robinsons funeral on 3rd January, he was a great help to us in building West. I know the group building Bournemouth Central had a lot of contact with him. Do you know if there are any plans/photos etc he shared with you of structures around Central station? We have the plans for the overall roof section of the station and track plans, but that’s about it.

[Dunsignalling]

16 minutes ago, Roger Sunderland said:

John

 

Give Steve a ring at Model Railway Solutions 01202 798068, in the shop. He may be able to give you the contact number for our 3D guy. 

Incidentaly I was at Frank Robinsons funeral on 3rd January, he was a great help to us in building West. I know the group building Bournemouth Central had a lot of contact with him. Do you know if there are any plans/photos etc he shared with you of structures around Central station? We have the plans for the overall roof section of the station and track plans, but that’s about it.

Thanks Roger. I am one of said group and am very sorry to learn we have lost Frank.

 

I'd only met him once, the member most in contact with him was Will Loyd (to whom I'll pass on the sad news), and whilst I know he got some copies of photos (and much valuable "gen" in conversation) through Frank, I'm not sure of the specifics or what else might be involved. You will be welcome to share any info in our possession. 

 

Maybe setting up a visit for you so we can compare notes (and you can learn from our mistakes🙂) might be a good idea. I'll have a word with Ray (whose layout it is) on Sunday and drop you a PM.

 

Regards

 

John

[Roger Sunderland]

Thanks John, most kind.