AIMREC - Ashford International Model Railway Excellence Centre

[Greengiant]

What is AIMREC?
Cliff Parsons and the Gresley Beat team have been working behind the scenes to develop for the nation a centre of model railway excellence. Now we are in a position to announce that we have been offered the opportunity to purchase the old Klondyke works site, of some two and a half acres, which is part of the Ashford station complex and only five minute’s walk from the main Ashford International Station. This would enable us to erect a 30,000 sq feet purpose-designed building, comprising of 25,000 sq feet of display area, lecture and demonstration theatre, specialist model shop, first-floor cafeteria overlooking Ashford works and second-floor observation deck enabling visitors to watch Eurostars travelling over the viaduct at 160 miles per hour. Over the next few weeks you will see features in various model railway magazines.

The land we aim to purchase with the Ashford Designer Outlet shopping centre in the background.



The aim
To preserve for posterity some of the finest model railways created in all scales, over the last 60 years, many of which are regarded as Works of Art. There will be some 20 permanent layouts operating along with several visiting layouts that will change every three months to constantly refresh the visitor experience.

The architects visual.





For more information visit our AIMREC website.
You can also follow us on Facebook.

Martin

Edited February 26, 2014 by Greengiant

[Guest]

Sounds like my idea of heaven!

[LNER4479]

Cliff shared these ideas with me at Warley. Magnificent enterprise - all power to your collective elbows.

[sammyboy]

This sounds good. Will be watching with interest with this exciting project.

[Colin]

Sounds like a wonderful idea, I'll certainly visit when it's open - any ideas what the "Top 20" might comprise?

[sjp23480]

Certainly a very worthy cause and I for one will be watching with interest as it is my backyard.

[Greengiant]

Sounds like a wonderful idea, I'll certainly visit when it's open - any ideas what the "Top 20" might comprise?

Yes, but unfortunately not allowed to say at this moment in time as requested by the custodians of the layouts and collections.

All I can say is they are very good and some I thought had disappeared forever!

 

Martin

[sjp23480]

Looking forward to meeting Cliff at Tonbridge tomorrow.

 

Sjp23480

[Greengiant]

AIMREC stand will be at the Tonbridge show this Saturday. We are in the Medway hall next to the OO layout Trezeath.

[Steve-e]

The Website link doesn't appear to be working in the 1st post so here it is

 

http://www.aimrec.co.uk/

 

 

Cheers

Steve

[TheQ]

Whilst I wish this project well, I wonder what impact the outbreak of permanent exhibitions (Ashford, Hoveton, Birmingham) will have on local exhibitions which clubs often depend on.

The Q

[sjp23480]

TheQ,

 

The nearest shows to this part of Kent include those at Tenterden, Folkestone, Tonbridge, Canterbury and Chatham.

 

The centre will compliment (and promote) local exhibitions and help them thrive. Having two attractions in close proximity will make it more attractive for modellers to attend from further afield and "kill two birds with one stone".

 

Furthermore, the centre will be adjacent to the local designer outlet, which is planned to double in size and projects over 7m visitors a year. If the centre attracts only 1% of those people - a good proportion will not be active modellers but may be inspired (or encouraged by their children) to take up our hobby?

 

Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg attracted over 1.5m visits last year, by comparison.

 

All round, this is an incredibly positive development for our hobby.

 

Sjp23480

[PaulRhB]

. Having two attractions in close proximity will make it more attractive for modellers to attend from further afield and "kill two birds with one stone".

 

Yes that fact certainly makes it a good idea for a weekend away

[JJGraphics]

Seriously hope this happens.

 

The proposed location is really sensible in my view and, with the designer outlet to amuse SWMBO . . . can't fail to be a hit!

Edited February 16, 2014 by JJGraphics

[Mattmaz]

Well and truly gets my vote ! I am a very active railway modeller and this is a fantastic idea. I live in ashford too so if u need a hand, you've got a volunteer right here ! :-)

[Ron Ron Ron]

The aims of the centre

 

1. To preserve for posterity some of the finest model railways created in all scales, over the last 60 years, many of which are regarded as Works of Art. There will be some 20 permanent layouts operating along with several visiting layouts that will change every three months to constantly refresh the visitor experience.

 

2. To preserve and archive the history of manufacturing of model railway items from clockwork to today’s digital control systems.

 

3. To build a representation of York station from the 1930s in O gauge.

 

4. Create a 200 foot long HO layout, depicting North America, enabling 100 box car trains to be run in a realistic setting.

 

5. Create a German/French border railway for our European visitors.

 

6. Around the 2.5 acre site will be a multi-gauge live steam railway attraction.

 

7. To provide facilities to educate school children, undergraduates and Open University students regarding the social and industrial impact that railways played in Victorian Britain and of their spreading throughout the world.

 

8. The south facing wall of the building will show in both text and pictorial displays the life of Ashford works during the First World War, where the first tanks in the world were constructed and the Second World War where the works were involved in building large gun barrels for the navy. During both hostilities the work force at Ashford increased from 3,000 to over 6,000 men and women.

 

9. For the centre to be sustainable the floor space will be divided into the past, the present and the future. The future will contain a fun multi-media element in order to keep the children returning to the centre.

 

 

This is a marvellous opportunity to help in creating a new and more attractive image for the hobby. A chance to demonstrate that Railway Modelling is an interesting and rewarding and dare I say, respectable pastime for adults to take part in.

 

While the educational aspects of the centre are a laudable aspiration and the economics of such an enterprise blend well with the ambition to be a family attraction; I sincerely hope that the outcome will not be some kind of kiddies entertainment attraction.

IMHO that would totally undermine any objective of trying to promote the hobby as something "grown-ups" might seriously consider taking up.

The last thing I'm sure most would want to see, is a reinforcement of the image of silly old men playing with children's toys.

 

The mere creation of this centre is hugely ambitious. I would hope the opportunity to do something equally ambitious to promote and help transform the image of the hobby, is not lost.

 

 

.......If the centre attracts only 1% of those people - a good proportion will not be active modellers but may be inspired (or encouraged by their children) to take up our hobby?

 

Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg attracted over 1.5m visits last year, by comparison.

 

 

As amazing and entertaining as the Hamburg exhibition is, I hope this doesn't turn out to be a British mini version of Miniatur Wunderland.

 

Good luck and best wishes to all involved with this enterprise.

It'll give me a good incentive to join SWMBO in visiting the Mother-in-Law (Ashford) more frequently.

 

 

.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Ron Ron Ron

[sjp23480]

Ron,

 

I have had extensive conversations with Cliff Parsons (of Gresley Beat fame) and this will be no Miniatur Wunderland.

 

It will be a centre of excellence and the exhibits will be of an extremely high standard, serving as an inspiration for visitors.

 

They are not yet in a position to publicise the exhibits, but keep watching this space for future announcements. I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

SJP

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

The concept of an entertainment and educational day out location appears well thought out. But then it needs to be, to underpin the business plan required to secure the build and start up finance. The only piece I feel is missing is something from the original railway, even if it is only something like a wagon and a signal.

 

Let me go straight to misgivings about an 'archive' of 20 layouts operating, let alone the visiting layouts. Others here must have been there, dragged in at late notice to operate an unfamiliar layout. Every single layout reflects the individuality of those who constructed it, for good and for ill. They are all going to be different in some degree or other, with the consequent demands on the staff trying to keep them running; unless there's an underlying plan to rebuild, bringing in as much uniformity in operation and upkeep as possible without affecting appearance. And this - to my mind logical - modification process will most likely offend at least some other folks...

 

... the Mother-in-Law (Ashford) ...

You have more than one, that you have to designate by location?  ;-)   Wonderful as mine is, that one is all-sufficient for a lifetime.

Edited February 20, 2014 by 34theletterbetweenB&D

[Ron Ron Ron]

I have had extensive conversations with Cliff Parsons (of Gresley Beat fame) and this will be no Miniatur Wunderland.

 

I'm quite pleased to hear that.

 

 

Let me go straight to misgivings about an 'archive' of 20 layouts operating, let alone the visiting layouts. Others here must have been there, dragged in at late notice to operate an unfamiliar layout. Every single layout reflects the individuality of those who constructed it, for good and for ill. They are all going to be different in some degree or other, with the consequent demands on the staff trying to keep them running; unless there's an underlying plan to rebuild, bringing in as much uniformity in operation and upkeep as possible without affecting appearance. And this - to my mind logical - modification process will most likely offend at least some other folks...

 

I wonder if some degree of automation would be the best approach here.

It would be difficult to provide 20 or so operating teams, every opening day.

 

The 200 foot long N. American H0 layout and 100 box car trains, sounds very interesting too.

 

 

p.s. Thankfully I only have the one Mother-in-law and yes she's more than enough. Uncharitably, I tend to think of her like a dummy loco........ no working parts inside, just an empty shell (her head in this case).

 

 

 

.

[sjp23480]

If you want to learn more, I understand Cliff will be attending The North Kent Group expo at Tenterden next week, March 1st-2nd.

 

I am sure he will be very happy to answer any questions and may have more of a progress update on the whole project.

 

SJP

[Ron Ron Ron]

Having just returned from a w/end down in Ashford, I can report that this proposal has been featured in the local papers in that part of Kent.

[leopardml2341]

Having seen references (above) to Miniatur Wunderland and (not) Miniatur Wunderland - I wunder {sic} which of those variants would have the biggest visitor harvest sector ?

 

Interesting to see how this might develop, though s'pose it being 'darn sarf' will help.

 

Rgds and Good Luck.

 

Edit - previously only 'sarf'

 

Further Edit to attempt to hopefully address 'indecipherable / unsure' feedback rating

 

in post #16 above it was said:-

 

"........As amazing and entertaining as the Hamburg exhibition is, I hope this doesn't turn out to be a British mini version of Miniatur Wunderland......." {sic}

 

and in post #17 (by way of a reply?) it was said that:-

 

"......this will be no Miniatur Wunderland. It will be a centre of excellence and the exhibits will be of an extremely high standard, serving as an inspiration for visitors......."  {sic}

 

My post was intended to postulate which 'appeal factor' (Miniatur Wunderland or centre of excellence) would generate the most visitors, adding that the geographic catchment area may lead to more ad-hoc visits than might be otherwise be expected for a centre of excellence; which, rightly or wrongly, can sometimes deter ad-hoc visits.

Edited February 24, 2014 by leopardml2341

[Jack]

Just reading the write up for this in the current Railway Modeller and the article talks about a target figure of £1m to buy the land and construct the building ... that is an aweful lot of cash for a model show.  Whilst I appreciate other railway projects have raised more (Tornado et al), has this kind of money ever been raised for a model railway project?

 

I know Pendon started out from much more humble beginnings, and can't help wondering whether trying to get such a sizeable piece of land bought and built on maybe a bit too ambitious?

 

I'm trying not to sound negative, as I will be very happy if this project does come off ... in fact, living just up the road I'll be pleased as punch (though not as pretty)!!

[sjp23480]

Jack,

 

Keep watching this space, but it is my understanding that the financial side of this project is shaping up.

 

Steve

[Greengiant]

Check out the Chris Evans show on Radio 2 this morning when the AIMREC project gets a mention by Roger Daltrey.

Susie Perry of F1 coverage said she would like to cover this project.

 

Martin

Edited February 28, 2014 by Greengiant