28th May 2018

In March Ron Bailes took ownership over of Chica, an American layout based in South Illinois in the 1950's. He will be exhibiting it in 2018 in Kings Lynn and hopefully in the future at more shows. There is now an updated Modelling page where there are hints and tips from members on a range of things that other model makers could find useful for there own layouts.

4th March 2014

Grunfurt Strasse's Last Fling. Saturday 17th May 3.00 - 9.00 p.m. Come along and enjoy the last chance to run on the Club's HO layout before it is broken up and parts used for the permanent layout. Bring your own stock or come and see the stock as used at exhibitions. More details nearer the time.

30th September 2013

A new plaque to replace the temporary one uncovered by our President has now been fitted in the clubroom.  The plaque was made by Stuart Prentice.

Finally, one of the last bits of the old clubroom has bitten the dust. The old electrical intake and fuseboard have now gone from the new(!) building. In early September arrangements were made for Southern and Scottish Electric to come down and relocate our meter and timeclock into a supply box on the exterior of the building, leaving just a new modern Consumer Unit inside the building, and freeing up that corner of the clubroom. See the before and after pictures to see have much tidier the area now is.

17th May 2012

WMRS takes delivery of a new project. The Western was contacted by BAA Heathrow Express who were looking for a home for their depot training model. A 15' N gauge model of their depot at Old Oak they no longer had a need for. After a short visit to the depot to see it, the Secretary with the Committee's agreement, arranged for its delivery to the clubroom. This happened on the 10th of May. The layout is currently resting on the new O gauge layout as it does not have any legs of its own, but is complete with control panel and DCC controller. We will now think about how best to utilise the boards. Thanks go to BAA and Siemens for the donation of the layout.

4th July 2011

One of the newest members at the club bought his Hiawatha 1955 Model which was run around Grunfurter Stasse.

Video - Hosted by YouTube

4th December 2010

The Christmas Social will take place on Monday 13th December from 20:00 at the WMRS clubrooms. As usual, friends and past members are all welcome.

10th December 2009

The Christmas Social for members and friends will take place on Monday 14th December at the WMRS clubrooms.

23rd September 2009

Friends of the Fjällnäs Lövhöjden Månstorp Järnväg visited the WMRS on September 20th. In the absence of a permanent layout, Grunfurter Strasse and Lansdown Junction were used instead.

 
Left - Swedish EG loco at Grunfurter Strasse.
Right - Swedish class 142 on the high-level section.
[Photos: A. Allum.]

Videos - Hosted by YouTube

Top - Two FLMJ trains passing at Grunfurter Strasse.
Middle - H0-scale BR Warship and train.
Bottom - The N-scale layout on a busy Sunday afternoon!
[Videos: A. Allum]

15th September 2009

Time Neale's 'St Marks Yard' and John Tanner's 'St Jennifer's Road' both appeared at the Northolt exhibition on Saturday 12th September.

 
 
Top - Tim operates St Marks Yard at Northolt.
Botom - St Jennifer's Road at the Northolt exhibition.

26th May 2009

Please note that the club will not be running on the following evenings.

14th March 2009

The WMRS celebrated its 73rd anniversary on Friday 13 March 2009 with the official opening of the new building (albeit with a temporary nameplate until the proper one arrives).

27th February 2009 - 73rd Anniversary Press Release

New Home – The David Kevan Memorial Building

March 2009 sees the 73rd Anniversary of the founding of the Western Model Railway Society, in Acton, West London. On the 13th March the Society will formally open its new facility, The David Kevan Memorial Building. Construction was made possible by a legacy from a former member and chairman, David Kevan, who passed away in 1993.

On the 13th March 1936, a group of schoolboys from Acton County School, formed a small model railway group and so Branch Number 308 of the Hornby Railway Company (Acton) was created. Over the years this became the Western Model Railway Society as it is known today.

The new facility, that was built by 3 Counties Buildings Ltd of Malvern, Worcs, has presented the club with the ability to erect all of its exhibition layouts in one place at the same time. These layouts are the HO gauge Grunfurter Strasse, the N gauge Cheltenham Lansdown and the latest OO Gauge McKendrick Street Yard. This has increased the Society’s available floor area by a factor of 3. Members now have the ability to enjoy watching the real thing as well as the model trains.

An interior view taken after completion of construction

For further details about the society or membership, please contact the Secretary: The Western Model Railway Society, c/o 37 Milton Road, Hanwell, London W7 1LQ.

 
Left - Friends enjoying a view of the N gauge layout and the German HO layout. In the background is the latest small layout project; McKendrick Street Yard.
Right - A view of the balcony and the club's German layout

8th February 2009 - Ron Bailes' Cherry Orchard layout saw a number of visiting locomotives at the CMRA St Albans show held on the 10/11 January 2009. During the show David Floyd, one of our new members, is seen learning to rearrange the fiddle yard which, with many thanks to Brian Daly, saw a vast array of British Railway rolling stock.
Also Brian brought along at least three class 47's with sound together with a class 20 and 25. The sound locos performed very well during the weekend and make the layout feel very different.
Many thanks go out to Brian and other members of the Western MRS for helping out with the layout during the weekend of the show. On the Sunday Richard Dockerill brought along a part completed model of the Midland Pullman which was seen undertaking some test runs on the layout.

 

Click images for the full size versions.
Top Left - Busy in the fiddle yard.
Top Right - Class 25 in the top yard.
Bottom - Midland Pullman on test.

31st December 2008 - On the 15th December 2008 the Western MRS held its first Christmas Social in the new building. Everybody who attended enjoyed the evening, which saw 27 members and friends visit us. Three layouts were operating and a slide show about the Society was also on display. Stan Simmons, our President, opened the evening by thanking everyone involved in the work to get the new building completed and hoped that the Society would look forward to it's 73rd year anniversary in March 2009.

The Chairman reminded all those present that the building will be formally opened in March 2009, details to follow and that we should be very thankful to the late David Kevan who's funds helped the Society to rebuild on the current site and the late Ian McKendrick, whose ashes are scattered under the new foundations.

The new building was very well received by members and friends of the Society and many wished they had the same. Work will now start in the New Year on getting our exhibition layouts back up to speed for exhibitions and the town scene to be built for Grunfurter Strasse. Anyone interested helping us with these projects or just interested in model railways, why not join our Society. If you are interested then please contact the Secretary. During 2009 a number of event nights will be planned so look out on the web site for details.

Have a good New Year

The Chairman

 

Click images for the full size versions.
Top Left - Members and friends looking at our three Society layouts on display
Top Right - Stan Simmons and Brian Boreham chating with Dick Carter. Brian's first visit since the building was completed, very impressed.
Bottom - Members enjoying the view and the evening

14th December 2008 - On the 6th December 2008 and at last we are running trains in our new building. Our Society's N gauge layout got there first with a Western class diesel running round Lansdown Junction.

All is now ready for the 15th December and we look forward to seeing all our members and friends.

A Class 52 'Western' diesel loco on Lansdown Junction

2nd December 2008 - The Western MRS reached another stage towards normal service in our new building on the 1st December 2008. This involved the setting up of our two exhibition layouts, Grunfurter Strasse and Lansdown Junction. We have been able to place the layouts in the new building so that front viewing is possible for both layouts and overhead viewing for one. With this milestone reached we now able to run trains and will be ready for the Christmas social on the 15th December.

This is our annual event to thank the members for all their work during the year. Members old and new are welcome and I know some of you have already advised us that you are attending, please make sure our secretary is aware. I look forward to seeing you all on the day to mark a memorable year.

 
 
Click images for the full size versions.
Top Left - Grunfurter Strasse erected in the new building, complete in our own building for the very first time.
Top Right - Tim and Keith helping to erect Lansdown Junction.
Bottom Left - View of both layouts in the new building showing viewing area.
Bottom Right - Overhead view now possible of Lansdown Junction from the mezzanine level.

17th November 2008 - At last the Western MRS is up and running again. The good news is that Monday night meetings have now restarted at the normal times, 19.30 till 21.30 except for Bank Holidays. Members are more than welcome to come and see our new building in all its glory. However we will be getting the building ready for the Christmas social on the 15th December so there is plenty of tidying up to do before we can play trains.

We have not set a date for reopening on Fridays yet so keep an eye out on the website for an update.

While there is much to do, new members are of course welcome to come and see what we have to offer, please contact our secretary to let us know when you wish to come and see us. We have two large exhibition layouts to run and maintain and we will start work on building a new test track layout in the New Year.

The Society looks forward to seeing members old and new soon.

Yours
The Chairman

 
The society's exhibition layouts: Grunfurter Strasse and Lansdown Junction.

26th October 2008 - Phase three of the new building project was completed on Friday 24th October 2008. This involved fitting of a mezzanine floor inside the new building giving two levels on one side. The mezzanine alone is bigger than the old clubroom that was erected in 1961.

Now that all the heavy work is done, we now move on to sorting out all the snags with the building contractor and start the fitting out of the building. Over the next few weeks lighting and power will be installed, however before those works can be started and the layouts moved in, the floor needs to be covered with a dust free coating, which should be completed in early November.

Hopefully normal club nights on Mondays and Fridays will start towards the end of November so please keep an eye out for the date on the web site.

 
 
Click images for the full size versions.
Top Left - Keith Blanchard takes in the size of the new building including the mezzanine floor
Top Right - View along the mezzanine floor looking towards the entrance
Bottom Left - View along the mezzanine floor looking towards the entrance to the mezzanine
Bottom Right - View of completed building from the footpath

19th October 2008 - Phase two of the new building project was completed at 17.30 on the 17th October 2008. The new building is ready for phase three to start next week.

During the day Stan Simmons, our President, was on hand to receive the keys from David Barber of Three Counties Buildings Ltd, who are our main contractor. Stan was very pleased to see the project nearing completion and thanked Ron Bailes and the rest of the members for the work done over the last four months. "This building has been a long time coming and it is good to see it here at last," remarked Stan.

Phase three will start on Wednesday with the fitting out of the mezzanine floor and should be completed by Friday 24th October. That will then leave the windows to be fitted. Then the fun starts in fitting out the building with lights and power sockets.

Hopefully club nights will restart soon, so keep an eye out for further updates.

For members old and new the Christmas Social will be on the 15th December 2008 in the new building, starting at 20.00. If you are able to come along please let our Secretary know.

More news in the coming week.

 
 
Click images for the full size versions.
Top Left - Stan Simmons is presented with the keys by David Barber of Three Counties Buildings.
Top Right - Stan Simmons congratulates Ron Bailes, Chairman, for seeing the project through.
Bottom Left - The inside of the new building before the mezzanine is fitted.
Bottom Right - The new look entrance from the main path with the last of the building work taking place.

9th October 2008 - On the 3rd October 2008 the first phase of the new building was completed. This involved the completion of a new concrete base 10.2m by 9.2m ready for the new building to be erected. The only remains that can be seen of the old building is the base of the old building which is the new level throughout and the mains box.

The second phase will see the building erected starting on the 13th October and due to be completed on the 17th October. In order to complete the building the Society has booked two overnight possessions with Network Rail of the up and down GW main line. The building itself has arrived ready to be erected.

Phase three will hopefully start the following week when the mezzanine level is put in. This will hopefully be completed the following week and will see the building works complete on the 24th October 2008. Fitting out the building will then start.

Please keep an eye on the web site for the latest news.

 
Click images for the full size versions.
The base for the new building.

23rd September 2008 - Over the weekend of the 20th-21st of September the old clubrooms were demolished by a small band of very hard working members.
The portable layouts are safely in storage but alas the permanent layout is no more.
The work on the new building starts on the 24/9/08 with an anticipated completion date of 18/10/08.
After the portable layouts are brought back they will be put up for use in place of the permanent layout, until we are able to design and build a new one.

13th April 2008 - We start this news update, with a little history ... The late Ian McKendrick invited Adrian Allum to visit the WMRS to see especially the Permanent Layout in the club room. This was in exchange for a visit by Ian to Adrian's garden railway. After a few such visits, Adrian joined the WMRS. At Ian's suggestion, Adrian would bring club members (and a few other friends) from his Garden Railway to visit the WMRS's layout, usually on Sunday afternoons, on a pay-and-play basis. It was decided therefore that the last Sunday Afternoon train would run as a tribute to Ian, and was headed by a Scottish-based 'B1' loco (with a 9F in assistance)!
During the day, there was an assortment of trains representing Britain, France and Spain; and in addition to the usual main line expresses, the branch line was kept busy, and some 'serious' shunting took place adjacent to the main station. It was an enjoyable day, even though the shadow of it being the last for a long time, loomed!

 
 
 
Click images for the full size versions.
Top Left - SWT's route-learning vehicle made an appearance on the layout!
Top Right - A 1938 Tube Stock train worked along the branch line.
Middle Left - Even the 'ancient' WMRS works-train got a final run!!
Middle Right - England or France? You decide.
Bottom Left - A short Spanish passenger train at speed.
Bottom Right - The last train at speed.

18th February 2008 - At quite short notice, our Chairman was invited to take his 7mm scale layout, "Cherry Orchard," to a Modelling Exhibition at Oldenburg, in North Germany. A full description of this excellent model will be provided on this website soon (we've convinced the Chairman that he really ought to write down a few notes)! Being English modellers with an English layout, the authenticity of the diorama was certainly appreciated, and the visitors were delighted with what they saw. The '0' gauge section was operated with radio signalled DCC, but the 16.5mm narrow gauge section was traditional analogue.

 
Click images for the full size versions.
Left - The class 24 loco - pride of the fleet, construction completed less than a week before the event!
Right - Narrow Gauge delight.

Many German visitors got a little confused with their understanding of British television programmes, however ... on the diorama, there was a model of the Reliant Robin used in the series, "Only Fools and Horses," but many thought it was Mr Bean's car!

Click image for the full size version.
The Battle of Waterloo was one of the displays at Oldenburg!

Journey time between West London and Oldenburg was about 9 hours including the train through the channel tunnel, but not including rest periods. On the return trip, some of the party stopped at Venlo to get some photos of Dutch and German trains.

 
Click images for the full size versions.
Left - German (DB) driving coach at Venlo.
Right - Netherlands (NS) double-deck EMU also at Venlo.

10th December 2007 - Members and friends of Adnalms Järnvägsklubb visited the WMRS on December 9th to make the most of the layout again (on the usual pay-and-play agreement). The club provided some Epoch IV stock from their Swedish layout, but there were also Spanish and American H0-scale models, and a lot of British 00-scale. Motive power was an assortment of early steam locomotives through to modern electric units, as the pictures and movie clips shew.

 

 
Click images for the full size versions.
Top Left - Hornby's new Royal Scot class loco alongside a Bachmann Ivatt 2MT. [Photo: A. Allum.]
Top Right - Swedish Rc5, Y7 and T44 in the sidings at the Fiddle Yard. [Photo: A. Allum.]
Middle - A Hornby 'Pendolino' about to pass an American diesel loco on the main lines, while a variety of trains wait in the terminus below. [Photo: D. Hill]
Bottom Left - A Spanish DMU ascending the bank. [Photo: A. Allum.]
Bottom Right - Two American diesels awaiting a trip around the layout. [Photo: A. Allum.]