An afternoon special interest group of Liphook & Midhurst U3A’s & www.millandvalleyrailway.co.uk to encourage more adults to take up the model railway hobby
NEW FORMAT
In resurrecting the idea in 2017, I attempted a different format. The sessions were monthly of 2 hours duration. Those attending followed and if they wished to, assisted in the building of a small model railway, through from planning to construction. In between sessions I carried out the majority of the work and explained at each session what had happened and what has to happen next. It looks like I will manage to complete one OO scale diorama and most of an N scale tramway layout by the end of the first year(March 2018) It has been more of a working group, rather than a course.
The drawbacks were- considerable pressure on me and problems with members attendance, such that on one occasion only one member turned up!
So for 2018 at the request of existing members, the format will be much like that of a model railway club. Members can work on their own projects or on group projects. An afternoon model railway club which is not exactly unique, but slightly different and therefore aimed at the retired (U3A members)
We have introduced the following changes in recent months
- The course has been converted into an afternoon model railway club under local U3A’s “umbrella”
- A change of group name to better reflect the group aims (From Building a Model Railway Group to Milland Valley Railway Modellers)
- Co-operation with our nearest conventional club- Liphook & District Model Railway Club
- Move to Redford Village Hall from our May meeting, due to introduction of extended hours at the nursery school using Milland Valley Memorial Hall (to meet government 30 hours a week edict.)
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the group is the cost of the hire of the venue used + cost of small consumables (not layout construction items) – divided by the annual membership.
For 6 members, with some funds left over from 2017/8 the membership for 2018/9 will be £20 based on one 3 hour meeting at Milland in April and 8 x 2 hour meetings at the new venue. It looks like we shall have at least 6 members for the coming year.
We are still recruiting for additional members We have recently gained a member from Midhurst U3A and we now have details on the Midhurst U3A website.
Group members also need to be a paid up members of Liphook U3A or Midhurst U3A or one of several local U3A’s associated with them. (Petersfield, Haslemere, or Woolmer Forest (Whitehill-Bordon area) This is an annual membership fee which covers public liability insurance and central services (general meetings, open day and financial management)
The groups new membership year commenced with the April meeting at which fees for the coming year were collected- Liphook U3A membership fees were also due
If you’re members of other local U3A’s please ensure that your membership is renewed for 2018/9 to meet their requirements
MEETING VENUE, LOCATION,DATES & TIMES
Until April 2018 (incl) we met in the Committee Room of the Milland Valley Memorial Hall
All meetings from 16th May 2018 have been held at Redford Village Hall, Redford. MIDHURST GU29 0QF
https://goo.gl/maps/U7EuV3HjwmG2
Our new location is in the centre of the small village of Redford, also in West Sussex and is a one roomed village hall with small kitchen, all recently extensively refurbished, within a few miles of Milland.
From Liphook About the same distance as to Milland, using a different route (use the road exiting Liphook in the direction of Hollycombe- go past that on the left , ignore the RH turning to Milland and the next turning on the left to Fernhurst and turn left at the War Memorial in the direction of Linch & Redford. The hall is on your left on higher ground approx 100 metres after village sign) From Petersfield you can go via Liphook or the A 272 in the direction of Midhurst turn left on the approach to Midhurst 30 mph limit, signposted Woolbeeding, Redford 3, Linch. This is a very narrow winding road, single track for over a mile, so not for the faint hearted.
From Midhurst leave the town centre via the A 272 in the direction of Petersfield- turn right soon after leaving 30 mph limit, past Half Moon public house on right. Signposted Woolbeeding, Redford 3, Linch-unsuitable for HGV’s
Alternatively go via Fernhurst A 286-turn left in centre of village into Vann Road keep on this road following Milland or Liphook signs. When you get to T junction near to large electricity substation (Right To Liphook Left to Linch- turn left and next Left by Linch War Memorial, then as for Liphook To Redford –Please check there are long term electricity cable works on this road which is subject to long closure periods
Meeting Dates The schedule of meetings for the rest of 2018- all 3rd Wednesday in the month are as follows – 16th May; 20th June; July & August- no meetings; 19th September; 17th October; 21st November; December- no meeting
Meeting Times– All meetings start at 14.00 hrs and end at 16.00 hrs. If we are able to increase our membership, we will consider returning to 3 hour sessions .
LAYOUTS
The layout constructions being followed by the group in our first year were chosen from the following list. Click on the highlighted names for more detailed information including sizes.
Those marked ** are the chosen projects for the first year (up to March 2018)
Danger- Border Ahead++ German outline 1:87 scale (HO) Tramway operational diorama set around Friedrichstrasse station at the border of East & West Berlin in the early 1960’s
“East Hants Link” ** will cover up to 5 scenes along the line showing how light rail systems merge easily into residential and commercial areas. Although a scheme for light rail is not to proceed for Bordon/Whitehill, this layout will show how such a scheme might have looked.
As most modern trams are of fairly similar designs throughout the world, I have chosen Japanese outline trams in N scale, as they are easily available at relatively low cost. The scale (1:150) is slightly different to the British N standard (1:148) but is closer than to the international standard of 1:160.
As a trial I shall be using Ikea type toy boxes as the baseboard for most scenes. Work is well underway
Suggested layout list for 2018/9- CHOICE FROM
“Soltendieck“++, German outline 1:45 scale (O) a very minimalist track layout but with interesting shunting. Set on the inner border between East & West Germany
Warehouse District ++ American outline 1:87 scale (HO) a switching (shunting) layout set in Milwaukee Wis. DCC operated
This layout is partially completed with baseboard built, track layout completed and wiring well advanced. Some buildings have been completed.
Idylton Vale ++ British outline 1:76 (OO) tram layout set in South west London- using Bachmann OO scale RTR Hong Kong trams, prototypes UK designed and built originally, so little work to Anglicise them. Street scene in area around New Malden/Kingston By Pass area immediate post war.
Baseboard completed- track partially laid, No wiring completed
Cartersland Camp ++ British outline 1:76 (OO-9) DC narrow gauge military camp layout set in the UK, in the First World War. The baseboard is constructed but no other work other than selecting a track layout has been undertaken
“Bennett Mews“ ++ British outline 1:76 scale (OO). Industrial layout with a small main line content set in Blackfriars South London Originally on the list for 2017/18 but only planning work done
DIORAMAS
“If the railway had come to the Milland Valley” **– Small diorama in OO scale showing Linch & Redford on Midhurst to Haslemere line- proposed and although receiving parliamentary approval- never built (Link is to Facebook Page) – work well advanced-completion work into 2018/9 season Very relevant to our Redford location
“Halte Terres de moulin” ++ cross roads with level crossing and a railway halt- with a game of petanque in progress on the terrain near the bar. Sunflower field or vineyard nearby? A small diorama of rural liberated France a couple of months after D-Day . HO Scale
Anywhere in liberated France. The locals are returning home from celebrating liberation & have stopped off to have a drink and a game with their pals. Usually an all men pursuit, especially in the era (late 1944) when this is set. A few British soldiers on and around a tank, are watching . No work started- baseboard available
“Tugaske” ++ (Scale to be decided) A small Saskatchewan settlement in 1914 at the railway station. The small town in which my Dad was born. A recreation of a possible scene at the railway station as Godfrey and Gertrude-( his parents), set off with him on a long journey back to the UK by rail and ship –No work started
GENERAL
The new group was launched at the 2017 Liphook U3A Open Day. Details of the group were also sent to Petersfield, Midhurst, Alton, Haslemere & Woolmer Forest U3A’s .The name of the group remained as Building a Model Railway but was changed in March 2018 to MILLAND VALLEY RAILWAY MODELLERS
Full details are on the group pages of the Liphook U3A website* www.liphooku3a.org.uk and of the Midhurst U3A website* https://u3asites.org.uk/midhurst/home . The local area Milland News and the Liphook Community Magazine are kept regularly informed of our activities. Facebook local community boards for Fernhurst, Midhurst and Haslemere etc are being used to publicise the club, sometimes in conjunction with L&DMRC.
I also have a Facebook page covering the activities of the group – Milland Valley Railway Modellers and there are regular reports on RM web.
CONTACTS
If you wish to contact me about joining the “Milland Valley Railway Modellers” -please do so via the Liphook U3A contact form http://u3asites.org.uk/liphook/contact or via a similar facility on the Midhurst U3A website site or e-mail me at model.railways1@liphooku3a.org.uk
A leaflet giving basic details is available from me at the contact e-mail address above or can be downloaded via the Midhurst U3A site- Building a Model Railway Group page. (may not be updated info yet)
If you wish to come along to one of our meetings you are very welcome. All that I ask is to contact me before coming giving at least a weeks notice- The first session is free but if you want a couple of further sessions before deciding to join these will be charged at £4 per session- Thanks
DONATIONS TO CHARITY
EXHIBITION EXPENSES
Proposed that half of any expenses received from exhibiting group layouts will be donated to Railway Children, an international charity working with homeless children found near major railway stations in India, East Africa and the UK. www.railwaychildren.org.uk
REFRESHMENTS
We are also requesting donations (£1 per member per session) for unlimited tea/coffee & chocolate biscuits consumed at each session. The donations will form the basis of a regular donation to the Railway Children charity (as above)
FACEBOOK PAGE
You can follow progress on the groups projects on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LiphookBAMRG/ or on this website
Late March 2017/ April 2017- Details brought fully up to date- image added/May 2017- updated/July 2017 -updated September 2017/ Updated late October 2017/Updated December 2017 to include 2018 layout/diorama choices/ updated 22nd January / February 2018 updated to latest proposals/ March 2018 General Update =new venue. April 2018 Full revision to cover move to Redford Village Hall; April 9th minor tidying