Club History.

To some people, model railways are just "grown-ups playing with trains". To devotees of the hobby, like the members of the Christchurch club, it is a way of recreating real railway operations in miniature and bringing the glory days of steam-hauled travel back to life.

Christchurch Model Railway club was started in 1982 shortly after Jim Etheridge exhibited the 00 scale layout he had built at his place of work, the Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water Company. The exhibition was at Priory House, Christchurch and so many people asked "Is there a local club?" Jim decided to form one.

Initially there were eight members who met regularly in Jim's garden shed. Soon after, there was a move to a purpose-built larger shed (28' x 16') where in 1985 our first club exhibition layout, Portfield, was built. Based on Southern Region British Railways stock & practices, Portfield was a hit with enthusiasts at exhibitions and earned the club the Wessex Association Best Layout Award at the Weymouth exhibition in 1989. The trophy, a scale model of Stephenson's Rocket, still takes pride of place in our clubhouse.

Like other club members, Jim has his own layouts he sometimes exhibits, such as his historic Hornby three-rail, and a narrow gauge N scale layout on 9mm track.

Member Rodney Haines has his Ashton Junction layout, based on the Great Western Railway; while Paul Mackay has 1970s diesels on his Kirky Lane model.

Members are currently working on their latest exciting project, an as-yet-unnamed imaginary small terminus based on the Somerset and Dorset Railway, which linked Bournemouth West and Bath Green Park Stations. It will provide the opportunity to run some LMS locos, delightful 2P 4-4-0 tender engines and heavy duty beauties like the S&D's own 7F 2-8-0s and British Railways Standard 9F 2-10-0s alongside the ubiquitous Bulleid light pacifics. The terminus will have a two-road engine shed, turntable and a goods yard for those intricate shunting operations. Track laying has begun, but it is a lengthy project.

Currently the club has around 15 members. We try to support other local club events, as well as local charity shows, by exhibiting when invited. We also enjoy a  social side to include wives, partners, family and friends.