About

AN INTRODUCTION

The Southampton Model Railway Society was formed in 1966. In 1986, after many years of meeting at Sholing Station, the Society moved to rooms at the Eastpoint Centre. Due to the redevelopment of Eastpoint in 2011, we moved into our own small site on an estate in Millbrook. Early in January 2014, we upped sticks again and moved our clubroom to Kemps Quay.  Here Members of the Society can meet at any time, but mainly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm throughout the year. Also Wednesday afternoons from 2pm The Society provides a friendly atmosphere, both for members and visitors. Mondays and   Wednesdays are usually given over to construction and modelling, while Fridays are usually operating evenings. There are no restrictions on what can be operated on the layouts, and therefore it is not considered unusual to see a German or American trains passing through British stations!

New members are always welcome. If you would like to find out more about us, please contact the Society’s Hon Secretary, or come along to one of our evening meetings. You can find details on our Contact Page.

OUR MODELS

The Society has a wide range of interests, in both the prototype and modelling. The Society has a number of permanent layouts that reflect this diversity of interest:

• •                a new 7 mm/O Gauge (under construction)
  •               Seaton Junction 4mm 00 gauge (under construction)
  •               009 gauge layout automated  with the help of the MERG group who meet    regularly at our club rooms
  •               Oakehampton N gauge under construction

As well as its own exhibition, the Society is well represented at many exhibitions around the country, both through its own layouts, or through members’ own private layouts. Attendance of Society layouts at exhibitions is at the discretion of the committee.

For many years, our OO gauge model Ackthorpe, represented the Society on the exhibition circuit. With Ackthorpe having become well-established on the circuit following its introduction at our 2006 Exhibition, it has now found a new home in Norfolk..

Over the years, the society has built and exhibited many layouts of all the popular gauges and scales, and has supported both local and out-of-area exhibitions. The Society has also helped many members with their own layouts and models, not only by producing models for them, but by helping them develop their own skills. Everyone is encouraged to get involved, whatever their skill level. Click the Members’ Layouts link in the side panel for further details.

OUR ANNUAL EXHIBITION

Over the years, our own annual exhibition has become one of the top shows in the country, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the members, and, in particular, our Exhibition Manager,  The exhibition takes place on the last weekend in January at Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh. For more details, click the Exhibition link in the side panel.