North West Group
The North West Group
The group was formed in 1983 and current membership is 50+. We regularly visit a number of garden railways at our members’ homes and boast a portable track Withnell Junction. This track is used at exhibitions to promote G1MRA with up to six outings a year. It is also used, in conjunction with a garden layout, when we have a national meeting, enabling up to 6 trains to run at any one time.We run live steam and electric (battery powered), the majority radio controlled – (stops you having to run after them). Our current stud of locos is over 100, together with extensive rolling stock.
Membership was mainly concentrated in the Lancashire area but has been swelled over the years by members from Cheshire – we also have members from Yorkshire and Middlesex.
Get-togethers are held every other Saturdays during the milder months, often these days, starting in March, but also run on an ad hoc basis when we need to test locos or entertaining G1MRA members who are visiting the area etc. During the “winter” period (October – April) we get-togethers on the first Wednesday evening of the Month for talks, modelling demonstrations, video shows, etc. This year in January and March the group hired a hall so that members could run indoors on the portable track, it also enabled the layout to be checked over prior to the show season. It also has the advantage that drives can get use to the layout without the added pressure of public spectators.
The group has many skilled members some having articles published in national magazines from scratch building and design of locomotives, wagons and coaches to the construction of kits. We have expertise on track work including complicated point construction, scenic work, machining, boiler making and electronics. What we don’t know, as the saying goes, we ask the wider Gauge 1 Association.
Don’t be put off, if you don’t think you possess any skills, come and join the group we love to assist people with their problems as much as solving our own, help is freely given by all members, we can even help with issues relating to Gauge 1 if you like.
Contact: Roger Thornber - e-mail: grandsft@chiltern8.freeserve.co.uk
Picture of our latest group purchase, a "San-Cheng" Jubilee locomotive electrically driven for use by members at exhibitions and major events.
