About
Our History:
The inaugural meeting under the working title of the Romsey Railway Circle was held on the 4th April 1977. At that meeting the title Romsey and District Railway Modellers Society was agreed as the name for the new club. Two of the group who called that meeting are still members, as are a few of those who attended shortly afterwards.
We started out with big ideas, a fine scale 00 model of Romsey station. A survey of sorts was carried out before realisation set in, and we went for smaller but more manageable projects. The Southampton Club has now modeled Romsey station and received much praise for a splendid achievement.
Initially we met in the St John's Ambulance Hall in Bell Street, with a short visit to the ex-Station Masters office on the station whilst the hall was refurbished. On the sale of the hall to the local department store we were fortunate through contacts, one of our members was the Architect of the building, to find the accommodation that we now occupy. On that subject, we meet every Wednesday evening at 7.30 at the Scout Hall, Braishfield Road, Romsey (here is a map showing the location).
Our annual exhibition soon became a regular feature of the calendar. After a few trials of one-day events and taking the exhibition to far-flung parts of the empire (Totton and Chandlers Ford) we settled upon the present formula, a high quality two-day event. Over the years we have been fortunate to be able to attract many of the well-known specialist and 'big names' in the model railway world. Tintagel Road, Alton, Taw Vale, Buntingham, Stapleforth TMD and Main Line, Alresford, Winchester Chesil, Mellin Wharf and Quay. Holcombe, Salcombe, Flintcombe, Ashburton and Maristow, are a few that come to mind.
We have for many years had a number of layouts, both from the club and members on the exhibition circuit. We have exhibited as far east as Southwold, west to Bridgewater, north to Birmingham (Warley) and south to the Isle of Wight. Please see the various pages describing our current layouts.
The gauges in which we model are:
Preservation
Other activities:
The inaugural meeting under the working title of the Romsey Railway Circle was held on the 4th April 1977. At that meeting the title Romsey and District Railway Modellers Society was agreed as the name for the new club. Two of the group who called that meeting are still members, as are a few of those who attended shortly afterwards.
We started out with big ideas, a fine scale 00 model of Romsey station. A survey of sorts was carried out before realisation set in, and we went for smaller but more manageable projects. The Southampton Club has now modeled Romsey station and received much praise for a splendid achievement.
Initially we met in the St John's Ambulance Hall in Bell Street, with a short visit to the ex-Station Masters office on the station whilst the hall was refurbished. On the sale of the hall to the local department store we were fortunate through contacts, one of our members was the Architect of the building, to find the accommodation that we now occupy. On that subject, we meet every Wednesday evening at 7.30 at the Scout Hall, Braishfield Road, Romsey (here is a map showing the location).
Our annual exhibition soon became a regular feature of the calendar. After a few trials of one-day events and taking the exhibition to far-flung parts of the empire (Totton and Chandlers Ford) we settled upon the present formula, a high quality two-day event. Over the years we have been fortunate to be able to attract many of the well-known specialist and 'big names' in the model railway world. Tintagel Road, Alton, Taw Vale, Buntingham, Stapleforth TMD and Main Line, Alresford, Winchester Chesil, Mellin Wharf and Quay. Holcombe, Salcombe, Flintcombe, Ashburton and Maristow, are a few that come to mind.
We have for many years had a number of layouts, both from the club and members on the exhibition circuit. We have exhibited as far east as Southwold, west to Bridgewater, north to Birmingham (Warley) and south to the Isle of Wight. Please see the various pages describing our current layouts.
The gauges in which we model are:
- N Gauge - Great Western, Southern Region and Continental N Gauge. We also have a 2mm fine scale layout.
- 009 - One of our member's layouts was exhibited at Warley.
- H0 - Mainly Deutsches Bahn.
- 00 and Scale 4 (P4) - Great Western and BR.
- 0 Gauge.
- Live Steam Garden Railway - one member has a layout in his garden.
Preservation
- Many of our members belong to one or other of the major preservation societies.
Other activities:
- We hold an Annual dinner, usually around the end of the year.
- One of our members is also a volunteer on the Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway and every year, weather permitting, we attend the Summer Steam Gala and form a part of the attractions by operating several layouts under a gazeboo. We also get to ride on the trains.
- Every so often members go on tips to model railway exhibitions, preserved lines and other places of interest - for details click here
