Royston and District Model Railway Club are pleased to announce that their 2026 exhibition will again open at Bassingbourn Village College Saturday, the 28th March, from 10.30am-4pm
21 layouts, many from East Anglian clubs, will be laid out. These will include three of the most popular gauges of ‘OO’ ‘N’ and narrow gauge ‘OO9’. Also examples of other larger and smaller gauges gaining in popularity.
In addition Royston Model Engineers are providing sit-on steam or Diesel train rides outside (weather permitting); plus 15 stands of supporting Model Railway Traders, Demonstrators and Railway Societies. Including Squires tools, who have a huge range of the small tools required to help build, extend or repair a layout: www.squirestools.com and Friends of the National Railway Museum attending.
Providing there is a railway services that day – The preserved Eastern Counties Coach No. RE896 will provide a free shuttle bus service between the Royston bus station; via the Railway station and the exhibition. Full details of the timetable and pickup points will be available on the website exhibition page nearer the time.
The venue is all on one level for ease of access with signed car parking next to the entrance for customers with mobility issues. There is free car parking at the adjacent sports centre. Refreshments and cakes/biscuits will be available for purchase in the refectory.
The entry price has been kept affordable, with adults £5 each and free entry for accompanied children.
For more information on the event and the exhibitors and traders attending, visit: www.roystondmrc.co.uk/exhibition.html
Royston and District Model Railway Club
It’s been amazing to think that the club have provided an annual exhibition for nearly 40 years, with only a two year ‘Covid’ break. Although the Club admits it’s very hard work to stage the exhibition, they do have fun and very much appreciate the high number of people from all over East Anglia, plus the many living locally in Royston and the surrounding villages, who regularly attend.
By keeping entry free to school age children they are able to encourage and welcome many families along. They also notice the Mums and Dads enjoy watching the trains and admiring the scenic details of layouts.
The Club meets on a Friday evening, and since moving the location of the Club nights to nearby Whaddon Village Hall, they have seen an increase to 40 members. Since 2024, the Club has introduced the occasional extra club working sessions on a Saturday or Sunday, for a longer duration than the Friday evening session, where they have a mixture of club member activities, working on their own modelling or helping build a club layout.
They also try to have a “running night” with their OO gauge layout “Somerton Bridge” once a month, when members can bring their DC- or DCC- fitted rolling stock and just admire!
The club and members are involved in the building of model railway layouts in all the major scales for their own enjoyment and have exhibited their layouts at Model Railway Exhibitions all over the South East and East Anglia. 2027 will mark the 40th year since the Club formally started.
The group is friendly and welcoming to visitors (with nice hot cups of tea on offer) and if you would like to attend, simply contact the committee via the contact form on their website for up-to-date information.
To find out more about the Club and up to date meeting dates, visit: www.roystondmrc.co.uk – FB @Roystondmrc
