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July 2020
Our return to our track is the subject of an editorial in the
August 2020 'Engineering in Miniature' magazine. |
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June 2020
We are back ! In
April 2020 our Society was granted a license by Rugeley Power Limited
that allowed us access to our railway which is located within the power station site.
We have had to delay returning to our railway until now because of the
risk of Corvid-19 contagion. . . . . . . . |
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February 2020
The winner of the 2020 'Les Edwards Trophy for Craftmanship' was
Roy Clift with his 5" gauge model of a Midland Railway 6 wheeled
passenger coach. The main purpose of the competition is to remember
the workmanship that our late member Les Edwards showed in his lifetime
and the help he was always willing to give for those of us still
learning. |
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October 2018
A few weeks ago our member John Dutton saw a post on Facebook from
leading electronic controller manufacturer, 4QD describing their
newly developed controller tester. They were offering a
'free' unit to clubs and societies. John has take advantage of
this offer and it is now available to diesel electric model owning
members. More information on 4QD controllers can be found on their
website . . .
www.4qd.co.uk |
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October 2018
Our final club visit of the year saw our members travel to Wrexham
for another day at the Wrexham and District Model Engineering
Society. . . . . .
|MORE| |
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September 2018
2nd September 2018 saw us visiting
the Little Hay Miniature Railway, home of the Sutton Coldfield Model
Engineering Society. This was one of the best visits in number of
members attending. We were given a very warm welcome from the Sutton
members and their wives and it was a most enjoyable day in good company.
. . . . .
|MORE| |
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August 2018
Member John Dutton reported on 20
August 2018 . . . . .
"Another successful and enjoyable club visit completed yesterday to the
'Peacock Railway', the home of the South Cheshire Model Engineering
Society.
|MORE| |
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July 2018
On Saturday 28 July 2018 several of our members enjoyed a visit to the
Leeds Society of Model and Experimental Engineers. What the Leeds
society has in common with us is that it is also based in the grounds of
a power station. Eggborough power station closed in 2016, but the
society has been more fortunate than our own, in being able to maintain
access to their track and facilities despite the end of power
generation.
|MORE| |
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July 2018
Bromsgrove Diesel Gala.
On a sunny and very warm Saturday 7 July, Bromsgrove Society of Model
Engineers held their 'Diesel Gala'. Several Rugeley SME
members attended this well organised and most enjoyable day with their
'Diesel Outline' 5" gauge model locomotives. . . . . .
|MORE| |
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June 2018
Wednesday 20 June, 2018 saw a group of our members visiting Wildon UK's
premises in 'Old Station Yard' Lower Leigh. The owner of this
business Mark Wildon has a collection of generators, diesel locomotive
power units, boilers, and a unique 1957 600 hp triple expansion steam
engine . . . . . a signal box, water tower, and even a working standard
gauge Ruston shunter and track !
. . . . . .
| MORE | |
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June 2018
On Sunday 17 June, 2018 several of our members accepted an invitation to
visit the Derby Society of Model and Experimental Engineers.
Derby SMEE have a superb fully landscaped track layout. Their
members made us very welcome . . . . . . . . . . . .
| MORE | |
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June 2018
On Saturday 2 June, 2018 several of our members took advantaged of an
invitation from the Butterley Park Miniature Railway to visit them with
their locos. This was a really good day, and enjoyed by each of our
members attending
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| MORE
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September 2017
These photographs were taken by member John Dutton on 30 September 2017,
and show parts of our 2000ft multi-gauge raised level track on the very
last afternoon of our site access. Our license expired today, so this
impressive facility will now be un-maintained, unused and left for the
elements to slowly deteriorate
. . . . . . . . . | MORE | |
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September 2017
Having been told by the owners of
the Rugeley Power Station that we had to vacate our site on 30 September
2017, members enjoyed two final running days on the last weekends in
September. The club will now continue as a model engineering society
without a track with monthly meetings at Armitage Village Hall . . . . .
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| MORE | |
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Following the visit from Wrexham and District MES earlier this year, on Saturday
15 April several of our members accepted an invitation for a return
visit to Wrexham, where they were made most welcome and enjoyed the
hospitality extended by the society. With the closure of our own
track, these 'away days' take on even more importance in giving our
members the opportunity to run their locomotives whilst not being able
to at 'home' following the closure of our track on 31 March 2017. . . .
| MORE | |
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On 1 April 2017 our member John Dutton received the following email
message from Steve Brown of the South Cheshire Model Engineering Society
. .
"A sad day indeed
yesterday, but I'm glad to see you made the best of your last run - some
great night time photos on Facebook. SCMES thanks you for letting us run
on your fantastic track in February, we are still talking about it and
send all best wishes to all at the Rugeley Power Station Model
Engineering Society for the future. Along with all other societies
I'd like to convey our invitation to come and have a run at our Peacock
Hotel track, near Nantwich and look forward to seeing you in the not too
distant future. As Editor of the SCMES newsletter (The Blower) I have
attached the latest edition which I thought may be of interest to you
and other members " Best regards, Steve Brown |
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Following the loss of our facilities after the closure of Rugeley
Power Station, members used Friday 31 March as the last
opportunity to run locomotives on the club track. Some members
stretched out the final day to include evening running after dark.
Driving in darkness is a different experience and presents
challenging conditions for drivers, although the excellent track
signalling system makes night running as safe as operating in
daylight. Night photography is always difficult, but some
images of the late evening running can be downloaded
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HERE | |
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Our final Friends and Family Day was held on Sunday 19 March 2017.
A bitter - sweet day. The following photographs show how much our
visitors enjoyed the day . . especially the children.
However, with the closure of Rugeley Power Station, our railway will not
be allowed to operate after 31 March. So unless along
with the neigbouring
recreational facilities it can be saved . . . . . .
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| MORE | |
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On Saturday 4 March 2017 we were pleased to receive a visit from
members of the Leyland Society of Model Engineers. They were a
very friendly group of enthusiasts who brought a variety of excellent
models for a last run on our track before we close down on 31 March. . .
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Sunday 26 February was the South Cheshire MES's day for a pre-closure
visit to our track. A good day was enjoyed by visitors and members
in the company of like minded enthusiast . . . . . . . . |
MORE | |
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February 2017
On Saturday 25 February 2017 we received a pre-closure visit from the
Wrexham & District Model Engineering Society. The Wrexham members
brought several excellent models to run on our track. It was a
pleasure to have them with us for the day, and we hope to make a return
visit later this year. . . . ! MORE ! |
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February 2017
On Sunday 18 February we were
pleased to receive a visit from members of the Sutton Coldfield Model
Engineering Society. As well as being able to have their excellent
models running on our track, because they are a local society, based in
Little Hay, near Lichfield, this was also the opportunity to meet old
friends.
! MORE ! |
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February 2017
Sunday 12 February was chosen by the Nottingham Society of Model and
Experimental for a pre-closure visit to our track. Unfortunately they chose a
day when the weather was particularly grey and damp as the photographs
will confirm !
! MORE ! |
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February 2017
As part of our pre-closure series of visits from other societies. on a
sunny Saturday 4 February 2017 we were pleased to receive members from
the Leeds Society of Model and Experimental Engineers. Our visitors
brought a variety of excellent models to run on our track. . . . .
.
! MORE ! |
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January 2017
Ahead of the closure of our track and facilities on 31 March this year,
several model engineering society approached us for a visit and to run
their locomotives on our track for the last time. The first of these
visits took place today. 14 January, when we were pleased to receive a
visit from members of Sale Area Model Engineering Society (S.A.M.E.S)
. . . . . . .
| MORE | |
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January 2017
You can see a video on YouTube posted by Sale MES member
'LMS4767' titled . . . '5" gauge LNER
60107 Royal Lancer on tour at Rugeley Society of Model Engineers'
. . . . . . .
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HERE | |
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December 2016
On a cold but dry, Tuesday 27 December 2016 we held what will
probably be our final 'Christmas Steam Up' before we close
down our railway next March. The event was well attended,
and the low air temperature made for a lot of condensed steam from
our steam locomotives ! . . . . . .
|MORE| |
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October 2016
On Saturday 29 October 2016 several of our members visited the Wrexham
Society of Model Engineers for their 'Day on the Diesels'. They
reported that the facilities at Wrexham were excellent and that they had received a very warm welcome from the Wrexham
members, and thoroughly enjoyed their day in the company of fellow
'diesel electric' model enthusiasts. The following
photographs taken on the day include the unusual record of our chairman
Derek Moore actually enjoying driving a diesel locomotive !
. . . . .|HERE| |
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October 2016
The Midlands
Model Engineering Exhibition again invited our society to exhibit
members models at their 2016 Exhibition at the Fosse
Exhibition Centre near Leamington Spa |
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July 2016
Each year our Society holds an
EFFICIENCY COMPETITION. 9 locomotives took part in the 2016 competition.
The winner this year was JOHN WARD with his 5" gauge locomotive 'Y CWMRO'. Member Derek Tweed
again provided the
test equipment and calculated and prepared these official results of the
Society's 2016 competition . . . . . . .|MORE|
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July 2016
On the evening of Wednesday 20
July, we received a visit from 45 members of the BRANCH LINE SOCIETY,
This required us to operate an intensive train service to accommodate the
number of visitors, and with the heavy passenger loads most trains were
'double-headed'.
|MORE| |
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July 2016
Members of the TRENT VALLEY MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY visited us on a warm
and sunny Sunday 17 July 2016. The Trent Valley MRS is
a well established model railway club with a clubhouse in Weeford, near
Lichfield . . . .
| MORE | |
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July 2016
On Sunday 10 July 2016 our society held it's first 'Diesel Day'.
For the first time all models running were diesel outline electric
locomotives. . . . . .
|MORE|
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MAY
2016
For what was a cold and very wet Bank Holiday Monday, there was still a steady
stream of visitors for rides on our railway at the Rugeley Power Station
Social Club 'FUN DAY'. Members just about managed to keep up with
the demand at our station for rides behind one of our steam
or electric locos. . . . . . . .
|MORE|
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September 2015
On a warm and sunny late Summer Saturday 26 September 2015 our society was privileged to receive a
visit from members of the London & North Western Railway Society who
brought with them as many as 20 models, . . . . . . .
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|MORE| |
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September 2015
On Saturday 12 September 2015 members visited the private Statfold Barn
Railway. The
Statfold Barn Railway is an extensive multi-gauge private railway near
Tamworth. It is home to an extensive collection of historic steam,
diesel and electric
locomotives
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|MORE| |
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At our 'Steam Up' on 4 May 2014, member Ron Hancock took photographs
that you can now view . . .
|HERE|
Making it a special occasion was a
visit from founder and honourary member Matt Jeffrey ( see
|OUR
HISTORY| ).who now lives in
Pennsylvania USA and was on a short visit to the UK. |
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A SUCCESSFUL 2013 'OPEN DAY' !
At each year's Rugeley Power Station Open Day we are asked to assist the main
club with running a continuous service of trains for visitors, whilst at
the same time we try to promote our society's purpose and achievements.
. . . . . . . . . |MORE| |
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Our 'Steam Up' on Sunday 30th June 2013 was well attended, and on a
pleasant summer afternoon members brought the a variety of steam and
diesel outline models to the
track . . . . . . . . .
|MORE|
On Sunday 23 September 2012 we received
visitors from both the Leeds MES and Nottingham MES, who brought some
really excellent models. See a video produced by our member
David Emberton, of these locomotives in steam on our track . . . . .
|HERE|
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On Wednesday 11 July 2012 we had
the annual visit from the Beavers. They were with us between 5 and
7 pm and kept at least three of our trains running continuously.
Some of the parents stayed longer with their children and enjoyed the
evening. We look forward to receiving another visit from the
Beavers next year.
MIDLANDS FEDERATION RALLY 26 JUNE 2011
We were fortunate to have a warm
and sunny day to welcome visitors to the 2011 Midlands Federation
Rally which we were privileged to host this year. As many as
16 owners / drivers brought their 3 1/2" gauge and 5 " gauge
locomotives to the Rally, and there was even a greater numbers of
visitors who came as spectators. We extend our thanks to all
visitors for supporting the Rally, and for making it such a
success !
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|HERE|
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To see some general
photographs of the Rally, click . . . .
.|HERE|
You can also click on the following visitor list to see photographs of
individual locomotives and their owners . . .
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