Heywood Model Railway Group Annual Exhibition

Date published: 18 March 2019

The Heywood Model Railway Group held its annual exhibition on Saturday 16 March and Sunday 17 March at Rochdale Masonic Hall.

Layouts owned by the club and those from club members along with other model railway clubs were on display.

Working Exhibits included:

• Butterfly Lane, Nigel Tansley, 1:48 scale / 0n 30 gauge
• Bucks Lane, Mark Towers, 1:76 scale / 00 gauge
• Knapford (Thomas), H.M.R.G., 1:76 scale / 00 gauge
• Claremont Road, Paul Backhouse, 1:76 scale / 00 gauge
• Whits End, John Whittaker, 1:76 scale 00 & 009 gau
• Ethan's Halt, Ethan Smith, 1:76 scale / 00 gauge
• Wheatstone Bridge, Robert Mckelvey, 1:76 scale 009 gauge
• Port d’Etiob, Simon Dawson, 1:87 scale / H0 gauge
• California Dreamland, Steven Smith, 1:87 scale / H0 gauge
• Wassup Dock, Mike Shakespeare, 1:148 scale / N gauge
• High Lane Junction, Romiley Methodist Railway Modellers, 1:148 scale / N gauge
• Low Moor, Ryan Brown, 1:148 scale / N gauge
• The Heywood Model Railway Group Club Stand, "N Gauge Stock Building" by Mark Henshaw

Roger Bottomley, Heywood Model Railway Group said: “Despite the weather we have been very busy, with visitors of all ages.

“This is the first time we have had the exhibition at the Rochdale Masonic Hall, and we have been able to use the car park at the Fire Station Museum as it’s been their open day as well.

“We have only used the downstairs this year, but I think we will be using the upstairs next year and have a much larger exhibition.”

"Heywood Model Railway Group is located in a large building at Unit 4 Park Works, River Street Heywood. The layouts in our club room range from N gauge through to G scale. A large 0 gauge layout (Heybury) has been built at 50ft by 25ft being a continuous run with 4 complete tracks all the way round.

“We now have a working Hornby Dulo 3 rail layout so if your interest is in that era then come along to one of our open days and bring anything you want to run on it with you.

“Continuing throughout 2019 we will be holding our Open / Running days on the second Saturday of each month where anyone can turn up and run your own stock on our large layouts. Admission will be free but donations to the club will always be welcome.”

The Heywood Model Railway Group has been in existence for some 60 years. The Heywood Model Railway Group was formed in 1969 by two or three enthusiasts who wanted to share their knowledge about model railways and they originally met at one of the founder members houses in Heywood, hence the name. However, the group was never based at Heywood for many years, being initially in premises in Rochdale. Only in later years did the group succeed in being based in Heywood.