Soar Valley Model Railway Club Grows From Small Beginnings

January 14, 2013

The Soar Valley Model Railway Club (SVMRC) stirred in June 1981 when about six enthusiasts met at the Manor House pub in Quorn in the UK. The landlord, also an enthusiast offered the stable loft alongside the hotel as a clubroom but only if we cleaned and cleared away years of accumulated rubbish including several dead birds and rotted food.

At the first proper meeting a constitution was written, officers elected and a recruitment drive initiated. By Easter 1983 the club was arranging it’s own small exhibition. The club established itself with good management and a strong membership and had gone from strength to strength from the small beginnings with only six members. SVMRC currently has 55 members.

Dorehill St. Stevens (00)

The layout measures 41ft 9ins x 14ft 6ins on 22, 6ft x 3ft or 2ft 6ins boards made from 12mm exterior ply on 75mm x 25mm battening, with occasional variations as can be seen in the canal area. The layout ideally requires ten operators but can run with only seven.

Sowters Lane (009)

Sowters Lane is a fictitious “009” narrow gauge junction layout, situated in a rural location and is based loosely on a number of slate, coal and quarry railways. Trains converge from the three quarry and mine and takes them via the junction at Sowters Lane to the Main line transfer yard off scene . In addition to the mining traffic the occasional passenger and goods freight trains can be seen meandering through the scenic countryside, where the keen eyed will spot the blacksmith welding in his works and the Farrier working on his horse shoes. The local bus awaits passengers to be taken to the nearby town, the taxi awaits fares and the postman makes his rounds delivering letters.

Aylett End (00)

This layout is based on a Southern Region branch line terminus around the Ashford area in the British Railways era 1950s & 1960s.

Hardington Valley (Hornby Dublo)

The station is based on a large provincial town with a goods yard, sidings, coal staithes and working colour light signals.

The club is currently developing 3 new layouts:

Monkton Howland (00) – A modern image DCC layout .

Shawley (0) – A 1950s branch line, loosely based upon the Charnwood Forest Railway.

Swithland Sidings (N) – A semi-fictional recreation of the area around Swithland Sidings on the
Great Central Main Line, set in the 1950s.