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About the Group
Blackwater Valley Model Railway Group was formed towards the end of 1996. How did it all start? Very simply, two friends, who had been model railway enthusiasts and members of another model railway club for many years, decided to build their own model railway layout and wished to have a separate identity for exhibiting purposes, hence Blackwater Valley MRG was born. The Group still only has the original two members, although a couple of old friends are always on hand to help out with operations at any exhibitions.
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The Group Layouts
Due to space limitations, 15 feet was about the maximum we had available, a decision was taken that we build 4 boards, each 1 metre long by 0.5 metre wide (this would give us a layout approx. 14ft x 1ft 9ins). Also, as we had no permanent site for the layout, it therefore had to be portable. In that case, why not build it to an acceptable standard with the hope of exhibiting at model railway exhibitions.
Next came the question of 'what type of layout', steam or modern image? Quickly followed by, which part of the country is it situated? The first question was answered reasonably easily. It was our first project therefore we'd keep it easy and simple, not to many points thereby also keeping the electrics simple. This meant it had to have minimal track work; therefore a 'modern image' layout would be ideal. However, the location was beginning to prove more difficult, although unaware to us, help was at hand.
Not only were the two of us model railway enthusiasts but also model bus collectors. At the time we were researching the layout, January 1997, EFE were about to release, or had just, a Bristol VR bus in Crosville Cymru livery on route 51 to Denbigh. Some more research revealed that Denbigh did have a railway station but it had closed many years ago (April 1962). A quick look at an old Ordnance Survey map showed the course of the old railway line running from Rhyl southwards to Denbigh and beyond, plus a branch from the direction of Mold. We now had our location and with 'modellers licence' we began to build. As we did so, we decided to combine our joint hobbies, model railways and model buses; hence we built a bus/rail interchange!
Since DENBIGH was built, it has been exhibited at various model railway exhibitions including Andover, Chippenham (Wessex Exhibition), Fareham, Farnham, Lords Hill (Southampton), Witley and Yeovil (Wessex Exhibition) to name a few. However, towards the end of 2003, with Denbigh now some 6 years old, it was decided to commence work on a further layout.
Denbigh had been a 'modern image' layout, therefore the new layout would be set during the 'steam era'. It was decided to keep the layout to the same size as Denbigh, namely 4m x 0.5m as this size had proved extremely beneficial in many ways. A design for the new layout was established and the baseboards built.
However, Easter 2004 soon arrived and having found that time waits for no man, all we had achieved was to lay the basic track in position. We were now just a few months away from supposedly exhibiting the completed new layout at an exhibition! Thankfully the exhibition manager was understanding and took pity on us, allowing us to exhibit the new layout with just the bare basic boards, plus a few other items. Fortunately the track electrics had been put in place as the track was laid, so we could at least run some trains.
Opportunely for us, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. While the layout ran without any major problems, train movements didn't seem to 'flow' and further planning was obviously required. During the next month or so, and with much head scratching, it was decided to turn the two main station boards around (i.e. through 180 degrees). This completed, it quickly became obvious we'd designed the 'station plan' the wrong way round! Work was soon undertaken to build a small extension board and this was added to the original baseboards.
Track re-alignment was minimal and soon completed. Work then started on amending the electrics, where again, thankfully only minimal work was required. Ballasting of the track and laying the basic scenery soon followed along with the buildings. It was decided to use buildings from the popular Hornby 'Skaledale' range (surprising what good prices you can buy them for off eBay!).
We are pleased to say that about 65% of all required work was completed on the new layout, named BURYAN, in order that it could be exhibited at Andover MRCs annual exhibition in early September 2005. Work to complete the remaining 35% of Buryan continues.
Finally, Blackwater Valley MRG has been a member of the Wessex Association of Model Railway Clubs since the Group's formation and membership of the Association has proved very rewarding, not just with the useful information gained from many of the fellow member clubs, but also the many new friends made through membership.
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Further details of each layout, plus photographs, can be found via the links below
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To contact Blackwater Valley MRG e-mail us at Admin, Blackwater Valley MRG
Last updated: 30 November 2005