Layouts
(Courtesy of Cheshire Railway Modellers)
RMRM promotes the modelling of railways through its hands-on layouts. These
range from push-along Brio for the youngest enthusiasts through to the scenic
Harbour where visitors are guided as they work goods and passenger
trains in a prototypical manner between the low-level fish dock to the upper
level terminus.
Other hands-on layouts include...
- The Hump Shunt - Sorting wagons into the right sidings
- Danny's Light Railway - Moving passengers, livestock and freight between two stations.
- LGB - Big trains runnings at floor level
- Gilead Yard - An American switching layout
- The Harbour - Running passenger and goods trains between two stations.
From time to time, RMRM presents these layouts at venues other than model exhibitions, so exposing them to audiences unlikely to attend traditional shows. These events are promoted by community centres, churches, etc. and aim to involve all the family - children, parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts.
The recent Model Railway Family Fun Day held at Woodley Methodist Church (Stockport) is an example. As well as the robust drive-it-yourself layouts, there were a few highly detailed small layouts (definitely "don't touch") presented by their owners, just to show what can be achieved and operated in an ordinary home. Piles of railway and model magazines were available free to good homes.
And the event was successful! Unlike model railway exhibitions, where the last hour becomes increasingly quiet, the hall at Woodley was busy right to the end. Indeed, it was difficult to get some of the children to take their parents home!