Club Activities

The aims and objectives of the NEMRC are:-

To enable people interested in railway modelling and railways in general, to associate with others with similar interests for their mutual benefit and enjoyment.
To construct a model railway layout for use by members.
To encourage beginners to seek knowledge and enjoyment from railway modelling.
To share ideas between members for the benefit of all.
To promote the hobby of railway modelling as an enjoyable and rewarding one.

Meetings

Regular informal meetings are held at members' homes one Sunday, every second month, commencing in February each year. Usually commencing at 1.00pm, these "get-togethers" are a chance for members to catch up, share ideas and run some trains. Some members have operating layouts, whilst some have layouts in the "under construction" stage and some are still in the planning stage.

Regular meetings are also held in our Armidale clubrooms, located in the Armidale railway yards opposite the railway station, on Tuesday afternoons commencing at 1.30pm. Contact the Secretary to arrange access.

Armidale Clubrooms

Layouts

The Club has three layouts available for use by members. A fixed layout to HO/OO scale with code 100 track is located in the Armidale clubrooms. Presently functional, but still largely under construction, it features Up and Down tracks, a station yard, crossing loops and sidings.

Overall view of layout Station and main yard Goods shed and brickworks

Our second layout is of the portable exhibition type. Called "SWAN VALE", it is HO scale/HO gauge, 6.2m x 3.5m, and features double mainline running with a branchline as well, enabling three different trains to be run at any one time. It has a twelve track "fiddleyard", with four tracks each for the two mainlines and the branchline.

The layout can be operated by up to four people. It is constantly being improved and updated, and the new end modules have been completed, but upgrading the layout is a continuous task. The layout has its own trailer for transport, which has recently been repainted grey with the Club logo on its sides. Over the past few years, the layout has been displayed at exhibitions in Brisbane, Newcastle, Canberra and Murwillumbah. The layout recently won the award for Best Layout at the Canberra Model Railway Exhibition in March 2008.

The club is currently in the process of planning a new exehibition layout.

Swan Vale team with trophy at Canberra 2008

The third layout is a U-drive layout, which is a smaller, table mounted, double loop setup for "Thomas the Tank Engine".

The Club supports local charities and members can attend local fetes and fairs in the New England area and North East NSW with "Swan Vale" or the smaller "Thomas" layout.

Club news letter

A club newsletter is published bi-monthly containing articles contributed by members.

Exhibitions

The Club also organises one of the best country model railway exhibitions in NSW.Normally held in May in the beautiful New England city of Armidale, members are encouraged to participate in the organisation and running of the exhibition.Our latest exhibition was just held in mid May 2008 in Inverell. An exhibition is planned for 2011 in Armidale.

New England Convention

Held for the first time in March 2001, the New England Convention was the first model railway convention in NSW held outside a major city. The last Convention was held in November 2005 at the Yaraandoo Environmental Interpretive Centre, near Ebor, on the New England plateau.

A convention will take place on November 6 - 7 2010 in Armidale. Open the Convention Flyer and the Convention Page for more information.

Annual Christmas Party

The Club puts on a Christmas BBQ every year towards the end of November. Over the last few years, it has been held at Copeton Waters State Park, near Inverell. The Club supplies the meat for the day, with members supplying their own drinks and salads. All members and their families are invited to attend this last official Club activity every year.