Much more than just toys for boys

To some people, model railways are just "grown-ups playing with trains". To devotees of the hobby, like the members of the Christchurch club, it is a way of recreating real railway operations in miniature and bringing the glory days of steam-hauled travel back to life.

Christchurch Model Railway club was started in 1982 shortly after Jim Etheridge exhibited the 00 scale - that's 4mm to the foot, with an underscale track gauge of 16.5mm - layout he had built at his place of work, the Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water Company.

The exhibition was at Priory House, Christchurch and led to people asking, "Is there a local club?"

The answer was "No". But there were so many requests, he decided to form one.

Initially there were seven members who met regularly in a shed in his garden.

Soon after that there was a move to a larger, 28ft by 16ft, shed where, in 1985 they started building their first club exhibition layout, Portfield.

Measuring 18ft by 9ft, the model, based on Southern Region British Railways stock and practices was a hit with the enthusiasts at exhibitions and even earned the club the Wessex Association Best Layout Award at the Weymouth exhibition in 1989.

The trophy, a scale model of The Rocket, still takes pride of place in the clubhouse.

It takes four members at a time to operate Portfield. Each session lasts about 90 minutes before a new team takes over.

Behind the scenes it has five storage roads (hidden tracks for holding trains) in both up and down directions, while the paying public sees the main line station, a branch line and dock scene for shunting.

When operating at exhibitions, members do not keep to a strict timetable in the belief that it is better to keep the crowds, who pay good money to get through the doors, happy by seeing trains running regularly.

"There are too many gaps when you keep to a timetable. That's what most of us found, anyway," said Jim.

Portfield needs 15 locomotives to operate it successfully; elegant Bulleid pacific (4-6-2 wheel arrangement) Battle of Britain, West Country and the heavier Merchant Navy class engines, tanks engines like the Drummond M7s that did such sterling work on the Ringwood, Lymington and numerous other branch lines in the south, and others too numerous to mention.

Portfield is stored safely away, but is ready to roll at at any time.

Like other club members Jim has his own layouts he sometimes exhibits, such as his historic Hornby three-rail, and a narrow gauge 00 scale layout on 9mm track.

Member Rodney Haines has his Ashton Junction layout, based on the Great Western Railway, while Paul Mackay has 1970s diesels on his Kirky Lane model.

Portfield is being given a rest this year. Instead, the club is showing its Wimborne Road 19ft by 15ft end-to-end layout, again based on Southern Region in the 1950s and 1960s at this year's silver anniversary exhibition.

Members are currently working on their latest exciting project, an as-yet-unnamed imaginary small terminus based on the Somerset and Dorset Railway, which linked Bournemouth West and Bath Green Park Stations.

It will provide the opportunity to run some LMS locos, delightful 2P 4-4-0 tender engines and heavy duty beauties like the S&D's own 7F 2-8-0s and British Railways Standard 9F 2-10-0s alongside the ubiquitous Bulleid light pacifics.

The terminus will have a two-road engine shed, turntable and a goods yard for those intricate shunting operations.

Track laying has begun, but it is a lengthy project. "We'd like to exhibit it in summer 2009," said Rodney.

Currently the club has members ranging in age from 12-year-old modern image enthusiast Alex Whitcher to 86-year-old Gerry Baker, who is its honorary secretary.

The silver jubilee exhibition looks to be a good one, with 24 different exhibits, two with sound effects, 11 trade stands and refreshments made by members' wives. Doors are open from 10.30am on Saturday and 10am on Sunday.

The club meets 50 Tuesdays a year from 7pm. Contact Jim Etheridge for details on 01202 474287.