Reply To: The chairman can now hear you all…

On Trade Officer said

There is also a map based on geographic post code on the website that shows where those groups are and clusters of members. Go to Members Area>Area Groups and you will see a link to the map. It is a google map so you will be able to pan and zoom. If you click on the EMGS icon it will tell what is the area group

Whilst we can’t advertise individual members it should give you an idea of how near your area group is and the sort of numbers of members in your vicinity

John

 

Thank you John. I had discovered the information about area groups the website. More report in the journal of course. I had also examined the map on the website having explored most of it.

Although 19 members are listed in the Norwich (NR postcode I presume) this area is approximately 3500 Sq Miles (70×50) which gives a density of 1 member to 184 Sq Miles.

I would suspect that of those that are actively modelling most would be ‘lone modellers.’ I’m not aware of any layouts or sub groups within any of the local Model Railway clubs. To be honest to see an EM or P4 layout on display in this area (NNAG S4S excepted who have been out with Cade’s Green and hopefully with North Elmham in due course) is a rare event. EM is marginally more common than P4 but any appearing is remarkable.

For those working alone and for those who are located more remotely (Norfolk currently has only 1 dual carriageway of any length – the A11 – the next longest are the Norwich Southern bypass and the Norwich Northern Distributor Road) on line support is now essential. The days of writing ‘Dear Sir’ letters, waiting weeks for publication and then maybe replies are long gone. RM Web, Facebook Groups, S4S Forum, Western Thunder et all all show this to be the case.

There is an active private FB Group – ‘EM Gauge Modellers Group’ with 416 members. I have never found anything similar for P4. Online forums are fine when they stay on topic and contributors make meaningful submissions. Too often some, for me, become ‘derailed.’

I think I’ll leave the subject the there. 🙂