EMGS News

Test Track Reminder From John Simpson

Test Track Reminder From John Simpson

Members are reminded that the Test Track will be available in Bracknell to all members to use (FOC!!) and that I am looking forward to seeing (and photographing) yet more examples of ingenuity whether partially built or complete. Rolling stock is also more than welcome – we will always find something to pull it and nothing beats a good running-in session to iron out kinks in a chassis

E.M.G.S. NE & Borders Group – Diary 2026

Meeting DateMeeting timeLocationPurpose
25 Jan 202613:30 to 16:30StanningtonGeneral
22 Feb 202613:30 to 16:30StanningtonGeneral
15 Mar 202613:30 to 16:30StanningtonGeneral
19 Apr 202613:30 to 16:30ElsdonGeneral
31 May 202610:00 to 16:00ElsdonModelling day
21 Jun 202610:00 to 16:00ChestersModelling day
19 Jul 202610:00 to 16:00StanningtonModelling day
30 Aug 202610:00 to 16:00ChestersModelling day
27 Sep 202610:00 to 16:00ElsdonModelling day
24 Oct 20268:00 to 17:30Stannington‘Workshopwise – 2026’
29 Nov 202613:30 to 16:30StanningtonChris King trophy presentation
13 Dec 202613:30 to 16:30StanningtonXmas special

Contact

PositionNameEmailTelephone
OrganiserAllen OakesAllen@Oakesa.co.uk07973895644

Charges

MeetingsAll meetings – £5 per person
StanningtonVillage Hall, Main Street, Stannington, Morpeth
Northumberland, NE61 6EL
ElsdonElsdon Village Hall, Northumberland, NE19 1AA,
ChestersSouthdean Hall, Hawick, Roxburghshire, TD9 8TH

Please note – General meetings may include any of the following activities:-

  • Group discussion – any relevant item of interest or importance
  • Modelling – especially if you are looking for advice or help
  • ‘Show and tell’

Short talks (topics and speakers will usually be announced in advance

Newsletter 248

The Newsletter has been posted today, April 1st.

The overseas members on email distribution will be sent out on Friday 3rd April.

Steve Young – Newsletter Editor

Order Posting

I am away from Wednesday 25th March 2026 on the Model Rail Scotland EMGS stand. I am also on the stand at York the following weekend

Posting of orders until after Easter weekend may be delayed, depending on when they are placed

AGM/Members Day Update

expoEM Spring 2026 Latest updates

Admission – Members £10 (incl Partners and Children), Visitors £12
Accompanied children (under 16) FREE. Tickets are valid on both days.

Layouts

Butley Mills EM BR(E) 1950s – Andy Vincent
Bulldog Quay EM SECR – Andrew Browne
Chewton Mendip EM SDJR 1920 – Tim Tincknell
Chitterne EM GWR – Sarum Finescale (Richard Simpson)
Lambourne P4 GWR 1930s – Pete & Jeff Day
Longcarse West P4 BR 1983 – Simon Bendall
Maidstone Rd EM KESR – Bracknell Railway Society (Phil Tattershall)
Ryburn P4 LYR 1907-20 – Ray Hodson
Three Cocks Junction EM Cambrian 1904 – Richard Evans
Weslo Steels EM BR 60s micro – Dave Tailby

Guest layout

Castle Caereinion OO9 Welshpool & Llanfair – Martyn Harrison.

Demonstrations
There will a be number of demonstrators working at the show demonstrating various skills including bullhead track construction, painting & lining, split chassis loco construction, kit & scratchbuilding coaches and rolling stock, converting R-T-R locomotives,architectural modelling and more. The demonstrators will be only too happy to answer questions and discuss problems.

Paul Ash scenery
Tony Gee ?
Vernon Harrod – Rolling stock
Geoff Haynes – Painting & Lining
Peter Hill – Locos
Geoff Kent – Plasticard
Mick Moore – Wagons
Paul Segar – DCC chip
Tony Sullivan – Track
Tim Venton – Loco Clinic
Andy Vincent – 3D printinting
David Brandreth – Soldering
John James – Split Chassis
Peter Sutherland – Trees

Societies

DEMU
LSWR Circle
Midland Railway Society
Pendon
MERG

Other

Missendon

Members’ Sales

A sales list form will be included with the April mailing. Further copies can be downloaded from the web site as a PDF. Please make sure all the items are labelled with your membership number, price, the page (if more than one), line number and a contact telephone number on your form. A supply of blank labels will be available on the stand.
Commission will be taken on all sales.
Sorry but no books or videos.
No items will be held over on Saturday evening. Trading times will start later than the opening of the show and
finish earlier than the closing time. All transactions strictly CASH only
.
Due to space constraints no more than 3 sheets per member (60 items) will be accepted for sale.


EMGS Trade Stand
As usual the EMGS Trade Officer will be there with the stand. However he will not be able to bring all the items
stocked because of transport logistics. He will be happy to bring along any pre-ordered items for payment on the
day, BUT these must be ordered with a deadline to reach him by 7 days prior to the show. He will be able to take
cash, cheques and cards as payment at the show.

How to get there

By Car:

M3 Junction 3 take the A322 – Bracknell direction.
From M4 Junction 10 take A329M signed Bracknell.

Post Code RG42 2AD
There is free car parking on site and over the road is a council car park.


By Train:

The Sports & Leisure Centre is a short walk from Bracknell station (770 m).
Direct services are provided by South Western Railways to/from London, Waterloo and
Reading every 30 minutes during the weekend. Connections at Reading for Cross Country
and Great Western Railways services.
It would be wise to check for engineering works especially for Sunday travel.


By Bus:
Local Buses.
All routes operate from Bracknell Bus Station (adjacent to the railway
station). Google Bracknell Bus Routes for latest details.
Flightline Bus. Route 702 operates a direct service between London Victoria and
Bracknell Bus station. Check with Reading Buses for times.

Hotel Accommodation:
There are a number of Premier Inns and Travelodges in and around Bracknell centre with very similarrates and facilities. They are at a similar distance from the College, about 25 minutes walking.
Their web sites may be accessed via:
www.premierinn.com/bracknell
and look for Twin Bridges or
https://travelodgeco.uk/hotels/363/Bracknell-Central-hotel
.
We would suggest early booking as they will fill up quickly and, as they do, the prices may rise (they usually do).

Catering:
Limited catering will be available at the rear of the college. Sandwiches can be obtained from Waitrose and M&S Food. There are many eateries in the town centre plus a couple of pubs which supply food. There is a Wetherspoons , recently refitted which is about 10 minutes walk.

AGM/Members Day 14th February 2026

by Steve Young | Dec 17, 2025 | All NewsSociety News | 0 comments

Members’ Day & AGM
Saturday 14th February 2026

Rolleston Scout Headquarters, Station Road
Rolleston on Dove, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 9AB

From 10.30am for both visitors and EMGS members until 4.30pm
Browse, Trade and enjoy the 4mm Modellers Day demonstrations and layouts.

For EMGS members only the formal business of the Annual General

Meeting will commence at 2.00pm sharp and will take place in a reserved area of the hall. This meeting will be private for EMGS members only.
Full AGM details can be found in the calling notice booklet included with the January mailing

The EMGS Test Track

Just a reminder from John Simpson – the test track offering both DC and DCC functionality will be in attendance at the AGMt. All creations including the partially built in both EM and 18.83mm welcome, and if you pick up a bargain at Members Sales we will even have a 00 test facility available.

Layouts

A Plaster Mill – EM – Clive Baker
Hartley Bank Screens – EM – John Burgess
Emwell – S4 – Brendan Walsh
Merthyr Riverside -EM – Rob Kinsey (display of stock only)

Traders

Bill Hudson Transport Books
CM3 Models
Judith Edge Kits

Demonstrators

Karl Crowther – Signals
Tony Sullivan – Bullhead Track Building
Tony Gee – The Buckingham Branch 80 years on
Vernon Harrod – Kit and scratch-built rolling stock
Mick Moore – Pre-Nationalisation wagons and wagon loads
Arun Sharma – Techniques involved when preparing drawings for final manufacture

Society

The EMGS Trade Officer will be attending
Members Sales – Come and grab a bargain
(Society clothing items will NOT be available)
Membership Secretary will be in attendance.

Newsletter 247

Just to advise that Newsletter 247 was mailed today 2nd January.

Update 3rd January – I have just sent out the link to the overseas members who are on electronic subscription.