Welcome to GRES

Birchington Model Railway Exhibition - Saturday 10 May
2025-05-10 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | The Centre Birchington Alpha Road Birchington CT7 9EG, The Centre Birchington, Alpha Road Birchington, Kent, CT7 9EG, United Kingdom
Birchington Model Railway Exhibition – Saturday 10 May

It’s time for a PEP talk - George Marcar
2025-05-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Tuesday 6th May It’s time for a PEP talk (George Marcar)
Regular meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday and the second to last Thursday of each month. Meetings start at 7.45pm at: Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB

Modelling Group Evening 23rd April 2025
2025-04-23 18:00 - 20:00 | GRES Model Railway Club HQ, Longfield, United Kingdom
GRES also has a dedicated sub-section for members who are passionate about model railways. Our focus is primarily on 00 Gauge, and we work on both personal layouts and two club layouts that we maintain collectively.
We hold meetings twice a month at our venue in Longfield, Kent, providing an opportunity for members to collaborate, share ideas, and work on layouts together. The specific meeting dates can be found here.
To become a part of the GRES Model Railway Club, you will need to have an active GRES membership as well as a subscription to the Model Railway Club.

LMS Patriot Project - Colin Hall
2025-04-17 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Thursday 17th – Colin Hall will be joining us to give us an update about the LMS Patriot Project, and it appears there has been significant progress since the last visit to GRES. This will take place at our usual venue of the Emmanuel Church Hall, 55 Windmill Street, Gravesend (from 7.45pm).
Regular meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday and the second to last Thursday of each month. Meetings start at 7.45pm at: Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB

Ashford Festival of Railway Modelling 2025
2025-04-12 10:00 - 2025-04-13 16:00 | Ashford College, Ashford College, TN23 1NN, United Kingdom

Modelling Group Evening 10th April 2025
2025-04-10 18:00 - 20:00 | GRES Model Railway Club HQ, Longfield, United Kingdom

Pratts Bottom Model Railway Show 2025 - Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April
2025-04-05 10:00 - 2025-04-06 16:00 | Pratts Bottom Village Hall, Pratts Bottom Village Hall, Norsted Lane, Rushmore Hill, BR6 7PO, United Kingdom

GRES Open day March 2025
2025-04-05 10:00 - 16:00 | Higham Memorial Hall, Rochester, School Lane Higham, Rochester, Kent, ME3 7JL, United Kingdom
Location: Small hall, Higham Memorial Hall, School Lane, Higham, Rochester, Kent, ME3 7JL

Details:
Join us in the small hall at Higham Memorial Hall on 5th April for a fun and interactive day featuring:

Windmill Hill – A family-friendly layout where everyone can have a go at operating a model train
Running layouts – A small selection of GRES model railway layouts will be on show
Automated train demonstrations
Kit building
Friendly advice on model railways
Loco DCC chip fitting and repairs

Cost: £3 per adult for the main hall and free submission to the small hall.
– children (under 16) are free with accompanying paying adult

My holiday in Australia (David Hanger)
2025-04-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Tuesday 1st: My holiday in Australia (David Hanger)
Regular meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday and the second to last Thursday of each month. Meetings start at 7.45pm at: Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB

Modelling Group Evening 26th March 2025
2025-03-26 08:00 - 17:00 | GRES Model Railway Club HQ, Longfield, United Kingdom

4732 – The 4SUB at Margate (Graeme Gleaves)
2025-03-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Thursday 20th – Graeme Gleaves will be joining us to tell us about “4732: The 4SUB at Margate”. Labelled as ‘the train that took you home’, the 4SUBs and the later 4EPBs, formed the backbone of local commuter lines across the Southern Region until the 1980s (4SUBs) and 1990s (4EPBs). This will take place at our usual venue of the Emmanuel Church Hall, 55 Windmill Street, Gravesend (from 7.45pm).
Regular meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday and the second to last Thursday of each month. Meetings start at 7.45pm at: Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB

The London Festival of Railway Modelling 15th & 16th March 2025
2025-03-15 10:00 - 2025-03-16 16:30 | Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace, London, Greater London, N22 7AY, United Kingdom
Experience London’s premier model railway show at Alexandra Palace! Perfect for families and enthusiasts, the show is regarded as one of the biggest and best railway modelling exhibitions in the UK.
Explore over 35 meticulously curated layouts in various scales and gauges, presented by The Model Railway Club. These displays showcase talent from the UK, Europe, and the US, offering inspiration for hobbyists of all levels.
Spread across two grand halls, the event features 70+ top retailers, specialist manufacturers, and small suppliers, making it the ideal spot to shop for model railway products. Visitors can also connect with societies, clubs, and experts through live demonstrations, ready to answer questions and share their expertise.

For full details of how to book, visit:
Ally Pally – RMweb
Admission
Adults £17 (£16 in advance up 8.30am on the day)
Children £8
Family (2+2) £40
Children under 5 go free
Desk payments: Card payment preferred (VISA/MASTERCARD ONLY), but cash is accepted.
Advanced booking closes at 8.30am on the day of the show.

East Grinstead Exhibition of Model Railway 2025
2025-03-15 10:00 - 2025-03-16 16:00 | Sackville School, Lewes Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3TY, Sackville School, Lewes Road,, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3TY, United Kingdom
The East Grinstead Model Railway Club 85th Anniversary Exhibition 15th and 16th March 2025.

Sackville School, Lewes Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3TY

opening times : Saturday 10am – 5pm & Sunday 10am – 4pm
Adults: £7.00
Concessions, 60 and over: £5.00
Children, 15 and under: free

layouts in all gauges.
Trade stands.
Refreshments.
Free parking.
Wheel chair Access.

Contact Malcom Bonnell (exhibition manager) tel. 01342 346172
email: exhibition@egmrc.org.uk
website: www.egmrc.org.uk

Modelling Group Evening 13th March 2025
2025-03-13 18:00 - 20:00 | GRES Model Railway Club HQ, Longfield, United Kingdom

Lutterworth Railway Society Zoom talk - Subject Railway Societies Zoom Meeting A London Shed Bash
2025-03-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Lutterworth railway society Zoom meeting, United Kingdom
LRS is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Railway Societies Zoom Meeting A London Shed Bash
Time: Mar 12, 2025 07:30 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting

Aylesham Model Railway Exhibition 2025
2025-03-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Old School, Main Hall Aylesham Community Trust Ackholt Road Aylesham, nr Dover CT3 3AJ, Old School, Main Hall, Aylesham Community Trust, Aylesham, CT3 3AJ, United Kingdom
Aylesham Model Railway Exhibition 2025
Old School, Main Hall
Aylesham Community Trust
Ackholt Road
Aylesham, nr Dover CT3 3AJ
Saturday 8th March 2025 10am to 4pm
Superb layouts + trade support
Admission:
Adults £5,
Children free

A5 Aylesham map handbill 2025_01
A5 Aylesham map handbill 2025 page 02

Berlin Telephone Tap (Robert (Bob) Gibbs)
2025-03-04 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Tuesday 4th – Bob Gibbs will be joining us to tell us about the “Berlin Telephone Tap“. In a world of intrigue and espionage, this promises to be an interesting evening and definitely falls into the ‘something different’ category. This will take place at our usual venue of the Emmanuel Church Hall, 55 Windmill Street, Gravesend (from 7.45pm).

Regular meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday and the second to last Thursday of each month. Meetings start at 7.45pm at: Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB

Modelling Group Evening 26th February 2025
2025-02-26 18:00 - 20:00 | GRES Model Railway Club HQ, Longfield, United Kingdom

Tenterden Model Railway Club Model Railway Exhibition Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd Feb 2025
2025-02-22 10:00 - 2025-02-23 16:00 | Homewood School, Ashford Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6LT, Homewood School, Ashford Roa, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6LT, United Kingdom
OPENING TIMES: SAT 10am – 5pm. SUN 10am – 4pm
Homewood School, Ashford Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6LT
Ashford MRC are holding their annual exhibition again at our normal venue at Homewood School in Tenterden. We will have a good selection of quality layouts on display backed up with a number of trade stands with many bargains on offer.

Solent Railway - Part 3
2025-02-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Thursday 20th: Solent Railway – Part 3
Regular meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday and the second to last Thursday of each month. Meetings start at 7.45pm at: Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB

Tonbridge Model Railway Club Model Railway Exhibition 15th February 2025
2025-02-15 10:00 - 17:00 | Angel Centre, Angel Lane, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1SF, Angel Centre,, Angel Lane, Tonbridge, Kent,, TN9 1SF, United Kingdom

Modelling Group Evening 13th February 2025
2025-02-13 18:00 - 20:00 | GRES Model Railway Club HQ, Longfield, United Kingdom

Lutterworth Railway Society Zoom talk - Claus Ellef "Denmark to Australia by train"
2025-02-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Lutterworth railway society Zoom meeting, United Kingdom

Shell Motor Racing films as 'Gentlemen, start your engines - part 2'
2025-02-04 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Tuesday 4th:
Tony Riley, due to deliver ‘Solent Railway – Part 3’ on Tuesday 4 February, has sustained a knee injury and won’t be able to join us on Tuesday.

Instead, I will show the remaining three Shell Motor Racing films as ‘Gentlemen, start your engines – part 2’.
Regular meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday and the second to last Thursday of each month. Meetings start at 7.45pm at: Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB

Modelling Group Evening 29th January 2025
2025-01-29 18:00 - 20:00 | GRES Model Railway Club HQ, Longfield, United Kingdom

Erith Model Railway Society Exhibition 2025 Day 2
2025-01-26 10:00 - 16:00 | Harris Garrard Academy, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, Erith, Da18 4DW, United Kingdom
January Show 2025.
Saturday 25th January – 10:00am to 5:00pm.
Sunday 26th January – 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Harris Garrard Academy, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, NR Erith, Kent, DA18 4DW.
Click on the postcode above to be redirected to Google Maps.
Please do check before you travel. Thank you.
Travelling by Car:
Full set of directions of how the venue can be from the M25 and the A2 can be found towards the foot of this page.
Travelling by Rail:
Abbey Wood Railway Station (10-15 minute walk from the venue) is served by Southeastern, Thameslink and Elizabeth Line services.
There are no engineering works or rail strikes as things stand at the moment that would disrupt train travel to and from Abbey Wood for the weekend of the show. Double check Southeastern Trains, Network Rail Enquiries or Transport for London for any doubts.
Travelling by Bus:
TfL routes 180, 401 and B11 stop in front of the venue.
Other TfL routes 177, 229, 244, 301, 469 and 472 stop nearby on the A2041 road.
Entry Prices:
Adults: £9.00.
Accompanied Children (5-16): £1.00.
Entry price includes a FREE Exhibition Guide.
Other Information:
Sizeable free on-site car park. Please be aware of and take note of the signs and the car parking marshals please. Thank You.
Large Refreshment Area – Circa 200 Seats.
The venue is on a single floor, is fully accessible and has a disabled toilet.
Charity Raffle – In aid of the Association of Bexley Charities ’78.
Featuring over 30 layouts plus many other attractions.

Erith Show Flyer 2025

Erith Model Railway Society Exhibition 2025 Day 1
2025-01-25 10:00 - 17:00 | Harris Garrard Academy, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, Erith, Da18 4DW, United Kingdom

Social evening and quiz
2025-01-23 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Thursday 23rd: Social evening & Quiz
Regular meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday and the second to last Thursday of each month. Meetings start at 7.45pm at: Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB

Modelling Group Evening 16th January 2025
2025-01-16 18:00 - 20:00 | GRES Model Railway Club HQ, Longfield, United Kingdom

Lutterworth Railway Society Zoom talk Tom Frances Coleman - The last Chief Draughtsman of the L.M.S. Railway
2025-01-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Lutterworth railway society Zoom meeting, United Kingdom
In 1958 one of Britain`s greatest locomotive designers died without public fanfare or recognition, mourned only by his family. Yet William Stanier, arguably one of our greatest engineers and his leader, said of him that without his Chief Draughtsman all he achieved with the LMS would not have been possible. How could such a man slip from our view and remain anonymous, although his Princess Coronations, Black 5s and 8Fs are regarded as three of the finest classes of locomotive ever built? And today many survive as stars to grace the ever growing preservation movement.

In reality, Tom Coleman was an intensely private and modest man who never sought recognition or commendation. His need for privacy may be one reason why his life has remained shrouded in mystery for so long, but finally his story has been slowly pieced together from a wide variety of sources, many previously untapped. So now we can see for ourselves his great contribution to railway history and recognise his singular talents.
In 1958 one of Britain`s greatest locomotive designers died without public fanfare or recognition, mourned only by his family. Yet William Stanier, arguably one of our greatest engineers and his leader, said of him that without his Chief Draughtsman all he achieved with the LMS would not have been possible. How could such a man slip from our view and remain anonymous, although his Princess Coronations, Black 5s and 8Fs are regarded as three of the finest classes of locomotive ever built? And today many survive as stars to grace the ever growing preservation movement.
In reality, Tom Coleman was an intensely private and modest man who never sought recognition or commendation. His need for privacy may be one reason why his life has remained shrouded in mystery for so long, but finally his story has been slowly pieced together from a wide variety of sources, many previously untapped. So now we can see for ourselves his great contribution to railway history and recognise his singular talents.
Tom Francis Coleman, the last LMS Chief Draughtsman and Sir W.A. Stanier’s right hand man.
From a gentleman, now sadly passed, who worked in an adjacent office at Derby, TFC was a stocky built man of about 6ft 2inches tall. Played football as an amateur for Port Vale
He started his working life as an apprentice at the railway works of Kerr Stuart, Stoke-on-Trent, (as did Reginald Mitchell). Moved to the North Staffordshire Railway works in Stoke as a plant draughtsman and became chief draughtsman. In 1927 moved to Harwich works, as chief draughtsman then 1933-35 to Crewe, and finally to Derby as L.M.S. chief draughtsman. Retired 1st January 1948 and passed away at his daughter’s home in Bridgenorth in 1958.
