Welcome to GRES

Modelling Group Evening 11th September 2025
2025-09-11 18:00 - 20:00 UTC
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.

Faversham Model Railway Exhibition 2025
2025-09-13 10:00 - 2025-09-14 16:00 | The Abbey School, London Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8RZ, The Abbey School, London Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8RZ, United Kingdom
Faversham Model Railway Exhibition 2025📅 13–14 September 2025
Saturday: 10:00 – 16:30
Sunday: 10:00 – 16:00
📍 The Abbey School, London Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8RZ
🚂 Layouts | Trade Support | Society Stands | Refreshments | Free On-Site Parking
🎟️ Admission:
Adults (17+): £7.00
Children (5–16): £3.00
Under 5’s: Free
Cash preferred
🔗 More info: www.favershammrc.org.uk

2025 AGM
2025-09-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Thursday 18 September – AGM
The GRES AGM 2025 will be held on Thursday 18 September from 7.45pm at our usual location of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Gravesend.

The current GRES Committee are eager to attract new members onto the new GRES Committee and the self-proposal form is available on request. If you would like the opportunity to influence and shape the direction of GRES going forward, please complete the form by Tuesday 2 September – either by email to the GRES Secretary – Bryan Puxleyor by hand at the next GRES Meeting. In answer to questions raised, completing the self-proposal form would be helpful to the current GRES Committee, although members are still able to put themselves forward at the AGM itself, provided they have a proposer and a seconder, and any current member can put themselves forward for any Committee position.

Second, I hope many of you will be able to attend the GRES AGM on Thursday 18 September. If so, please read through the minutes of the GRES AGM 2024 and the various reports as we’ll be taking a vote on each before the break for refreshments. If you are unable to attend and would like to pass on your apologies or raise any questions, please contact the GRES Secretary – Bryan Puxley.

Please ask if you have any questions.

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

Rapido Railex 2025 – Model Railway Exhibition
2025-09-19 10:00 - 2025-09-20 16:30 | The Market Hall, Maidstone, The Market Hall Lockmeadow Leisure Complex Barker Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8LW, United Kingdom
When:Friday & Saturday, 19–20 September 202510:00 – 16:30 each day rapidotrains.co.ukRMweb
Where:The Market Hall, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8LW(Minutes’ walk from Maidstone West Station; ample pay-and-display parking nearby; wheelchair accessible venue) rapidotrains.co.uk
What to Expect:

High-quality model railway layouts including:

Overlord (OO) – A dramatic Normandy invasion-themed Southern ports scene rapidotrains.co.uk+1

Other layouts such as Leysdown (P4), Redbridge Wharf (OO), Whiteoak Light Railway (0-16.5), Bryn Y Brenin (OO & 009), Bristol Harbour (OO), Croxley Hall Depot (OO), Bowaters (0-16.5), Dinsdale 1960s (OO), Llaniog Station (OO), and more RMweb

Engaging trade stands and retailers, featuring:

Rapido Trains UK team with sneak peeks at new models and announcements rapidotrains.co.uk

Modelu offering 3D scanning for personalized figures rapidotrains.co.uk

Official retailers and scenery suppliers like The Wagon Yard, Fourdees, Double O Association, Coastal DCC, Rails of Sheffield, Kernow Model Rail Centre, Maxitrak/Accucraft, World of Railways—each offering products, demos, advice, and exclusive goodies RMweb

Tickets:

Early-Bird (advance): £7.50 per adult; kids go free when accompanied by a paying adult rapidotrains.co.ukRMweb

On-the-door: £10 per adult; children still free

East Kent Model Railway Society (Whitstable) – Pop-up Model Railway Show 2025
2025-09-20 10:00 - 15:00 | Strode Park House, Lower Herne Road, Herne Bay, CT6 7NE, Strode Park House, Lower Herne Road, Herne Bay, CT6 7NE, United Kingdom
East Kent Model Railway Society (Whitstable) – Pop-up Model Railway Show

Organiser: East Kent Model Railway Society (Whitstable)

Pop-up Model Railway Show, Strode Park House, Lower Herne Road, Herne Bay, CT6 7NE (10am – 3pm). Adults – £3, Accompanied Under 16s – £1. East Kent MRS will be displaying their model railway layouts as part of the annual fun day.

Spa Valley Railway Model Railway Weekend 20th & 21st September 2025
2025-09-20 10:00 - 2025-09-21 17:00
Spa Valley Railway – 5th Model Railway Show (Model Railway Weekend)
Dates:Saturday & Sunday, 20–21 September 2025 • 10:00 – 17:00 both days spavalleyrailway.co.uk
Venue:Spa Valley Railway — Stations at Tunbridge Wells West, Groombridge, and Eridge in Kent spavalleyrailway.co.ukWikipedia

What’s On

Layouts GaloreA stunning collection of more than 30 model railway layouts in scales ranging from N, OO, O, OO9, S, and more, displayed across multiple stations and for the first time onboard the trains spavalleyrailway.co.ukVisit Kent.

Trade StandsAt least 10 trade stands, featuring exhibitors such as David Wills Model Railways, Roxley Models, Kent Model Exchange, Cyril Kennett Second Hand Sales, Andy Lynch Model Railways, Models U Drive, Kent Garden Railways, On the Rails, Southern Scale Models, Rainers Trains, and Dream Steam Ltd. spavalleyrailway.co.uk.

Special Activities

Model railway hunt with fun for all the family—including a chance to win a prize spavalleyrailway.co.uk.

A two-train service featuring the famous Bulleid Pacific 34053 ‘Sir Keith Park’ spavalleyrailway.co.ukVisit Kent.

Layouts to Look Out For (just a sample):

England’s Dark Satanic Mills

Tunbrick Wells, Upperton, The Paystow Branch, Brook Street

Ensthorpe, Harland Castle, Daleside, Travelling to Wedded Bliss

Brunswick, Oakbourne, Quarry Falls, Merrybrook Parkway

Oxley Heath, Horsebridge Wharf, Kinlochewe, Scarlington

Dublingham Goods Station, The LB&L Line, Out West

White Meadow Quarry, Roast Green Road Depot, Hornby Dublo

Larger & Lime Works, Lockbourne Ohio, West Green MPD spavalleyrailway.co.uk

Tickets & Pricing
All-Day Train Travel + Exhibition (Tunbridge Wells West only):

Adult: £16.00

Senior (60+): £15.00

Child (2–15 yrs): £9.00

Family (2 adults + 2 children): £41.00 spavalleyrailway.co.uk

Visit Kent

Exhibition-Only (Tunbridge Wells West):

Adult: £11.00

Senior: £10.00

Child: £6.00

Family: £28.00 Visit Kent

Tickets can be purchased online in advance or on the day via the Spa Valley Railway website

Modelling Group Evening 24th September 2025
2025-09-24 18:00 - 20:00

Folkestone Model Railway Exhibition Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October 2025
2025-10-04 10:00 - 2025-10-05 17:00 | Leas Cliff Hall The Leas Folkestone CT20 2DZ, Leas Cliff Hall, The Leas, Folkestone, CT20 2DZ, United Kingdom
Organised by Folkestone, Hythe and District Model Railway Club

Venue: Leas Cliff Hall, The Leas, Folkestone, CT20 2DZ

Opening Times: 10:00am – 5:00pm both days

Prices

Adults £8.00
Children £4.00
Family £22.00

Event Website folkestone-mrc.com

ART AND THE TRAIN SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER 2025 Andrew Ashton
2025-10-05 14:00 - 16:30 | New Ash Green Youth & Community Centre DA3 8JY, New Ash Green Youth & Community Centre, New Ash Green, Kent, DA3 8JY, United Kingdom
ART AND THE TRAIN
A talk by art historian Andrew Ashton

Trains have been represented in art for nearly 200 years. This talk will look at the different
ways in which railways have been portrayed over this time.
Interestingly, people have very different ideas about what is a ‘good’ train painting. Trains
and railways offer the chance for a very broad range of approaches. Be it technical
accuracy, the excitement of speed, nostalgia or something much more avant-garde, the
subject offers endless possibilities.

2025 OCTOBER Art & the Train (1)
£3 members, £5 non-members

Club talk - Tuesday 7th October 2025 – 'How the railways changed our lives' by Henry Harryman
2025-10-07 19:30 - 22:00 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Tuesday 7th – Henry Harryman will be taking us back two hundred years to consider how the railways changed our lives. This promises to be an interesting evening and I encourage you to join us at our usual venue of the Emmanuel Church Hall, 55 Windmill Street, Gravesend (from 7.45pm).

GRES open day 18th October 2025
2025-10-18 10:00 - 16:00 | Higham Memorial Hall, Rochester, School Lane Higham, Rochester, Kent, ME3 7JL, United Kingdom
See here for more information

Beckenham and West Wickham Model Railway Show Saturday 18th October 2025
2025-10-18 10:00 - 16:30 | Forest Hill Boys School, Dacres Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 2XN., Forest Hill Boys School, Dacres Road,, Forest Hill, London, SE23 2XN
ONE DAY Beckenham Model Railshow 2025Forest Hill Boys School, Dacres Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 2XN.Saturday 18th October 2025 10am – 4:30pmBIGGER VENUE – Beckenham & West Wickham MRC are proud to announce we moved to bigger venue which will allow us to bring you more layouts (around 20), Demos and traders. The venue is Forest Hill Boys School – the 75 bus stops about 100 yards from the entrance, and it’s only 15mins walk from Forest Hill & Sydenham Stations which has 9 local bus routes give you better connections. BWWMRC Would like to thank our sponsors for helping with this venue – Bachmann, Kent Garden Railway, Harrison Brown Models, Heritage in Motion & Invicta Model Rail.
£10.00 per Adult, Children (up to 16) accompanied by an adult free.
About 20 working layouts, trade stands and refreshments
Advance tickets, save £2.00

Club talk - Medway Aircraft Preservation Society (MAPS) by Robin Heaps Thursday 23rd October 2025
2025-10-23 19:30 - 22:00 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Thursday 23rd – Robin Heaps from the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society (MAPS) will be visiting to tell us about the Society and the many projects that they have ongoing. If you visited Rochester Cathedral during August to see the restored Floatplane, that was the result of much hard work by MAPS and I’m sure Robin will tell us more about that project. So, join us 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

Whitstable Model Railway Exhibition 25th October 2025
2025-10-25 10:00 - 16:00 | Swalecliffe & Chestfield Community Centre 19 St John’s Road, Swalecliffe, Whitstable CT5 2QU, Swalecliffe & Chestfield Community Centre, 19 St John’s Road, Swalecliffe, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2QU
Not long to go now until the Whitstable Model Exhibition on Saturday 25 October, organised by the East Kent Model Railway Society.
17 layouts plus half a dozen traders to fill the halls of the Swalecliffe Community Centre, Adult admission is £5 and accompanied children under 16 are free.
In addition, there will be the club’s latest limited edition wagon on sale. T.S. King, which is still trading in Herne Bay town

Modelling Group Evening 29th October 2025
2025-10-29 18:00 - 20:00

50th Model Railway Exhibition 2025 -Saturday
2025-11-01 10:00 - 17:00 | Northfleet School for Girls, Northfleet School for Girls, Hall Road, Northfleet, Kent, DA11 8AQ

50th Model Railway Exhibition 2025 -Sunday
2025-11-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Northfleet School for Girls, Northfleet School for Girls, Hall Road, Northfleet, Kent, DA11 8AQ

Club Talk - Tuesday 4 Nov 2025 - Chatham Traction and GKE68 - Both unique - Gordon Mackley
2025-11-04 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Club Talk – Tuesday 4 Nov 2025 – Chatham Traction and GKE68 – Both unique – Gordon Mackley

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 13th November 2025
2025-11-13 18:00 - 20:00

Club Talk - Thursday 20 Nov 2025 - Fastrack - Isobel Hedley-Jones
2025-11-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Isobel Hedley-Jones will be visiting to tell us about Go-Ahead’s operation of Fastrack as well as the new Kent Country brand. So, join us 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

Banstead Winter Model Railway Exhibition 2025
2025-11-22 10:00 - 17:00 | 3rd Banstead Scout Group, Scout Ridge, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 1RB, 3rd Banstead Scout Group, Scout Ridge,, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 1RB, United Kingdom
The Banstead Winter Model Railway Exhibition 2025 will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the 3rd Banstead Scout Group on Scout Ridge.

The North Downs Model Railway Circle presents it and benefits the 3rd Banstead Scouts.

The event starts at 10:00 AM and runs until 5:00 PM.

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: 3rd Banstead Scout Group, Scout Ridge, Banstead, Surrey
Presented by: The North Downs Model Railway Circle
Charity: In aid of the 3rd Banstead Scouts
Cost: Adults £6, Senior/Disabled £5, Under 16s £3, Families [2+2] £12

Modelling Group Evening 26th November 2025
2025-11-26 18:00 - 20:00

Club Talk - Tuesday 2 Dec 2025 - Christmas Meal (venue tbc - not Emmanuel Church)
2025-12-02 19:30 - 21:30
Club Talk – Tuesday 2 Dec 2025 – Christmas Meal (venue tbc – not Emmanuel Church)

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 11th December 2025
2025-12-11 18:00 - 20:00

Christmas Carol Service 13th December on board the Medway Queen 4-6pm
2025-12-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Medway Queen, Medway Queen, Gillingham Pier Pier Approach Rd Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1RX
December 13th Carol Service – Season extended. Medway Queen will be open to visitors during the day.
​We will be holding a Carol Service, with mince pies and mulled wine to follow. Then we will close the ship for the winter. Starting again in the middle of February. No charge, but please book your places.
pambathurst@sky.com

Location: The Medway Queen is berthed at Gillingham Pier, Gillingham ME7 1RX.
Time: The ship will be open to visitors during the day (11am to 4pm, last admission 3pm), followed by the carol service.
Admission: Entry by donation, booking is required for catering purposes (mince pies and mulled wine will be available).
Booking Information: To book your place, please get in touch with Pam Bathurst via email at pambathurst@sky.com or by phone at 07790 179760.

If you wish to attend their carol service, please call, message, or email Pam Bathurst, as numbers are required for catering purposes.
Notes for Visitors:
​Disabled access is limited, and access to the ship depends on the tides. It may also occasionally be necessary to close the ship to visitors because of the restoration work.
​

Clacton Model Railway Show Sunday 14th December 2025 - 10am – 4pm
2025-12-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Clacton Leisure Centre, Vista Road, Clacton-on-Sea, England, CO15 6DB, Clacton Leisure Centre,, Vista Road, Clacton-on-Sea,, Essex, CO15 6DB, United Kingdom
Sunday 14th – Clacton Model Railway Show, Clacton Leisure Centre, Vista Road, Clacton-on-Sea, England, CO15 6DB
(10am – 4pm).
Adults – £8,
Concessions – £5,
Accompanied Under 16s – £5,
Family – £15.
Up to 20 layouts, trade stands, plus other displays.

Maidstone & Mid Kent Model Railway Exhibition 2025
2025-12-29 10:00 - 2025-12-30 16:00 | Lockmeadow Market Hall, Barker Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8LW, United Kingdom

Saturday 3rd January 2026 - New Year Travelcard Day
2026-01-03 09:00 - 17:00
🚆 Travelcard Day Out – Itinerary
Outbound Journey
Depart Chatham: 09:10 – SoutheasternDepart Strood: 09:17 – SoutheasternDepart Higham: 09:22 – SoutheasternDepart Gravesend: 09:30 – SoutheasternArrive Abbey Wood: 09:57 – Southeastern
📍 Meeting point:Top level at Abbey Wood station, at ground level by the ticket barriers.

London Travel
Depart Abbey Wood: 10:09 – Elizabeth line / SoutheasternArrive Woolwich Arsenal: 10:22
Depart Woolwich Arsenal: 10:32 – DLRArrive Stratford: 11:19
Depart Stratford: 11:41 – Mildmay line (formerly London Overground)Arrive Willesden Junction: 12:20
Depart Willesden Junction: 12:41 – Bakerloo lineArrive Paddington: 13:03
🍴 Lunch break at Paddington

🎟️ What Ticket to Buy
To cover this whole trip, the best option is:
✅ Off-Peak Day Travelcard (Zones 1–6)
You will also need a return rail ticket from your local station to the London Zones boundary.
Best ticket combinations:
If travelling from:

Chatham / Strood / Higham / Gravesend

Buy:

A return ticket to “London Terminals” (or “Abbey Wood”), plus

An Off-Peak Day Travelcard (Zones 1–6)

This gives you:
✔ Travel to Abbey Wood✔ Unlimited use of Underground, DLR, Elizabeth line and Overground in Zones 1–6✔ Travel back home in the evening

💳 Using Contactless or Oyster
You can use contactless or Oyster instead of a paper Travelcard, but check:

Your bank doesn’t charge transaction fees

You always use the same card/device all day

For simplicity on a group trip, a paper Day Travelcard is usually easiest.

🛒 How to Buy Tickets
You can buy tickets:
At the station:

Ticket office (where available)

Ticket machines (choose: “Off-Peak Day Travelcard – Zones 1–6”)

Online (in advance):
From:

Southeastern website

National Rail website

Collect tickets from station ticket machines using the payment card.

🚆 Options for the Return Journey
Option 1 – Go straight home
From Paddington, take the Elizabeth line directly back towards:

Abbey Wood → Gravesend → Medway Towns

Fast and step-free.
Option 2 – Extra railway bonus for enthusiasts 😉
From Paddington:

Take the Hammersmith & City line to Whitechapel

Change to the Elizabeth line for eastbound services

This gives an extra Underground section for those who want more variety.

🧭 Extra Points of Interest
On this route you’ll experience:

The Elizabeth line core tunnel

DLR elevated sections

The new Mildmay Line branded Overground

Classic Bakerloo deep-level tube

Brunel-era Paddington station

Club Talk - Tuesday 6 Jan 2026 - Video evening Cancelled
2026-01-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BB
Club Talk – Tuesday 6 Jan 2026 – Video evening has been cancelled due to the weather conditions
See our events page for other regular meetings, which are typically 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

ZOOM Call Plateway to Branch Line to Tramway by Ray Puddy
2026-01-07 19:30 - 21:30
Topic: Plateway to Branch Line to Tramway by Ray Puddy
Time: 7 Jan 2026, 7:30pm London
Please contact us for Zoom call details
