Coming Events
1): Main HRCA Events:
The HRCA will be attending a number of public events, see below for details...
2): Local Area Groups:
HRCA members have got together and formed themselves into local area groups to organise meetings and events which are open to members and friends. The meetings are often held monthly or bimonthly during weekday evenings and generally consist of:
- working layouts (members are encouraged to bring something to run)
- member's sales tables
- train traders
- refreshments
- exact format varies from group to group
Some groups also organise events in conjunction with other local 'railway' related themes, such as Heritage Steam Railways and Model Railway Societies.
Details of meetings and events can be found in the member's area of this website (login required). However, the following summary of local groups is provided for potential new members consideration and review.
Anglia HRCA Meeting for the West Essex and North East London area
Loughton area. Six meetings a year, Saturdays 10-4. Dates irregular. Layouts for O and OO, , tea and coffee, car parking. Bus from Loughton Station. For those travelling by public transport, go to Loughton Station (Central Line) and then bus no.20 to Church Lane.
Bedfordshire Vintage Train Group HRCA Area Meeting
Meets bi-monthly on the second Wednesdays. Doors open at 5.00p.m.
running from 5.30p.m. close at 9.30p.m. Meet in the Village hall Houghton Conquest. MK453LF
All gauges welcome, but O,OO(2&3rail) and Ogauge steam are regulars. Traders too.
All members and friends welcome, food available, make your own Tea, Coffee or soft drinks.
Border Counties HRCA Area Meeting
Monthly at either Haydon Bridge Community Centre just off the A69 between Haltwhistle and Hexham;
or Houghton Village Hall, Carlisle, 3 minutes from J44 of the M6 on the Hexham Road.
Refreshements are available and there are usually running facilities for 0 gauge 2 and 3 rail and dublo 3 rail.
Bristol and Somerset HRCA Area Meeting
Usually monthly in the Weston-super-Mare area. O gauge and Dublo layouts; members’ bring and buy.
Kentish Tappers/SEGOG(formerly Bromley Tappers) HRCA Area Meeting
Monthly in the Bromley area (just off the A21). Bus routes from Bromley South Station.
Refreshments; layouts, bring and buy.
Cambridge Group HRCA Area Meeting
Normally bi-monthly at Fulbourn (4 miles East of Cambridge).
Test and running layouts in Clockwork and Electric 0 gauge, Dublo 2/3-rail, bring something to run. Sales table.
Chesham Steamers,
Normally meets bi-monthly in the Chesham area. Layouts, light refreshments. Parking
Chiltern Hills HRCA Vintage Train Group
The Group meets six times a year in the Chesham area. Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of January, March, May, July, September and November.
Cornish Group HRCA Area Meeting
Normally monthly in the Camborne, Cornwall area
Members set up Hornby O Gauge and Hornby Dublo 2 and 3 rail layouts for general use; bring your own trains! Members sales, light refreshments. Excellent local fish & chip restaurant nearby!
Cotswolds Area HRCA Meeting
Monthly meeting in the Banbury area.
0 gauge and Dublo running facilities are always available and traders and other members always have a variety of Dublo and 0 gauge for sale or exchange. Car parking,
Devon Area HRCA Meeting
Monthly meeting in Bere Alston, Devon.. 12-5pm Ample parking. Wheelchair accessible. Hot drinks, light refreshments. Layouts, Sales table, remag service.
Eastwood Vintage Trains,
Bi-monthly meeting in Southend-on-Sea Essex
Edinburgh Area HRCA Meeting
Monthly get together, usually at the Duddingston Golf Club in Edinburgh.
O gauge and 3 rail Dublo running facilities, traders and bring and buy table.
Bar lunches and an informal sit down supper always available.
Merseyside Area HRCA Meeting
Preston Brook HRCA Group meet 8 times a year usually on the first Tuesday of the month. O gauge and Dublo layouts - members sales and refreshments.
Northants & Rutland Area HRCA O Gauge Meeting
Bi-monthly meeting in the Harringworth area.
Hornby 0 Gauge layouts and traders.
Nottingham & Derby Area Group.
Bi-monthly Saturday meetings in Risley, Derbyshire area. Running facilities for O-gauge clockwork and 3-rail electric, with Dublo 2 and 3-rail layouts normally available, Free parking and level access. Refreshments.
Orpington (SE London/NW Kent Area) HRCA Meeting
Informal meetings held most months in the Orpington area. 0 Gauge running facilities and remag service always available, plus Dublo layout most months, In conjunction with the Toy Collectors Fair to which the public are welcome. Small admission fee applies, regular attendance by several train traders, refreshments available, car parking and easy access by public transport.
Please note that the layouts/meetings are located on a stage only accessible by steps.
Penmorfa (NW Wales) HRCA Area Group Meeting
Regular monthly meetings in Penmorfa village near Porthmadog, Gwynedd, normally third Tuesday in the month. We welcome train collectors of all makes and gauges to run their own trains or just come and see ours. A great day out with so much real steam close by in season. Layouts operating in both gauges, electric and c/w. Light refreshments usually available.
Retford Runners
Normally held on the last Wednesday evening in the month, alternate odd numbered months, in the Retford, Notts area. Lots of free parking, level access, Dublo and 0-gauge tracks or bring a layout. Commission-free Bring and Buy table, refreshments.
Scottish HRCA Area Meeting
Normally held in Menstrie. Scottish Members Get-together, 0 gauge and 00 running tracks available.
Surrey Hills Area Group
Meet on the first Tuesday of every month at Merrow Village Hall, 177 Epsom Road Guildford GU1 2QY – access via Redwood Close. Parking available on site. Doors open at 12 noon and close at 4pm. We usually have an 18’ x 12’ three-rail O gauge test track available for members’ running, as well as smaller O gauge layouts, a regular trader and a very enthusiastic 2 and 3 rail Dublo membership with a number of layouts. Meetings are generally ‘themed’ but with no obligation. Coffee, tea and biscuits are included in the £3 entry charge. We also have occasional guest speakers on railway and other transport topics. Bring something to run.
Sussex Vintage Model Railway Collectors
Meets monthly in the Brighton area, and sometimes at the famous Brighton Toy and Model Museum.
Test tracks for Hornby 0 gauge electric and clockwork, and 2 and 3 rail Dublo. Other makes also welcome.
Thames Valley Area HRCA Meeting
Usual monthly meeting in the Mortimer, Berkshire area.
Working Layouts, Train Traders and Refreshments. Different display theme each month.
Wessex HRCA Corfe Mullen Group Meeting
Monthly meeting in Corfe Mullen area. Ample free parking.
Hornby O gauge and OO 2/3 rail layouts,
Whaplode Meeting
Usually monthly in the Whaplode, Lincs. Area. 0 Gauge and Dublo 3-rail running tracks;
Yeovil and District Group Monthly Meeting
Usual monthly meeting in the Yeovil area. We would be delighted to see anyone from the area with an interest in vintage model trains and we run O gauge and our new Dublo 2/3 rail layout at most meetings. In fact anything from the Meccano empire is most welcome.
3): Other Events:
See also diary below.
4): Diary Dates:
[HRCA members: please login to the Members' Area to view a more detailed diary which includes all the following events plus 'Members only' events]
[last updated 27th September 2023]
PLEASE NOTE: Events may be subject to cancellation at short notice.
2023
Sep 5, Tues.South Somerset(Yeovil). Norton Sub Hamdon Village Hall, Recreation Ground, New Road, Norton Sub Hamdon. TA14 6SF . 2.30 to 6.30pm.
Sep 5, Tues. HRCA Surrey Hills Group Merrow Village Hall, 177 Epsom Road Guildford GU1 2QY (5 mins from A3) 12 noon to 4pm
Sep 10, Sun. Border Counties Haydon Bridge Community Centre NE47 6ET just off the A69 between Haltwhistle and Hexham 9.30-3.30.
Sep 10, Sun. Orpington. Crofton Halls, next to Orpington Station BR6 8PR. 09.45am -1.15pm.
Sep 11, Mon. 1 Mile from J12 on the M40. 3.30pm - 8.00pm. Theme. G.W.R.
Sep 13, Wed HRCA Thames Valley Group, Mortimer. St.John’s Hall, West End Road, Mortimer RG7 3TF. 3.30-9.30pm,
Sep 14, Thurs. Severn Valley Tinplate Runners, Quatt Village Hall,Quatt, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV15 6QW 4 miles south of Bridgnorth on the A442. - look for our roadside banner. 11am - 5pm approx.
Sep 16, Sat. Vintage Hornby Exhibition Norton-sub-Hamdon Village Hall,Recreation Ground, New Road,Norton-sub-Hamdon,TA14 6SE. 10.30am to 4.00pm
Sep 17, Sun. Rayleigh. The Sweyne Park School, Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, Essex, SS6 9BZ 09:45 – 1.15pm
Sep 18 Mon, Edinburgh Duddingston Golf Club, 137-139 Duddingston Road West, Edinburgh EH15 3QD. 11.30-17.00hrs
Sep 19 Tues. North Wales Group, Penmorfa Memorial Hall Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL19 9RT. 2pm to 5pm
Sep 19, Tuesday Whaplode Village Hall, Kirkgate, Whaplode, PE12 6TE. 10am-2pm.
Sep 20, Wed. Devon, Bere Alston Bowling Club, Bedford Street, Bere Alston, PL20 7DZ 12-5 pm,
Sep 20, Wed. Kentish Tappers/SEGOG(formerly Bromley Tappers) Bromley Common Road Methodist Church, Main Hall, Bloomfield Road, Bromley BR2 9RZ. 2-5.30pm.
Sep 21, Thurs. Chiltern Hills, New Venue and Time. Chesham Methodist Church, Bellingham Road, Chesham HP5 2HA. 12-6pm.
Sep 24, Sun. Gartell Light Railway, Common Lane, Yenston, Templecombe, BA8 0NB. 1030 - 1630.
Sep 25, Mon. Eastwood Vintage Trains, St.Laurence Church Hall, Eastwoodbury Lane, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6UH: 7-10pm
Sep 26, Tues. Cambridge. Fulbourn Village Library, The Swifts, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn. CB21 5HD. 5.30-9.30pm.
Sep 27, Wed. Retford Runners, Clarborough Village Hall, Nr Retford, DN22 9LN. On the A620. 4.30 to 9.30.pm
Sep 28, Thurs, Bristol and Somerset, Scout Hut, Totterdown Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 4LJ.
Sep 29, Fri. Sussex Vintage Model Railway Collectors, Crowhurst Community Centre (at rear of Knoyle Hall), Knoyle Road, Preston Park, Brighton BN1 6RB,
Oct 3, Tues.South Somerset(Yeovil). Norton Sub Hamdon Village Hall, Recreation Ground, New Road, Norton Sub Hamdon. TA14 6SF . 2.30 to 6.30pm.
Oct 3, Tues. HRCA Surrey Hills Group Merrow Village Hall, 177 Epsom Road Guildford GU1 2QY (5 mins from A3) 12 noon to 4pm
Oct 4, Wed HRCA Thames Valley Group, Mortimer. St.John’s Hall, West End Road, Mortimer RG7 3TF. 3.30-9.30pm,
Oct. 5th. Thurs. East Anglia Group (Ipswich branch). Landseer Road Methodist Church, Ipswich. IP3 9LX. NOTE One week later than usual date. 7.00 pm -10pm.
Oct 7 Sat. H.R.C.A Autumn Exhibition, British Motor Museum Gaydon, Warwickshire.
Oct 8, Sun. Border Counties Houghton Village Hall, Carlisle, CA3 0NG 3 minutes from J44 of the M6 on the Hexham Road. 9.30-3.30
Oct 8, Sun. Rayleigh. The Sweyne Park School, Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, Essex, SS6 9BZ 09:45 – 1.15pm Entry £2.50, free parking and refreshments.
Oct 9, Mon. 1 Mile from J12 on the M40. 3.30pm - 8.00pm Theme. My Favourite Loco.
Oct 12, Thurs. Chesham Chilterns Steam Club, Chesham Methodist Church, Bellingdon Road, Chesham, HP5 2AA 10am-3pm. Note change of venue and time replaces all previous announcements.
Oct 12, Thurs. Severn Valley Tinplate Runners, Quatt Village Hall,Quatt, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV15 6QW 4 miles south of Bridgnorth on the A442. - look for our roadside banner. 11am - 5pm approx. .
Oct 14, Sat. Nottingham and Derby Group Risley Village Memorial Hall, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire DE72 3SS 1 mile from A52/M1 Junc 25. 2.00 to 6.00pm.
Oct 14, Sat. London Road Methodist Church, County Court Road, King’s Lynn, PE30 5EJ. 10am - 3.30pm. Hornby Running Day.
Oct 14, Sat. Brighton Toy and Model Museum. Great Vintage Model Railway Show - HORNBY TRAINS GALORE! 52/55 Trafalgar St. Brighton BN1 4EB.Museum & the collector shop open 10.30 - 5.00. Train running: 11.00 - 1.00 2.30 - 4.30. Adm. Adults £10, Child with adult £5, Family (2+3) £20.
Oct 15, Sun. Orpington. Crofton Halls, next to Orpington Station BR6 8PR. 09.45am -1.15pm. Toyfair with large Hornby(+) 0 and a Dublo layout on the stage (access by stairs) with running facilities regularly supported by HRCA members Remag service, spares and traders. Free Parking. Admission to Toyfair £2.50, free to under 16's. Refreshments available. Details - Terry Heaslip 01622 871167. Toyfair bookings - Gerry 0773 999 8012
Oct 16 Mon, Edinburgh Duddingston Golf Club, 137-139 Duddingston Road West, Edinburgh EH15 3QD. 11.30-17.00hrs
Oct 17, Tues. North Wales Group, Penmorfa Memorial Hall Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL19 9RT. 2pm to 5pm
Oct 17, Tues. Whaplode Village Hall, Kirkgate, Whaplode, PE12 6TE. 10am-2pm.
Oct 18, Wed. Devon, Bere Alston Bowling Club, Bedford Street, Bere Alston, PL20 7DZ 12-5 pm,
Oct 18, Wed. Kentish Tappers/SEGOG(formerly Bromley Tappers) Bromley Common Road Methodist Church, Main Hall, Bloomfield Road, Bromley BR2 9RZ. 2-5.30pm.
Oct 19, Thurs, Bristol and Somerset, Scout Hut, Totterdown Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 4LJ.
Oct 19, Thurs. West Lancashire Classic Trains, Hesketh Bank Community Centre, Station Road, Hesketh Bank, PR4 6SR. 1.30 - 6.00pm
Oct 21, Sat. Bedfordshire Vintage Train Group. ALL DAY EVENT Village Hall Houghton Conquest, MK453LF Near the A6, and the Ampthill – Bedford Road B530 10am-4pm
Oct 21, Sat London NE Loughton, St.John’s Scout Hut, Church Lane, Loughton IG10 1PD. 10am - 5pm. Free tea/coffee & biscuits but bring your own lunch. 4-track O gauge, with 2 & 3-rail Dublo. £4 per person. Sales table. Accompanied ladies have free entry. D.Embling 01268 775072
Oct 22, Sun. Keighley Model Railway Club Open Day, Keighley Business Center .Knowl Mill South Street .Keighley .BD21 1SY .10am-4pm.
Oct 24, Tues. Preston Brook. Whitley village hall, Village Lane Higher Whitley WA4 4EJ 1.30-5.30pm 'O' and Dublo layouts plus all your regular traders . Admission £3 to include tea/coffee and biscuits
Oct 28, Sat. Chiltern Hills Vintage Train Group All Day Event St John’s Methodist Church Hall, 60 Woodside Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire,HP6 6AN 10am to 4pm
Oct 28, Sat. 13th Annual Vintage Hornby Train Show organised by the Bristol and Somerset Group. King Alfred School Academy (Block B), Burnham Road, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3EE. 10.00am to 4-00pm.
Nov 4 Sat. East Anglia Group. Play Trains Day. Trimley St Martin, Memorial Hall, IP11 0RJ. 10.30 am to 4.30 pm. Entrance £4
Nov 5, Sun. Rayleigh. The Sweyne Park School, Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, Essex, SS6 9BZ
09:45 – 1.15pm Entry £2.50, free parking and refreshments.
Nov 7, Tues.South Somerset(Yeovil). Norton Sub Hamdon Village Hall, Recreation Ground, New Road, Norton Sub Hamdon. TA14 6SF . 2.30 to 6.30pm.
Nov 7, Tues. HRCA Surrey Hills Group Merrow Village Hall, 177 Epsom Road Guildford GU1 2QY (5 mins from A3) 12 noon to 4pm
Nov 8, Wed HRCA Thames Valley Group, Mortimer. St.John’s Hall, West End Road, Mortimer RG7 3TF. 3.30-9.30pm,
Nov 9, Thurs. Severn Valley Tinplate Runners, Quatt Village Hall,Quatt, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV15 6QW 4 miles south of Bridgnorth on the A442. - look for our roadside banner. 11am - 5pm approx.
Nov 12, Sun. Border Counties Haydon Bridge Community Centre NE47 6ET just off the A69 between Haltwhistle and Hexham 9.30-3.30.
Nov 13, Mon. 1 Mile from J12 on the M40. 3.30pm - 8.00pm. Theme.Never was Locos.
Nov 15, WEd. Devon, Bere Alston Bowling Club, Bedford Street, Bere Alston, PL20 7DZ 12-5 pm,
Nov 15, Wed. Kentish Tappers/SEGOG(formerly Bromley Tappers) Bromley Common Road Methodist Church, Main Hall, Bloomfield Road, Bromley BR2 9RZ. 2-5.30pm.
Nov 16, Thurs. Chiltern Hills,New Venue and Time. Chesham Methodist Church, Bellingham Road, Chesham HP5 2HA. 12-6pm .
Nov 18, Sat. Slimbridge, near Gloucester, Village Hall, GL2 7BJ 11am - 4pm
Nov 20 Mon, Edinburgh Duddingston Golf Club, 137-139 Duddingston Road West, Edinburgh EH15 3QD. 11.30-17.00hrs
Nov 21, Tues. North Wales Group, Penmorfa Memorial Hall Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL19 9RT. 2pm to 5pm
Nov 21, Tues. Whaplode Village Hall, Kirkgate, Whaplode. PE12 6TE. 10 am-2 pm.
Nov 23, Thurs, Bristol and Somerset, Scout Hut, Totterdown Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 4LJ.
Nov 24, Fri Sussex Vintage Model Railway Collectors, Crowhurst Community Centre (at rear of Knoyle Hall), Knoyle Road, Preston Park, Brighton BN1 6RB, 19.30-22.00
Nov 27, Mon. Eastwood Vintage Trains, St.Laurence Church Hall, Eastwoodbury Lane, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6UH: 7-10pm
Nov 28, Tues. Cambridge. Fulbourn Village Library, The Swifts, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn. CB21 5HD. 5.30-9.30pm.
Nov 29, Wed. Retford Runners, Clarborough Village Hall, Nr Retford, DN22 9LN. On the A620. 4.30 to 9.30.pm
Dec 5, Tues.South Somerset(Yeovil). Norton Sub Hamdon Village Hall, Recreation Ground, New Road, Norton Sub Hamdon. TA14 6SF . 2.30 to 6.30pm.
Dec 5, Tues. HRCA Surrey Hills Group Merrow Village Hall, 177 Epsom Road Guildford GU1 2QY (5 mins from A3) 12 noon to 4pm
Dec 7, Thurs. Severn Valley Tinplate Runners, Quatt Village Hall,Quatt, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV15 6QW 4 miles south of Bridgnorth on the A442. - look for our roadside banner. 11am - 5pm approx.
Dec 9, Sat. Nottingham and Derby Group Risley Village Memorial Hall, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire DE72 3SS 1 mile from A52/M1 Junc 25. 2.00 to 6.00pm.
Dec 10, Sun. Border Counties Houghton Village Hall, Carlisle, CA3 0NG 3 minutes from J44 of the M6 on the Hexham Road. 9.30-3.30
Dec 10, Sun. Orpington. Crofton Halls, next to Orpington Station BR6 8PR. 09.45am -1.15pm.
Dec 11, Mon. 1 Mile from J12 on the M40. 3.30pm - 8.00pm. Theme. Christmas Meeting Seasonal Theme.
Dec 13, Weds. Bedfordshire Vintage Train Group. Village Hall Houghton Conquest, MK453LF Near the A6, and the Ampthill – Bedford Road B530 5 -9 pm Traders, Food and refreshments. Sales Table, Magnetising service .All gauges welcome, book space with Roger Mills.
Dec 13, Wed. Devon, Bere Alston Bowling Club, Bedford Street, Bere Alston, PL20 7DZ 12-5 pm,
Dec 13, Wed HRCA Thames Valley Group, Mortimer. St.John’s Hall, West End Road, Mortimer RG7 3TF. 3.30-9.30pm,
Dec 14, Thurs, Bristol and Somerset, Scout Hut, Totterdown Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 4LJ. pm onwards, 0 gauge electric and clockwork plus Dublo 2 and 3 rail layouts, light refreshments. Theme : Train Sets and Christmas Presents..
Dec 20, Wed. Kentish Tappers/SEGOG(formerly Bromley Tappers) Bromley Common Road Methodist Church, Main Hall, Bloomfield Road, Bromley BR2 9RZ. 2-5.30pm.
Dec 21, Thurs. Chesham Chilterns Steam Club, Chesham Methodist Church, Bellingdon Road, Chesham, HP5 2AA 10am-3pm. Note change of venue and time replaces all previous announcements.
Dec 23, Sat London NE Loughton, St.John’s Scout Hut, Church Lane, Loughton IG10 1PD. 10am - 5pm. Free tea/coffee & biscuits but bring your own lunch. 4-track O gauge, with 2 & 3-rail Dublo. £4 per person. Sales table. Accompanied ladies have free entry. D.Embling 01268 775072
Dec 28, Thurs. Sun. Rayleigh. The Sweyne Park School, Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, Essex, SS6 9BZ 09:45 – 1.15pm
Dec 28, Thurs. HRCA Thames Valley Group, Mortimer. St.John’s Hall, West End Road, Mortimer RG7 3TF.