Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all our website visitors old and new.

2015 was a successful year for the 12AD MRG, Eaglesham and Milton Street MPD both attended exhibitions,and a start has been made on 2 new projects...

We started the year busying ourselves with the extensions to Eaglesham which saw 4ft added on to each end of the layout, taking its total length to a mammoth 28ft - not bad for a layout built in a 10 by 8 room!  The Perth MRC show in June 2015 saw the exhibition debut of the new configuration and it was met with some very positive reviews, and raised a number of issues that we resolved to address by the layouts next outing at Warley at the end of November 2015.

Exhibiting Eaglesham in the NEC at Warley was the probably biggest event of the year for 12AD, and possibly the biggest event since we formed back in 2013.  The show was a success and layout behaved relatively well for the entire weekend.  A few niggles were thrown at us, but these were overcame and a list has been made for improvements before the next exhibition which will be at Falkirk in November 2016.  

Eaglesham, along with Milton Street MPD also received a couple of exhibition invites to Wakefield in 2017, and another English show which is still to be confirmed. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the organisers of the Warley show for their invitiation and hospitality, we would love to come back! 

Milton Street MPD was out once this year, at the Kyle show back in May,  and is next due out 9th & 10th April 2016 to the Maryport Model Club Annual Exhibition, and to the Perth MRC show at the end of June.  The layout also graced the cover of the December 2015 edition of British Railway Modelling magazine, a first for us!

Whilst we were all beavering away on Eaglesham and Milton Street MPD this year, Keith and Joe were planning new projects.  Whilst Joe had a change of heart with a short lived venture into 7mm scale, Keith was defining what he wanted out of his first layout.  A planning session at Joe's house with Keith started the project off, a track plan was agreed and a name chosen...

Helenston, a BR Blue end to end layout representing a country station in Central Scotland, was the outcome.  Work has been progressing well, the boards are built, the track is laid and the wiring started.  We are trying out servo point and signal control, a departure from the traditional solenoids.  The Kyle show in May 2016 will be the exhibition debut of Helenston, the layout will be fully operational and will have at least some scenics!

Joe's new layout, Coldblow Lane, SE14 has been through a number of redesigns but a plan has been pinned and work has started.  The boards are built and some track has been laid.  Again, servos will be used.  This layout will represent SE London, but on ex LNER territory.

Overall, another successful and enjoyable year for us, one we wish to build on for 2016.  A heartfelt thanks to all who visit this website and read our drivel, and to those who visit our layouts at exhibitions, and listen to our drivel.

Best wishes

Bill, Spencer, Keith & Joe
12AD Model Railway Group