Exeter Devon. New Model Engineering etc club formed

[Bee]

A new Model Engineering and other stuff club has been formed in Exeter, Devon, UK.
Called Exeter Society of Model and Experimental Engineers ESMEE it initially will be meeting once a month on the Second Friday of the month at Sidwell Street Community Centre in Exeter from 7pm to 9pm. Street parking is free by that time.
It is hoped to be wider ranging than just locomotives and cover all aspects of making and doing perhaps getting a clubhouse and workshop in due course. They are already fundraising with a portable track (I know back on locos but do you know a better way for a club to get financed)
Membership is £15 and there will probably have to be a meeting fee to cover the room. Tea and biccies available. I think you can go along without being hog tied into membership and just see what's up.
I'm not part of their founding / organisers just raising a bit of publicity as they aren't very forum savvy. Therefore I don't all the details but will try to answer questions on here or by PM.

[Bee]

More progress. The regular meetings will now be on the 3rd Friday of the month at the new location of St Katherine's Priory in Exeter. This is quite a central location and also a community centre with café and a model railway club on the premises.

What's more the slightly adjusted name Exeter & District Model Engineering Society have agreement to put a ground level track on this site, possibly up to 260m (that's about 800ft in Brexitese). There is parking there too which always helps and at only about a mile from the city centre the possibility of dropping your partner off in town while you are clubbing, either for shopping on a running day or theatre/cinema in the evening.
If you are in the area and thinking of joining don't worry that you will get roped into lots of digging of cuttings for the new track - the site is level and digging is not allowed anyway on an historic site.

Forward a couple of months and it is hoped to run the portable track there on Boxing day if you want to do something with the kids or meet the members.

[trevoratxtal]

I wish the Club very well.

Just a little to far for me Torbay.

I might call in on summer nights but forget it in winter that Haldon hill is between us.

Trev

[beeshed]

Update ten years on - eek
Today we ran the full loop for the first time for the public. The track build was in progress during lockdown with plenty of volunteers to be the 4 allowed to gather at that time. We gradually extended the track and run every 1st Sunday of the month for the public and at other events to raise funds.
The lower end of the site needed a gradually increasing embankment until we had to go for a viaduct. Lots of expensive concrete and bricks then safety barriers meant a bit of a delay to get the money and do the work.
At last we have a full circle and take the public right round.
Can't get pictures to load at the moment.

[beeshed]

Viaduct in progress - about 60ft long.

[beeshed]

The first train over. In the last picture I posted the embankment in the background is a BR line to Honiton and Axminster so the big train passengers can see the little trains.

[vtsteam]

Cool!