Taking a ride with York Model Engineers

Did you know that The York & District Society of Model Engineers used to have its home behind Bishopthorpe Working Men’s Club? Back in 1948, the Society was searching for somewhere to set up track to run its engines. In March 1949 the Society learned of an available site behind the Club in Main Street. Following successful negotiations, the Modellers acquired the use of this land, an orchard, for an annual rent of 3GBP. The track was quickly laid in May and June and running was commenced in time for the Society’s twentieth anniversary. The site was vacated in 1966 when the land was sold for development.

Model_EngineersThe photograph, taken c1954, shows driver Bill Shearman giving village children a ride. The locomotive is a model of a London & North Eastern Railway V2 named ‘Old Alf’.

Can anyone provide further information about the event? Go to ‘Contact’.

(With thanks to Ken Bateman of the York City & District Society of Model Engineers for the information. Photograph courtesy of the Evening Press.)

3 comments on “Taking a ride with York Model Engineers

  1. My goodness that was me right behind the driver, with John Howcroft, Kathryn McTurk,and Brian Bainbridge.Amazing what you find on facebook.

  2. Heather, we were allowed to go on the train on a Sunday afternoon! Roger mcTurk, I remember you, the mcTurks and Hudson’s were the biggest families in the village, trouble was everybody knew us so if we were ever ‘up to no good’ somebody always told our parents x

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