BMES Gala Weekend 2017
The Bedford Model Engineering Society are holding their Annual Gala at the Summerfields Miniature Railways. This year’s event will be held over the weekend of Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd September. As always we extend a cordial invitation to fellow enthusiasts from other clubs to join us for a weekend of miniature railway enjoyment. Following…
5 Inch Gauge Railway Back In Action
The 5″ Returns to Haynes End Report By Tony Bullock On St. George’s Day 2017 a number of members gathered at the Winterfield end of our site to attend the opening of the 5″ gauge line which has been reinstated over the whole of the main line to and from Hammer Hill. This is the…
2017 Season Begins
Beginning of the 2017 Season By Tony Bullock Our Public Running programme for 2017 is now well under way. With the first day of the season being Mothers Day we did not expect too many people. However, with helpful weather we were soon busy greeting happy families to ride the rails. Running on a Wednesday…
David Boyde – An Appreciation
David Boyde 1940 – 2016 By Dick Billington During his working life David was heavily involved in the Oil Industry and amongst his many pursuits he obtained his Private Pilot’s and Instructor’s Licence; he also had a deep love of steam locomotives. This unrequited love for steam meant that shortly after he retired David joined…
Santa Specials 2016
Report by Tony Bullock Saturday 3rd, December 2016 dawned bright and clear and the crew at Summerfields Miniature Railway were up early and made their way to Haynes to prepare for the weekend Santa Specials. By the time the first families arrived to book in four locomotives were in steam and coupled up to their…
Summerfields Miniature Railway Hosts MENCAP Playscheme
B.M.E.S. recently welcomed the children and their helpers from the Bedford MENCAP Playscheme for two days of riding on our railway. The scheme runs for three weeks at the beginning of the summer holiday period and provides an opportunity for children and young people with learning disabilities to take part in fun activities and trips. The…
BMES Visitor Rally Weekend 2016
Annual Summerfield’s Visitor’s Rally The Bedford Model Engineering Society is holding its Annual Visitors Rally at the Summerfield’s Miniature Railways, to be held over the weekend of Friday, 2nd to Sunday, 4th September. Again we extend a cordial invitation to fellow model enthusiasts from other clubs to join us for a weekend of miniature railway…
B.M.E.S. and The Summerfields’ Railways Featured in a New Book
By Brian Walton Our society and the railways that we operate have been dedicated a chapter (#3) in a new book from local author Murray Eckett. The following description is taken from publicity material and is also found on the rear cover of the volume: Apart from the collective mixture of main railway lines that…
May Bank Holiday
By Tony Bullock Sunday 1st, May dawned bright and club members assembled to prepare for a day of running trains for the public. A queue of happy families were soon awaiting the first train whilst steam was being raised. All was ready to go and the first train departed at 10:30am. With four locos in…
A Lifelong Love of Steam
By early days BMES member, Trevor Barber My early days were in Kings Place, Bedford, just across the road from the Bedford Hitchin Line and all the sidings and junctions. My grandfather was chief Ganger on the Bedford Hitchin track which entailed a lot of weekend maintenance on the line. My earliest memories go back…