Railway on track to run again

Model engineering enthusiasts derailed by metal thieves are now back on track after a huge community effort.

The Canterbury and District Model Engineering Society suffered a huge blow when 750ft of miniature railway line was removed from its base in Fordwich in February.

But now, more than three months later, new track has been laid and the engines are running again – an effort the club will celebrate with a public reopening day on Saturday, May 27.

Members have worked tirelessly to re-instate the track, boosted by a Justgiving page set up by regular visitor and supporter Chris Holloway.

The club also received support from model engineering enthusiasts from around the world.

Chairman Paul Kemp said: “Over 2,000 feet of new rail was required, along with thousands of wooden sleepers and rail fixings.

“But as news of the society’s predicament spread, we began to receive offers of donations and help from numerous sources.

“When county councillor Alan Marsh heard the news, he came to inspect the damage and arranged some funding from the KCC to help.

“We had messages of support from around the world, including from our namesake club in Canterbury, New Zealand.

“We had no idea that our lit- tle railway was held in such esteem and, with Chris’s help, and by way of the local press and Facebook and Twitter we’ve got there.”

Mr Kemp says that following the theft, members immediately rallied to formulate plans to reinstate the track more securely, using steel rail instead of the previous aluminium.

He said: “The Romney Marsh Model Engineering Society lent us their rail bender and Brett’s one of their welding machines, while several members manufac- tured rail fixings in their home workshops.

“Members gathered at our site almost every day over a twoweek period in late March and early April and we made amazing progress and were soon able to run test trains”

Tim Brett, whose company loans the site to the society, will officially reopen the track.

Trains will be running from 10am to 4pm, with the formal reopening ceremony at 2pm.

For more details about the society, visit www.cdmes.org

Pictures: Canterbury & District MES Don Barker, Charlie Gu, Stuart Guy, Dave Willis, Dave Pearson, Granville Askham and Ernie Millard have been preparing for the reopening of the Canterbury & District Model Engineering Society’s miniature railway and, right, Gina Pearson gives the rails...