There is, however, a longer history of model railway clubs in the Swansea area. The Club’s premises are at 300 Carmarthen Road where the whole of the top floor and two other rooms are occupied. The main Club night is on Thursday evenings from about 6.30pm to 9.30pm. As SRMG’s membership has grown use is now being made of the premises at other times. A small group of members visit on Wednesdays too
, from about 6.00pm. Others busy working on layout construction or running detailed trains frequently attend at even quieter times as the Club is fortunate in being able to use its premises 7 days per week. The Club has many layouts; St David’s Wells is the oldest – a 4mm inverted figure of 8 finished to a high standard. Elsbridge, another 4mm project, features the Thomas the Tank Engine Series and is a favourite with very young visitors. A new 4mm layout will begin soon. Cwmfelin Parkway is an N Gauge project being rebuilt form an earlier uncompleted layout whilst Box Station is a more ambitious attempt, again in N Gauge, to model the area between Chippenham and Bath. Dusty Roads is a small G-scale layout enabling trains to be run on 3 circuits. A long-term project is to build South Dock in 7mm to model this area of Swansea over several time periods. The most popular running area is a series of test tracks – 3 in N Gauge, 6 in 00 Gauge and 2 in 0 Gauge. This area allows members to run long trains – beyond the traditional scope of most members’ home premises. There are also members with interests in P4, T and Z Gauge so the Club can cater for most railway modellers’ interests. SRMG adopts a pro-active stance to railway modelling; it holds regular lectures, stock sales, Open Evenings and has organised several excursions during the last couple of years. In 2015 the Club organised the 6th Swansea Model Railway Show at The National Waterfront Museum after assisting museum staff in previous years. The introduction of designer clothing has helped to unify the Club’s membership. SRMG is a friendly Club with members of all ages, coming from all walks of life, and living in and around Swansea, Gower, Llanelli, Neath and Port Talbot. The Club remains supportive of local charity, Friends of The Young Disabled – the principal occupants of 300 Carmarthen Road.
