A long long time ago in a far off colony,
surviving from a glorious past, a group of enthusiastic railway modelers
gradually closed in on each other to form a nucleus of colleagues who banded
together to create what is now known as the British Railway Modelers Club of
Montreal,
Originally clandestine meetings were held
at the individual’s abodes with the constant germ of the Railway Modelers Holy Grail
beginning to gnaw away in the various discussions, a truly wonderful thing… a
Modular layout for the Club,
After much chagrin and wringing of hands
the quest was finalized, the plot was hatched, each member would be responsible for certain
sections of the layout, each onto his own, following the basic right of way and
matching dimensions set forth in the layout handbook (a document that has been
discussed in whispers but lost in the passage of time) and to split the overall
cost.
So as the members set out on this task, creating
their modules to the basic tenets, other more interesting or mundane tasks had
to be completed, working, shopping, gathering of monies or peculiar things
named investments etc.
Eventually the modules did come into being
and were formed into the great thing that came to be known as Rosedale, and the
members viewed the completed layout with water in their eyes as it appeared
that locomotives could actually traverse the layout from end to end with only a
few minor electrical problems. The whole Layout was acclaimed to be good and
much rejoicing was heard
This pleased the members so much they
decided to display their talents to all and sundry and thus the future
exhibition layout of Rosedale was born. This
layout would venture forth to many Model Railway exhibitions supported by the
rag tag band of members who strained under the workload of transporting the beast,
erecting it in all it’s glory performing such miracles of engineering and
repair with solder, duct tape and various other items to keep the layout
functioning.
At some shows the mere appearance of the
layout along with other supporting units attracted many of the EXPAT tribal
members to gather and observe the running of trains. Some even applied for
membership after surviving the initial contact and the beginnings of social exchanges by contacting members for
information.
Thus it went on for many years, some
members always being in attendance supporting the quest, others appearing by
magic at various times and places to assist in running of the engines, yet more
resisting the impulse to disappear when their engines were spent and honest
toil was needed to dismantle the layout.
Throughout this time the modules underwent
various transformations as members were added, deleted or other wise disposed
of and the ranks of the Club became depleted. The layout fell into disuse,
hidden in sections in dark damp dungeons waiting for that burst of light as it
was manhandled into transport for yet another show.
Finally the few remaining members held yet
another meeting and after great debate it was agreed to obtain a clubhouse, a
refuge from normal everyday life, where modelers could go and ply their craft
in creating miniature replicas of all things BR.
This deed was proclaimed to be a priority
and after much searching a suitable location was found in Ville St Pierre
There the layout of Rosedale reposed in
splendour whilst the members laboured nights and Sunday mornings to affect many
needed repairs.This resulted in Rosedale being
declared ready again to take to the exhibition circuit. Alas many years had
passed since Rosedale was in it’s prime and other layouts had been created in
new and more magical forms of control.
Such ideas were being proclaimed in the
magazines of the time and demonstrated on the rivals layouts.This created woe
and anguish amongst the remaining members who clustered in small groups
plotting changes and were overheard whispering ideas such as DCC, Protypical, EM
gauge etc. in hushed reverent terms. This rebellious talk did disheartened some
members whose life work reposed in Rosedale
Finally after much skull duggery and maneuvering
a great meeting of all members was held. In this meeting the quest for new
layouts was formulated, much was the discussions that followed, some members
declared that they would build a new generation of layout and plotted about how
it would be done.
These intrepid members along with other
associate renegade club members planned a new layout deemed to be called Frome,
this took form using different methods of construction in supports and
baseboards until the basic structure was declared good.
A multitude of ideas for track laying and
position followed with changes being enacted monthly until the final section
was laid and the layout declared good.
This was premature however as new additions
and changes were and have continued to be made, some delaying usage for many
many weeks much to the mickey taking joy of the other members. However in the
background there were other mutterings in the club and these were beginning more
insistent and further discussions about new layouts started being held at the
monthly meetings.
Then in the year of the LNER engineer (Sir
Nigel Gresley) celebrations, 2009, the few remaining members agreed to become
disciples of the new Quest and so commenced the construction of the magnificent
structure to be known as the Next Exhibition Layout.
This was some thing that had been yearned
for many years but forbidden to speak about.
The new layout was planned both in general and detail ways, discussed
and proposed until finally it was drawn with much attention to detail and the little
things.
Forms were built at a great rate, support
legs were manufactured to standard sizes, new methods of alignment and leveling
were introduced and finally one week all was declared acceptable and the new
layout structure was assembled respondent in the place of Rosedale .
At this time the followers of Frome had been joined with the majority so the semi
complete layout was left in repose.
The track laying was launched with much
enthusiasm until it was realized that the plan was not being followed. A census
was issued for righteous members to propose there own plans which were mulled
over in high expectations, Lo and Behold the track plan was revealed and
declared to be good.
The membership then cried “a name ,we must
have a name! else all will be forgotten! and slowly a multitude of names were
proposed until the chosen name burst forth above all others. Thus Allingham was
raised to be the name of the new layout, this in memory of the last Great War
survivor who had recently passed away.
And now the saga of the Club continues, Allingham
has reached full power with circular running, the branch line once scorned and
left to neglect in the passage of time has gained life and is now longer
regarded as the withered arm.
In the near future it is forseen that all
members should be able to display their talents, their wares and rolling stock
of great variety, applauding some for the laying of track, ballast, walls etc, some for the
righting of wrongs (on the layout) others in creating scenic masterpieces and
all in their own time to use the clubhouse for the intended purposes and meet
in good fellowship if not on a week night and/or Sunday morning as available.
All that was done and Allingham was
displayed to all and sundry at the tribal gatherings of model railway
enthusiasts to great appreciation for some years. Again rumblings were heard at
the club gatherings and the cry for a new, sleeker, more transportable, layout
were heralded,
This was discussed for many weeks and
finally the decision was made, the club will build another layout, this one to
be of the end to end variety with many interesting features and be easy to
operate and transport.
So once again the quest begins...
