About Us

 

Kilmarnock & District MRC is the oldest surviving Model Railway Club in Ayrshire. It was founded in 1971 and had a small exhibit at Model Rail '72 in Glasgow.

 

The original premises were in the Drill Hall, Titchfield Street in Kilmarnock. After the decision was taken to redevelop the  Drill Hall the club had to move to Riccarton Community Centre and then Kilmarnock Station. In the mid-1990's a decision was taken to buy and refurbish a derelict bakery in Kilmarnock over a ten year period . This would leave the Club as owners of their Clubrooms - a good position to be in! That project has now been successfully completed.

 

From the start Layouts were constructed in 'OO' gauge moving on to both 'N' and '009'; at present the Club has one 'O' gauge, Four 'OO' layouts and two 'N' gauge layouts on the circuit. We also have two new 'OO' at the planning stage and an '0' gauge layout and small 009 layout being worked on.

 

The Club has had success in exhibitions, winning two cups at Model Rail 1990 in Glasgow and the most entertaining layout in show at Spennymoor in 1996. In addition we have picked up commendations at other shows.

 

Kilmarnock & District MRC runs its own Exhibition in late January each year, at the The Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine, having moved from Saltcoats in 2009. We also exhibit at other shows around Scotland. We have also shown in recent years at Dundee, Troon and Johnstone.  

 

In May we exhibited, very successfully, our 00 gauge continuous run  layout "Netherton" at the Kyle show in Troon. On 12th and 13th July we will have our Mafekin Layout which represents a preserved World War II camp and attched port at the "Making Waves" Exhibition in the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine.

 

The Club has an open membership policy , we take in younger members - indeed the Club now largely relies on previous younger members to keep things going. Again we are unusual in that we have female members - our only Hon. Sec. in 50 + years is a woman!

 

The atmosphere in the Club is fairly relaxed, and potential members need have no previous experience.