Inverness & District Model Railway Club Visit!

THE FIRST PRIMO MEETING!

I am thrilled to announce that the Primo Models Tour finally started! As the first place to visit, I have decided to go to the “Inverness and District Model Railway Club.” I not only love the city itself, but the entire Highlands area is my favorite place to wander around during the spring and summertime. I highly recommend visiting the area to anybody who is visiting Scotland and loves to appreciate beautiful and inspiring landscapes.

The Inverness and District Model Railway Club is based in The Drill Hall, Seaforth Road, Muir Of Ord, IV6 7TA. Make sure you do not mix it up with Village Hall, which is just the opposite side of the road. I have made that mistake. I hope people who had the meeting there will forgive me. The Club has around 20 plus members and meets every Tuesday and Thursday Evening from 7:00 PM till 10:00 PM. The Club builds in most of the scales from N scale to G scale.

FIRST IMPRESSION AND HISTORY

I have entered the hall just before the Annual General Meeting has finished. With the help of Willie, a great club member who is responsible for running the facebook page, I have brought and unpacked the display models and started with a short presentation. I will not comment on how it went. It was the first time I was meeting the Club, so you can imagine how it went. Luckily the atmosphere and the mood inside were so uplifting and positive that I quickly stopped being nervous and felt as I would be a club member.

The Club was initially formed in January 1995 when a group of like-minded individuals met in Charleston Community Centre. By the second meeting, there were 22 people in attendance, and a committee was formed, but there was still no permanent home for the Club. Eventually, premises were secured on the Black Isle, and meetings were held there until the property became unusable. The first exhibition was held in September 1995 in Charleston Academy. Through the years we have had a variety of one and two day shows in venues such as Dr. Black’s Hall, Spectrum Centre, Culloden Academy, the Old High Church Hall, and now the Jury’s Inn Hotel, Inverness.

INVERNESS MODEL RAILWAY CLUB TOUR

During the conversation with the secretary of the Club Mr. Gerry Parks, it turned out that the Club owned the current club location! The property was also in excellent condition after renovation done by the Club. The place was fully lightened and bright, which is always beneficial when working on models. I went for a tour with Mr. Gerry and others. Luckily for members and me on that day, the building has the constant running heating to prevent decaying of any layout part duo moisture or high-temperature fluctuations, and keep you warm in long and dark winter evenings. It has one main room where four different layouts were standing at the time I have been visiting, and the number of smaller long rooms full of varying layout projects waiting for their time. Club members told me that the building was originally a shooting range.

INVERNESS MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION

The day ended up with warm handshakes, me leaving behind a couple of trees for the Club to try them out on their current under-construction layout, and Mr. Gerry in the name of the Club inviting me to the next clubs exhibition!

 Inverness & District Model Railway Exhibition will take place in Jury’s Inn Hotel, 22nd and 23rd August 2020

Millburn Road, Inverness, IV2 3TRI.

 It will be the 25th anniversary of the Club! Make sure you do not miss it. I Can most certainly recommend this Club to anybody who is from the area and have any interest in model railways!! 

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