MKMES
MKMES Committee
Committee members are elected each year at the A.G.M
:
Ron Bailes................................. Chairman
Steve Jones........................ Vice Chairman
Brian Pritchard............................Secretary
Bob James..................................Treasurer
David Waters........................Site Engineer
Andrea Webb................Publicly & parties
Ben Cox ...............Social media & website
KLR (Kingfisher Light Railway)
MKMES (Milton Keynes Model Engineering Society) can trace its roots back to the mid 1970’s, when a large general model society was formed to incorporate all forms of model engineering (Railway, Boating, scale models etc.).
Eventually the society split off into their respective interests, and after spending many years at a site near the Bowl, the society was fully established at Kingfisher country club on the outskirts of Milton Keynes.
The society built up a large, fully signaled railway within the grounds, which ran until mid 2006, when low passenger numbers and the looming threat of the land being re-developed forced the difficult decision to close Kingfisher Light Railway. The final public run was held on 27th August 2006 (picture above and right shows the last official members running day on 29th july). Hagrid had the honour being the final engine to run at KLR on 30th August, helping with railway dis- assembly before being put into storage (not to run again until 2011 at Caldecotte)
Caldecotte Miniature Railway
The railway at Caldecotte was first established in the summer of 2006 under the name 'Milton Keynes Light Railway', when a temporary track was laid straight down the middle of the field to gauge passenger numbers. The response was positive, and by March 2008, we had finished construction of our raised 3.5 and 5 inch gauge track.
This was followed in April 2012 with the official opening of our ground level 7 1/4 and 5 inch track and the renaming of the railway to 'Caldecotte Miniature Railway'
Since then we have been continuously improving our facilities, with projects including building a turntable and a ticket office, installing mains electricity, fitting a new shed roof, and building the station avoiding line. Over the next few years we hope to have our signal box built and operational, and re-build the raised track.
If you're intrested in joining us, contact us or come and talk to us on any running day!