A Fabulous Day At The GEC Miniature Railway "50th Anniversary Gala"

Hi all. The first thing to say is that I make absolutely no apologies for the massive length of this post! It really was a fantastic day and there is just so much to say! Well, firstly, today I visited the GEC Miniature Railway, located on the Sports Ground just off Allard Way, Binley (Coventry). Today was a special day, it was a celebration of the railway's "50th Anniversary". I arrived just after 11am to find the 3.5"/5" gauge steaming bays very busy with many different locomotive's being prepared for running. Notably, they were all of 5" gauge. They included three 15XX 'Speedy' Pannier tanks, a small 0-6-0 named "Connie", a MR 4-4-0 Compound, a Southern 4-4-0, an LMS 4F and a small battery Y7 tram. However, a real eye-catcher was an LNER B1 named "Springbok", proudly wearing LNER Apple Green livery:-

Now, for a description of the GEC Miniature Railway. The railway includes 3.5", 5" & 7.25" gauge tracks as well as an indoor 00 gauge model railway & tea-room. The 3.5"/5" are both encorporated on the dual-gauge raised track, with the 7.25" being at ground level. First I'll talk about the raised track:-Now, I've already mentioned the steaming bays but I haven't said that they also include a turntable and independant electricity supplies (for blower's etc) to each bay. Loco's can then transfer onto the raised track by a 'traverser-like' rail. Having transferred, the locomotive will now be in the station area which includes a water tower. (This is where passengers board for a ride). Operations on the raised track are controlled by automatic signalling, making sure that locomotive's do not catch up with eachother. The signals include red, ambre & green colour lights. Leaving the station, the line passes the 7.25" yard before continuing on a "reverse curve". It then curves right into a deeply wooded area. Soon after, it emerges on a long straight with the station dead ahead once again. This straight runs parallel to the main access road into the ground, seperated by a small wooden fence. At the end of the straight trains re-enter the station. The total length of the raised track, so I've been told, is just over 600ft.

Back to me (remember I've only just arrived!), I admired the 5" gauge engines. I then met up with a friend of mine who is a GEC member. He then presented me with a "Guest" ("access all area's") badge with my name on! How kind! He also told me that the badge allowed me FREE cups of tea! Now, that is fantastic! (I can't live without tea!). He then took me to the 7.25" steaming bays where 0-4-0 Romulus No5 "James" & 0-4-0 Free-Lance Saddle Tank No10 "Trojan" were being oiled, ready for running. Meanwhile, 0-4-0 Diesel Hydraulic "Sammy" was hauling the passenger trains on the ground level line. After a chat, I returned to the centre of the site and the clubhouse for, you've guessed it(!), a cup of tea! Now for a talk on the 7.25" gauge line:- The diagram which you see above is the 7.25" gauge railway's layout. The location of the station is the bottom right where you see "T1". Leaving the station, the railway passes through the preparation yard (which includes the steaming bays) before contiuning into the first section. This takes the train into a wooded area, adjacent to the raised track. The track then curves left (at "T3") before continuing into the main section (seen at "T7" on the diagram). The driver is then faced with a very long straight, the first part of which is also wooded. Soon after, trains pass through the "up" side of the 1/2 way passing loop, seen in the middle-left of the diagram. Once though the loop, the train is back on a long-straight again. Almost immediately, the emerges from the wooded area, running directly alongside the main football pitches. Meanwhile, on the right hand side of the train, the tree's hide 'Allard Way' which runs on the other side of the hidden fence. Soon after, the train arrives in the first section of the new terminus triangle, seen at the bottom-left of the image. Trains treverse the triangle before receiving the all-clear to return to the station via the same route, obeying all signals. Today, trains were passing in the 1/2 way loop. (Note=The triangle at the top of the diagram, through "S6" & "T5", is no longer in regular use). Trains then pass through the yard again before arriving back at the station. Locomotive's are then uncoupled before running up to the sheds for turning, watering, coaling etc. It is, I must admit, a very scenic and varied journey, especially if you're riding behind a steam engine. The shed's as I call them are only for the storage of carraiges as the locomotive's are not based on the site and are privately owned. The coaching stock is vacuum braked, as are the locomotive's. The railway has recently took-delivery of some ex-Rugby MES stock which is a very different type to its original stock with passengers being seated astride a main beam rather than in proper seats. The 7.25" line is also controlled by automatic signalling with 'walkie-talkies' being used between the 'Train Guard' and the station 'Signalman' to control operations at the triangle. (This is only a temporary measure as signalling with soon be fitted to the triangle as well, enabling an even-safer operation). The 'GEC' as it is known also includes a model railway...

In the tea-room is this lovely 00 gauge model railway. The railway includes two complete circuit's and one "out & back" track on which is usually operated a model of "Thomas the Tank Engine". The two full circuits usually host many different locomotives of all shapes, sizes and manufacturers. All three tracks make their way to a full fiddle-yard which can be seen in the top-left of my "debatable" image! This indoor railway is well worth a look and includes some very interesting and quirky little features. The tea-room sells such things as tea (great!), coffee and, best of all, home made cakes. (I really, really recommend the home made cakes! Yum!). It's all for society funds of course. Every little helps! The tea-room is also a great place to hide from bad weather but luckily enough we didn't have any of that today! The video below (which I took today) gives a brief indication of the going's on at the event:- I spent my day at the GEC hovering about, talking to many people, drinking lots of tea, taking lots of pictures and of course indulging in the BBQ (great burgers by the way!). It really was a fantastic day and I didn't leave until gone 4pm...(not that late I know but you know what I mean!). Just before I left though I got a very enjoyable drive on No10 "Trojan", fantastic!:- Thank you to all at GEC Miniature Railway for a fantastic day out, a lovely place to visit! Now, for those of you who wish to visit, the GEC runs for the public every first weekend of each month from May-October. The Saturday's are usually designated to 3.5"/5" gauge running with the Sunday's designated to 7.25" gauge trains. There is also a Christmas Special (which we visit), for which I cannot remember the date. The railway is run by the GEC Model Engineering Society who makes no profit from the railway's operations. All proceed's go towards the upkeep of the railway and its stock. Again, the railway is based on the Sports Ground just off Allard Way, Binley (Coventry). Be sure to visit for a friendly and enjoyable train ride! Thanks again GEC! More posts coming soon! Thanks for reading folks.