Ulverscroft Model Railway

[oldravendale]

This post is a bit difficult but I'll go ahead because it may be considered important. It's also a GWR railway so hardly fits in Area 51 in a way! Furthermore, despite trying to visit I've been unable to do so. As a result these comments are second hand but I knew David Clarke through the GCR until his untimely and sudden death.

The story so far. My wife and I visited Tim Mills' wife a few weeks ago. She's caught a serious interest in railway preservation through Tim and knows I'm a modeller so thought this may be of interest. The model railway (4mm) is attached to and part of a worthy charity called the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation - see Support, wellbeing. friendship, loneliness, isolation, community. She visited with a friend last Friday and "was horrified and not a little upset to be told that - without warning, the trustees have decided to close, dismantle and possibly throw away the whole model unless another home can be found for it before 19th December. I (she) took lots of photos but they hardly give any idea of its size, detail, and sheer beauty." (Eve's words). Some photos are attached - phone photos only at this stage. Apparently the building needs a new roof which can’t be done while the model is in situ. Also the Trustees have decided to have another retail shop in the building rather than the railway (Eve put in a !!! after this staement) and as a charity this seems a good idea in terms of raising cash but I wonder if they are missing a trick if the railway is really as impressive as suggested. Having said this I really believe in the aims of the charity and the money they raise is the most important aspect of their operation apart from the distribution of funds after they are raised.

This layout is clearly rather too big to fit in to the average garage or club room and probably the rolling stock and some of the buildings could be found a new home but it'll be a shame if not worse to break up or destroy an attractive layout. Why not open it to paying punters at a weekend? Currently it's a free add on to the cafe and second hand/antique retail facilities already there.

You'll understand that all this is not only second hand and unseen but without any reference to the current owners. It'd be interesting to hear the views of anyone who may have visited and could have an objective view of the railway. As I'm unlikely to get to Leicestershire for a visit until well after Christmas I'll not be able to give an objective assessment.

I believe that David Clarke probably wanted his model railway used as one of the tools to bring punters in to the charity and spend their money - his legacy is the double track on the GCR. But if I'm correct the raising of the cash for the charity is the main concern. But is this a good enough reason to destroy another part of his legacy?

Brian

(If you want more photos Eve can supply. )

 

[jonte]

 

[Osgood]

David’s legacy was the double track of the GCR?
The significance of that takes a while to absorb.

As you can walk around the layout it should be quite feasible to install a temporary floor structure above it, thus sealing off the layout to facilitate roof replacement.
That doesn’t of course resolve the issue of the space being needed for other charitable aims (gift shop).

 

[oldravendale]

Thanks for yours, @jonte. That lead me to another on YouTube about the current predicament:

Yes, Tony @Osgood , David funded most if not all the double track between Loughborough and Rothley as well as many other projects. It'd be a real shame to see his model railway broken up but at this size and in the time available? It's doubtful it could be moved in the time available even if there was somewhere for it to go. As for the trustees saying that it has to be moved to get the roof done that may just have made their job of getting rid of something which they see as being of no benefit somewhat easier. I'm no builder so couldn't question whether a temporary roof could be installed.

Brian

 

[simond]

I’m not in possession of the facts presented to the trustees but with that caveat, I would suggest they may wish to reconsider.

The layout is very large, evidently to a high standard, and of historical relevance to the GCR.

It seems to me to be worthy of a lasting home where, with the aid of a volunteer brigade, it can continue to raise funds for the railway.

If it can attract passing trade, so much the better, but I don’t think that would necessarily be its first priority.

And if finding a home and relocation takes time, it should be possible to arrange it - even if, in the final analysis, a gift shop is a more effective source of income and therefore an arguably better use of the area.

But this is all opinion, from a distance, and from a position of relative ignorance

Good luck!
Simon

 

[oldravendale]

It seems to me to be worthy of a lasting home where, with the aid of a volunteer brigade, it can continue to raise funds for the railway.

...and that's the rub, Simon. Volunteers are a rare resource and a model railway, even if so closely associated with a major sponsor of the GCR, falls somewhere behind other projects, most notably the reunification. The other big concern is the lack of time to plan and execute a removal. I've made some enquiries but I have to admit to being rather pessimistic about the whole affair.

Brian