Members meet every Sunday and there are additional midweek meetings on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.These are afternoon sessions but often start in the morning and go on into the evening when the weather is kind.
We have a full program of events planned. In order to avoid disappointment, visitors should make contact with BGRA before attending.
In view of the age and vulnerability of some members, please abide by current government advice concerning COVID-19.
List of Recent Site Updates |
Download and print our latest handout brochure.
Contact Alan for more details.
Contact Elliot for more details.
NEW December 2023 Newsletter click here
NEW 2023 October Night Run click here
<2023 Mamod Day click here
2023 BBQ Event click here
2023 Loco Olympics click here
Latest Track Plans click here.
Photos of our Upper Track Renewal click here
Mike kicked off our Christmas running on Saturday while doing some jobs around the layout. (Saturday 25th November 2023)
Dave continued our Christmas activities on a very cold morning. (Sunday 26th November 2023)
Dominic's Bottom had a frosty start.
Eric's festive train.
Steam on the main line pulling Santa Specials.
Thunderbird Is Go (29 secs)
Elliot's imaginative reflection on the creation of his Funkey Diesel.
After many months & plenty of fiddling... Thunderbird; a Peter Yatton: Funky Diesel kit has been created.
Elliot learnt a lot, assembling this kit. From: Using an Air Brush, understanding electrical circuits, and painting a line 😅. (Trust him, it's hard) and a lot more...
Big thanks to his Dad! For helping him build this beast, he couldn't have done it without him.
Dave, Colin and Joe met up for a fun session on Saturday. (Saturday 18th November 2023)
Dave ran his Coal Fired Lady Anne but took pictures of the flora and fauna.
The birds appreciate our feeder.
Joe made this video of the running session. (4.41 mins)
Joe did some double heading that didn't make it to the video.
Mike has a run and does some testing prior to the Roofing Crew's meeting on Tuesday. His Jenny now with fully working Radio Control. (Sunday 12th November 2023)
Mike's newly completed Corris Brake Van.
Tallyllyn hauling passengers round the back loop.
Mike's line up near the front station.
The Roofing Crew prepares to start on the cabin on Tuesday Morning. (Tuesday 14th November 2023)
Dodging Storm Debi on Monday, the team, led by Mike, got cracking.
Mike says JOB DONE except a tiny bit where it was damaged when the Pullman Coach burnt some years ago.
Many thanks to Mike, Tom, Doug, Dave, Jon and Phil... The Roofing Crew.
We had a committee meeting at 2pm but Joe arrived early to get some shots of his trains. Joe arrived at 8.30am! Maybe he was really keen or did he forget to put his clocks back? (Sunday 29th October 2023)
Joe's real reason for arriving at 8.30 am. Another excellent video of Two Train Running. (6.18 mins)
Diesel hauled passenger train at one of Joe's favourite spots.
Joe's Black Bertie has a run.
A gorgeous photo of Joe's Green Bertie hauling a goods train.
Some more photos of Tom's excellent work. We needed a way to isolate the sidings now that the upper 45mm circuit has been electrified.
Tom built and waterproofed this little switch box and installed it on the top track.
He also retrofitted the point with added isolating fish-plates.
Tom gives a thumbs up and we all join him. Brilliant work Tom.
Joe and Eric. We'll never know what they are saying.
Another outing for Elliot's Thunderbird. Very powerful but struggling for grip on a wet track. More lead weights needed perhaps.
A good crowd gathered for our very popular October Night Run (Wednesday 25th October 2023)
Joe's atmospheric video (1:39 mins)
Elliot's outstanding Funkey Diesel named "Thuderbird" had a good run. Follow the link to a Full Gallery.
Mike and the Track Crew (Tom) head to Butterley on a Saturday morning to complete work on the High Level Sidings. (Saturday 14th October 2023)
They added the Filcris side panels and flooded the area with a self levelling mix.
Making all the sidings much improved to complete our relay of this end of the layout.
Then on Sunday, Tom returned and ran his trains. (Sunday 15th October 2023)
Dave joined him with a mammoth train of coal wagons. But disaster struck....
... and a 3D printed buffer beam failed.
Tom meanwhile, had started running his faithful Mortimer...
... while Chairperson Alan sniffed the flowers and flew his drone on a fun but very cold Sunday.
Another fine Autumn afternoon brought out some outstanding trains. (Sunday 8th October 2023)
Mike's impressive Lawley.
Doug ran his sparkling red Lady Anne
Tom stole the show with his Santa Fe train. Running on the newly electrified top track with, what looks like, every wagon in his collection.
We captured a visitor seeking The G Scale Society and initiated him to our newly electrified top loop. (Sunday 24th September 2023)
Well done quick thinking Joe who invited him in, made him a cuppa and gave him a membership form as well as taking the photos and running his trains.
Regulars were running on this fine Autumn day.
Standing on our soon to be named bottom track station.
We aim to remodel this station with a viaduct theme so maybe this could be The Arches Junction ?
James came with his totally amazing Mamod. A brilliant runner that sounds terrific.
Dave took this photo for Glenis, The Cosmos Flowers.
Joe's excellent video of a steamy Sunday (3:25 mins).
BGRA Mamod Oscillator and Vinage Day (Sunday 16th September 2023)
BGRA Member BBQ Yummy (Wednesday 13th September 2023)
Joe's Bertie pulls a night goods train at the end of our BBQ Wednesday.
Elliot and Joe Double head a heavy goods train as the sun goes down at our BBQ event
Full gallery page of our Wednesday BBQ Event here.
Joe's skilfully edited and comprehensive video of the day (10.49 mins). (Sunday 10th September 2023)
Joe's Live Steam Extravaganza has a full gallery page. The video is above.
Tom connects up the new Track Power connection to our 45mm loop.
Lots of testing was done
Tom controls his track powered loco as part of the testing process.
Tom then successfully ran all afternoon on Track Power. (Sunday 10th September 2023)
The full story of a busy Sunday has its own gallery page here.
Alan's excellent documentary video of our recent Loco Olympics (6.00 mins) (Saturday 26th August 2023)
Made up from photos and videos taken on the day. Well worth watching to the very end and maybe a preview of Loco Olympics 2024.
Elliot's personal view of the Loco Olympics, narrated by James the AI.
Elliot cut 30 mins of footage into a short video, never really intended to be a documentary (2.31 mins) (Saturday 26th August 2023).
A quiet weekend at Butterley. James ran this Loco but we're not sure which model James has got. Any ideas? Definitely an Accucraft but not a Ragleth. (2nd & 3rd September 2023).
James ran his collection of Mamods. This one is a Silver Jubilee model from the New Mamod range. The totem badge on the tender says, "Midland Railway Butterley" (Saturday 2nd September 2023).
A totally amazing little traditional Mamod still running beautifully on Stinky Tablets.
James got a whole load of circuits no problem.
Alan popped in on Sunday while Eric was running his famous Toys R Us celebration special. Only half of the toys are showing here (Sunday 3rd September 2023).
Sunshine and Showers for our day of Loco Olympics. (26th August 2023).
We all got wet but the sun soon dried us out.
Loads of fun was had by all. See the full gallery and report.
Joe's video of the day (6.57 mins) Well worth a watch to the end.
A pleasant Sunday at BGRA. Many members on Holiday but Alan snapped this gorgeous train (Sunday 20th August 2023).
Tom fixes his Accucraft that had thrown a grub screw. It really is Tom but he was wearing his Phantom of the Opera outfit, hence the white gloves.
Some Visitors were present to enjoy the running.
Joe took a photo of Master Cameraman, Alan, filming the full sidings.
Joe always manages a few atmospheric shots.
Joe also likes to pick out interesting features around our garden, like this tree (see below).
And unusual angles.
ED... Anyway ... I asked Joe about that new tree and Joe said that Glenis had given permission to trim it because it had always been a miniature tree and had just been hidden up to this time (see above).
Joe had a quiet Sunday, playing trains and relaying ballast (Sunday 13th August 2023).
After loads of heavy rain, the ballast had shifted leaving sink holes and much filcris exposed.
Joe found a bag of old ballast (the coarse stuff), washed it and started work on the track.
It looks like Joe's done a great job. Many thanks Joe.
Windows repaired ... Hurrah. Mike met the installers after some months of negotiation. Well done Mike (Wednesday 26th July 2023).
Dave took some great photos of our garden.
Looking lovely.
Glenis, on holiday, said sorry about the weeds (Ed: What weeds?)
Our layout looking stunning.
Super Heros on Eric's Railtour.
Eric's outstanding Roundhouse Jenny and her crew.
Another great Sunday (Sunday 30th July 2023).
A truly varied day of sun and downpours turned our Coal Firing Day into a display of photographic skills from Dave, Elliot and Joe. (Sunday 16th July 2023) Dave took this one.
Elliot got soaked running his coal fired loco so cheered himself up by taking some cleverly posed photos.
Driver Chalky White navigates a Roundhouse Millie through the floods.
Elliot's much complimented image of the Ais Gill Signal Box opposite our layout.
Joe snapped Elliot setting up his camera angles after a huge downpour.
Joe concentrated on the garden and...
... the trains.
There are many great photos on our social media pages including Facebook and Instagram. Check them out
A Day Out at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. Edited by Elliot from clips by James and Dave (1.50 mins).
Mike took his brilliant LLantaliog Valley Modular Layout to Wirksworth with help from BGRA Members.
Full story in our Gallery (8th & 8th July 2023).
Thomas makes a special appearance at Butterley. (Sunday 2nd July 2023) Thanks Mike.
Mike enjoyed a Wednesday run (Wednesday 28th June 2023).
Mike ran his stunning Accucraft Lawley.
Another long, hot weekend with new member Doug and Dave (Sunday 25th June 2023).
Dave took the photos.
Doug's Red Katie passes the blooms around the track.
Class 44 'Peak' D4 'Great Gable' on the main Line.
A bee inspecting the Filcris.
Doug's video... He said that he was, "multi-tasking, driving and recording at the same time" and doing a great job of both. The video quality is slightly lower than usual for unknown reasons (1:01 min).
Dave's video of a balmy day at Butterley (2:44 mins).
An extremely hot day for our Open Day (Saturday 10th June 2023).
Joe's video of the day (4:25 mins).
Dave's video of the day (3:19 mins).
Elliot's Video of the Day in 9.3 seconds (set to repeat).
A hot Sunday at the start of Summer as the committee has a planning meeting for our Open Day next Saturday.
Dave snaps the action as trains run and plants grow (4th June 2023).
Dave's tram engine standing in the top sidings, photos by Elliot.
The kids loved Eric's train hauled by his War Department Alco.
Colin's yellow Battery Diesel Loco pulls an impressive breakdown train.
And Colin also ran is Lilla with some heavy goods.
New member Doug runs his very shiny Katie.
Elliot uses his Silver Lady to pull a FFestiniog themed train.
Dave pulled heavy goods with his Lady Anne.
John amazed himself by taking his newly repaired Regner Lumberjack for a spin.
John had a Regner day out and got his trusty Chaloner to go after the traditional burner lighting ritual.
Looking impressively filthy after a brilliant day out.
Dave's video of the day, edited by Elliot (2.02 mins)(4th June 2023).
A hot bank holiday weekend brought out the few that hadn't headed for the coast (28th May 2023).
Dave's photos.
Phil's Regner Willi having a run.
Phil's ModelEarth Davenport next to his 7/8 Willi (Phil's Photo).
Alan snaps long standing member Mike discussing the garden with Glenis.
A quiet but most enjoyable weekend (28th May 2023).
A sunny weekend brought Joe and Dave out for a run (20th May 2023).
Amazing us all, the MRT were running steam on the Big Railway.
Glenis was pleased to see the garden blooming.
On the Sunday, Mike had a good fettling session on the newly laid top track as it settled..
Joe's video of the day (9:07 mins).
Alan's Video of the Coronation Day Run part 1 (2:44 mins)
Alan's Video of the Coronation Day Run part 2 (1:16 mins)
Alan's Dress Rehearsal for his Coronation Train (1:42 mins) (Monday 1st May 2023)
A very relaxed Sunday Run while MRT ran their Vintage Train (30th April 2023).
MRT Vintage Train passes Elliot's Millie.
Phil's Regner Willie going through its paces.
John's recently rebuilt Lady Elliver, pulls his E.O. & D. mixed goods train.
A visitor to BGRA runs his superb Roundhouse Argyll.
Colin's train looks great with it's distinctive blue and white coaches
Tom dreams of extending the 45mm siding as he parks his diesel.
Photos by Elliot (30th April 2023)
Dave raises steam on our Coal and Spirit Firing Day (23rd April 2023).
The business end of Dave's Coal Fired Lady Anne
Mike raises steam at the top track station.
Mike's Riverdale Katie in the foreground with Dave's DJB Lady Anne waiting.
Dave's videos of the day, edited by Alan (1:06 mins).
Joe's Video of Easter Sunday.(2:43 mins)
Elliot's video shows a mix of both days with clips from Dave's videos.(2:05 mins)
Saturday and Sunday 8th and 9th April 2023
Ongoing improvements to our garden with a rebuilt rockery (Sunday 26th March 2023).
Joe's Video of an ordinary Sunday Afternoon that became a garden improement session (3.55 mins). Click here to see the gallery (Sunday 26th March 2023).
Our Spring Evening Run photos are now on line.
Joe invited his friend, Alex, to come for a run. He brought two wonderful models with him (Saturday 18th March 2023).
Alex is from Northamptonshire.
Alex ran this stunning, weathered, DJB, coal fired Talgarth...
...And a very impressive Roundhouse Darjeeling 'C' Class.
Joe's video of A Busy Saturday (7:43 mins)
Lyndon joined the session making a busy Saturday run.
A quiet Sunday run but Joel has fun after clearing the snow.
Colin's train on the top track. The bottom track was snowbound..
Eric runs his Jenny through the melting snow (Sunday 12th March 2023).
Dave and crew make sure that the hut is happy before they play trains.
Last month an orgy of vandalism saw our windows smashed along with many others on the site.
Awaiting renewal and with cold weather and snow forecast, a few members got together to make temporary repairs.
Not wishing to waste the day after the repair session, Colin runs his Lilla.
And Tom gives his Edrig a run
The Happy Hut Crew at work. Many thanks to Dave, Tom, Colin and Lyndon. (Sunday 5th March 2023)
Elliot's atmospheric edit of Dave's AGM photo. (Sunday 19th February 2023).
Gareth and family have a Saturday running session. (Saturday 25th February 2023).
Joe's video of the AGM Running Session (3.53)(Sunday 19th February 2023) with some stills at the end. A collection of AGM photos is here.
Elliot's video of Mike's stunning Accucraft Lawley (45 secs).
Joe spends a chilly Saturday double heading his Roundhouse Berties (4:28) (Saturday 11th February 2023).
Colin's atmospheric shot of his beautiful Lady Anne on an extremely cold Sunday (Sunday 22nd January 2023).
Glenis is over the moon about Dave's photo of Long Tail Tits on our Bird Feeder (Wednesday 11th January 2023).
Alan snaps Eric attacking his remote on a quiet Sunday (Sunday 15th January 2023).
Alan's video of A Quiet Sunday (2:16).
Blink and you'll miss it ... Elliot's quite amazing video tutorial on The Art of Coal Firing (in 30 seconds).
Watch out Nigel Town, you've got competition.
Mike and Dave came in to fix the burst pipe and managed a day of running too. (Wednesday 11th January 2023).
More of these photos, in high quality, can also be seen on the BGRA Instagram Page.
Gareth and family have the track to themselves on New Year's Eve (Saturday 31st December 2022).
Gareth's handsome Pearse Countess hauling two beautiful Welshpool and LLanfair Pickering Coaches.
A very detailed model made by Pearse Locomotives in the 1990s, pre-Accucraft.
A Roundhouse Dylan pulling a heavy train.
Gareth's video of his day out.
Very cold Sunday for the Christmas Party (Sunday 11th December 2022).
Alan's video of proceedings (2:22)
Alan's new Santa Train does a full circuit for the Christmas visitors (Sunday 27th November).
First Christmas Trains of the year (Saturday 26th November 2022).
Joe's Christmas Train.
MRT was running Santa Specials and Phil entertained the visitors with his superb Regner Betty.
Dave's Festive wagons.
Ginger Joe took the pictures.
A few short videos edited together by Alan (12th November 2022).
New crossover in action as 32mm and 45mm loops get used while finishing work continues (12/11/2022} Photo by Joe.
Click here to see our latest progress
Mike's Peckett celebrates the Hindu Festival of Colours ? Perhaps (12/11/2022} Photo by Joe.
Eric auditions for Grandpappy Sunshine in a new kids TV Series, "Teletubbies Meet Thomas and Friends". (30/10/2022}
James ran his Silver Jubilee Mamod on a warm sunny Sunday afternoon (16/10/2022}
Preserved HST proving popular with the enthusiasts and an unusual sight at Butterley (16/10/2022}
Smart little Mamod belonging to James, pulling a log wagon and amazingly well on tablets (16/10/2022}
Eric's DUFF BEER train passing the Station (16/10/2022}
James's Accucraft passes his Mamod parked up in the sidings (16/10/2022}
Dave's video edited by Alan
Mike poses his locos on the new Top Station (9/10/2022}
Fun on a Sunny Saturday (8/10/2022}
Upper Track Relay Crew (28/9/2022}
Gareth has a Saturday run with his family (24/9/2022}
Mike has some fun with Thomas (28/8/2022}
Mike invited the 'Tugs' crew to show their Thomas selection during their Open Day
Alan's Video from our Coal Firing and Spirit Firing Day.
24th July 2022
First of two short videos from around 2004/5.
Second of two short videos from around 2004/5.
A fast Mamod
Blue Mamod resting
Brian Dominic's family and friends running his engines at a Memorial Run on Brian's Birthday.
Brian sadly passed away in October 2019.
From happier days, a very well produced video of Brian's Mid Derbyshire Light Railway (12 mins from circa 2013). Well worth a watch. Brian's mdlr.co.uk website is still available online.
Produced by The Railway Channel
The layout being built by Calvin Green in 1990 before the top circuit was even imagined.
Running on the original layout from August 1991 (Photos by Barry Sumsian: SMT 057)
An intersting view showing some construction details and the missing wall art (circa 2003)
Sunday Morning Chat, March 2004
From left to right: Max Bryce (one of the founders of BGRA); David Haynes, Steve Acton, Derek Booth, Barry Firth & Matt Acton
A Selection from Trent Industrial Tramways Society
2011 Gala Day
2012 Gala Day Part 1
2012 Gala Day Part 2
Some old videos rediscovered recently. Produced in 2011 and 2012 by the renowned Trent Industrial Tramways, proprietor Kevin Gregory, known by everyone as Greg.
You might want to visit Greg's YouTube Site
Overview of layout from 2010
2014 Gala Day
Coal firing fun with Nigel on a cold day in 2016.
A visit by The East Midlands Group in 2016
Busy on both loops
Early view of the End Loop circa 2010
Tony preparing a loco