Longtime member Norman Austin has donated his archive from over 25 years of service to BGRA. This includes over 200 photographs from the early decades of our railway.
Unfortunately we know very little detail about what the photos show. People, events and interesting views of our club are there but it's hard to work it out after so many years.
Please don't attempt to say something on every photo but just add comments to images that you think you an help us with.
We will use the information that we collect to make a history section on our website, make videos or other media to promote interest in our club and hopefully increase our membership as well as keeping a permanent record of BGRA.
Clicking on a SUBMIT FEEDBACK button will open a prepared email with your feedback. At this stage you can edit the email as you wish.
Please don't alter the SUBJECT or we will have difficulty in matching your feedback with the image in question.
Don Butterell's Newsletter article from 2020
On the 30th September 1990 the official opening ceremony of the BGRA was performed by Peter Dowd in the presence of the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Ripley. At the time the BGRA was closely associated with the fledgling 16mm Society and Peter was one of it’s founder members. He was invited in his role as Assistant to the Rajah of Mogok (a role he played in keeping with his home layout, Mogok Ruby Mines Railway) and he dressed appropriately and presented the Association with the Burmese elephant (seen at the back of the layout) which is still in use as a public donations bowl.
In the opening day picture are founder members of the BGRA Calvin Green, David Haynes, Peter Dowd and Tad Jay. Other early members were David Halfpenny, Norman Austin and Keith Johnson.
The original building work was organised by another founder, Ernie Taylor who used a voluntary group to help build it. The first blocks were laid in 1989. In the picture below are Max Bryce (supervising), Calvin Green cementing, Tad Jay (in high vis) and Ernie Taylor. David Halfpenny (not pictured) was instrumental in advertising and recruiting new members to the early BGRA.
The layout was on one level, with firstly a dual gauge circuit, then a 32mm track was added and a station “Rother Valley Halt”.
In those days many of the wives were in regular attendance and good crowds were attracted
In 1995 the 16mm Association held their Annual summer/autumn convention at Butterley, “hosted by Butterley Garden Railway Association” how things have changed!
I am grateful to our President, David Haynes for his input and ex secretary Norman Austin for the photos in this look back at the early days of the BGRA, long may it continue.
Sep 29, 2020