Mainline Rally Application
The Ryedale Society of Model Engineers (RSME) runs rallies for 5 inch gauge locomotives and stock bi-annually at Gilling’s Miniature Railway.
In the spring (mid May) and the summer (mid-late August), two and three day events are run where a dawn-to-dusk timetable is operated for trains of differing stock composition. From express and local passenger trains to goods and minerals trains plus local pickup goods services. Participants have the opportunity to see and take part in a re-creation, at approx 1/12th scale, of the golden age of steam railways.
Applications are invited from drivers and crews of scale model locomotives that ran on BR lines, (not freelance nor private industrials) that are capable of pulling at least two Aristocraft style coaches or more. The locomotives must be reliable as a breakdown on the railway will disrupt the timetable. Breakdowns did happen on the full size railway of course and a failed locomotive will be returned back to shed using prototypical means. (i.e., another locomotive).
The RSME railway is controlled by North Eastern lower quadrant semaphore signals and drivers must observe and strictly obey the signalling. Training and help is freely available for anyone not so familiar with the signals and their meaning. Trains can be heavy, the stock is often worth more than the locomotives so strict discipline is required to avoid damage to models, or even worse – injury to drivers and spectators.
Novices may find that it is helpful to visit and watch a rally or two before applying to run because we don’t want anyone to be intimidated at a first appearance. and a failed engine will be returned back to shed using prototypical means (another engine).. We hope that mainline rallies will get under your skin and become a must for the world of 5” steam railway modelling.
We do have many fine diesel outline (battery electric) models at rallies often with very realistic sound systems.
There is a limited capacity at rallies of approximately 35 locos. Quite a bit of beautiful scale stock is already at Gilling but we need as much as we can get. Applicants are asked to bring whatever they can.
Additionally we need manpower to operate the rallies so applicants are asked to indicate that they are willing to take a turn (or two) in shunting yards, motive power shed duty, gate guarding or whatever. Those determined not to help may not make the cut if we get too many applications.
Remember that, with a steam loco, you must bring a current Boiler Certificate, a club membership card and your club certificate of insurance.
Please also note that locos at rallies must not have ashpans open at the bottom or with holes that burning ash can get through to drop on to our plastic sleepered track. We have suffered significant sleeper damage at recent rallies.