The South Cheshire Model Engineering Society was founded in 1968 by five men, each with a strong desire to build and drive live steam locomotives. A site was rented from the Horseshoe Public House, on Newcastle Road, Willaston and a six hundred foot track was built. It was well equipped with signals, steaming bays and a meeting room. The membership grew to around seventy.
In 1990 it was announced that a new main road would be built across the site.
Months of searching produced a second site – owned by Greenalls Brewery. We took over the two and a half acre site in 1991. It had previously been used as a tip for builder’s waste and was far from flat and level. Money was raised from the pockets of members and help in other ways came from various sources. The local Agricultural College prepared and seeded the site. The local Ordnance Factory has threaded thousands of bars for the track and the Cheshire Corn Seed Fund has provided trees and shrubs.
The result is that we have a track almost a quarter of a mile long for 3 1/2″ and 5″ trains with automatic signalling. Our old track has been re-erected within the new track for 2 1/2″, 3 1/2″ and 5″ trains. We have a new pavilion after the original one was damaged in a fire.
In 2017 the club also took out a lease on the “top field” This is where the gauge 1 railway has been built. The gauge 1 railway has undergone extensive rebuilding during this winter. The club will also be adding a 32mm gauge garden railway at some time during 2026
The club has grown its membership to over 110, as there is always something to do on the site. Painting, gardening, truck and loco maintenance ( we have electric and steam locomotives for members to drive)
We have reached out to local communities by organising charity days; we have supported St Lukes Hospice, Nantwich Foodbank, and Air Ambulance charities over the last 3 years.
This year we are supporting Autism Inclusive Crewe ( Sunday 31st May) .
We intend to increase facilities so that we can increase the activities of our Junior Section ( 10 to 16 years). If you are interested in the juniors section, please email secretary@scmes.uk
Please go our Join Us page if you would like more information on becoming a member.