The Club exists to operate a ’00’ gauge model railway based on prototypical British railway practice 1948 to 1964.

Meetings are monthly on a Sunday, we operate in all weathers. Please see our operating dates page to see the future planned dates for our meetings.

At meetings we operate the railway according to a timetable based on real time. Let your favourite locomotives stretch their legs with a full length train! There are 11 stations and trains are signalled between stations using bell codes based on BR practise.

The emphasis at Rusper MRC is on the operation of the railway. The club owns over 100 steam and diesel locomotives no stock is held on club premises.

We don’t spend club time building locos, rolling stock or scenery but club members are perfectly free ot run their own stock provided it fits our period British railways 1948 to 1964, runs well and has compatible couplings at both ends.

So, if you are unsure about modelling, don’t have the time to build a complete layout or simply cant be bothered, you can relax and enjoy Rusper MRC because we have already done all the work.

And if you are fed up with the small size of a loft or spare room we have the answer. There are about 4 scale miles of main and branch lines with stations, goods yards, carriage sidings and loco depots spread over an area of around 200 SqM!

At each terminus, locos are stored in the MPD and operating turntables are used to back the engine onto its train. The club has over 100 steam era locomotives, early diesels and DMU’s. We have many carriages and wagons – there are 2 Pullman sets, 7 main line carriage sets, another 5 local passenger trains, 7 set goods trains ans numerous other wagons for timetabled goods trains.

Although emphasis is on the operation, club members are encouraged to make buildings and create scenery for the railway. Members can work on projects for the station where they are currently operating, either alone or with the help of other members.

We use the coloured pin system to indicate the destination of wagons on local pick up goods trains.

When the goods train arrives any wagons for that station must be shunted out and wagons with pins for stations on the train’s route must be coupled up. All between signalling local and express passenger trains!

Rusper is an open and friendly model railway club with members that have a wide range of knowledge and experience of railway related topics. Visitors are often surprised at the size and complexity of our railway with older members always ready to lend a hand and ‘buddy up’ so it doesn’t take long for a new member to be able to operate a station alone.

Outside track sections join up the stations in each shed

Here a passenger train enters shed 4 from Glovers lane station in shed 3.

Covers are placed over the outide sections to protect the trains and the track from inclement weather.

There are several timetables, covering both busy peak times and quieter nights. Engineering work and other issues can occur, which means that signalmen must keep alert!

Club members can bring their own locomotives, either steam or diesel provided they are pass by the locomotive superintendent as good runners and they are for our period 1948- 1964.

Rusper Model Railway Club owns a large number of steam, diesel and electric motive power to operate the extensive layout. None of the locomotives are stored on-site but held at home by various club members and brought along to each operating session.