Oswestry and North Shropshire Model Engineering Society

The History

The Society was formed in 1988 by a group of Model Engineers who were attending the Model Engineering evening course run by North Shropshire College. The late Bob Morris tutored the course and was the Society’s President.

A portable track was engineered and used at local schools and fetes by members to raise funds to construct a permanent track. Locomotive power was provided by both petrol and steam locomotives owned by members of the Society.

Oswestry Model Engineering Society has close associations with the Societies of Newtown, Shrewsbury and Wrexham and reciprocal support has been enjoyed at exhibitions and other events.

In 1998 the Oswestry Model Engineering Society was honoured to host the inaugural N.A.M.E (Narrow Gauge Locomotive Efficiency) Trials.

The Society is indebted to the Oswestry Show Committee for allowing use of their land at Oswestry Showground, Park Hall, where our permanent raised track of 5” and 3½” combined gauges has been constructed, in an enjoyable country setting.

The Park Hall track is just over 1/4 mile long in continuous loops with Station, Steaming Bays and Clubhouse. The Society owns its own 5 inch gauge Sweet Pea steam locomotive, built by the members.

In 2015 Oswestry MES and Shrewsbury & DMES amalgamated to form Oswestry and North Shropshire Model Engineering Society and are enjoying the fruits of engagement with various projects underway.