Mickleover Model Railway Group

Our history

This first show was as a one-day exhibition on September 18th 1965 with just five small layouts, a film shows and over 1000 people attendees. Admission was 1/t (5p) adults 6d (2½p) children. Three more shows were then held during 1966, 1967 and 1968 as interest in model railways grew.

The club officially formed on the 9th October 1968 due to a rise in requests to join, this resulted in 34 members joining. It was agreed to call the group the St. John's (Mickleover) model railway group with meetings held on alternate Fridays in the church hall, they held an exhibition the following year on the 13th and 14thof September 1969.

The club continued using the church hall, but needed their own dedicated space as using the church hall meant that all the layouts had to be unpacked and then packed away after each meeting with not a lot of running time in-between.

In 1982, the Derby city council wanted to stage a model railway exhibition in the assembly rooms, and with this being the main theatre and exhibition centre in derby and the club were for help – this would go on to be the first of the annual Derby Model Railway Exhibition, which has become one of the premier shows in the country since.

In 1989 an opportunity to lease a part of the old Mickleover school arose, this was a separate building and although a lot of work was needed, the club members dedicated themselves to it and MMRG moved into their very own clubroom in late 1990.

The Club meets on Monday (Building night), Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights from 7pm in the clubroom at the back of Mickleover Community Centre and has running layouts in English OO, N gauge and O gauge. New members are always welcome, so just get in touch if you would like to join.

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