Community

25 June, 2023

Train club shunted out

A MODEL railway club is running out of steam and may be derailed if members cannot find somewhere to store and show their amazing displays. The Cairns Model Railway Club must leave its donated site at the Raintrees shopping centre so the Australian Electoral Commission (see sidebar story) can set up a base for its referendum polling operations. Club president John King said the club was urgently seeking another place for their model train layouts. “This has thrown our club into turmoil because we went through the same exercise about nine months ago with very little success,” he said. “Fortunately, Raintrees came to the rescue, but our tenure has been cut short there as well. “The club has a few weeks to find a new home, but we’re hoping to find somewhere permanent. “Shifting the layouts will be a costly and time-consuming process where the fragile models and scenery can be easily damaged. “Ideally, the club seeks a partnership with another club that has some spare space, or possibly a tourist-oriented organisation that can combine the club’s assets with their own facilities to help promote tourism. “The club needs about 150 to 200sqm to develop and expand the existing displays and other tems which are currently in storage due to space restrictions at Raintrees. “The club must vacate the shop by late July, but it will continue to hold tours until the removal activities begin.” The club fosters all forms of model railroading and model-making, has five layouts and a growing membership (35), ranging in age from 8 to 80-plus years. The layouts include a spectacular German-built computerised system with four tiers, including a town, a mountain village and tunnels, donated by The Bush Tucker Man Les Hiddins. It is worth an estimated $80,000. The club layout is the biggest and longest with about 100m of rail track and is work in progress while another smaller one is a replica of the Kuranda railway at Stoney Creek. “The Raintrees clubrooms have been open to the public, with free guided tours being offered on most afternoons,” Mr King said. He said about 50-60 people visited a week but in the right setting that could grow to 200-300. “Given the right circumstances and location, if the model railway and associated displays can find a permanent home, it will continue to attract people to visit one of the largest collections of models north of Brisbane.”

By Nick Dalton

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