User menu

North West Group

Since 2004, a small group of L&B members in the Lancashire/Cheshire area, including the conurbations of Liverpool and Manchester, with a common interest in supporting the L&B Trust and spreading knowledge about the line, have got together informally to organise events.

Compared to some other local L&B groups, we have comparatively few members - about 60 within reasonable travelling distance. During that time, we have tried different forms of activity. We have held informal discussion meetings over tea and cake in people’s homes, we organised a few evening lectures on the L&B and related narrow gauge topics at a room over a pub in Stockport, and we have arranged visits to local preserved railways. Thanks to the kindness of Paul Lewin, General Manager of the Ffestiniog Railway (and a keen L&B member), we had a guided tour of Boston Lodge works, and a chance to inspect progress on “Lyd” the L&B replica loco being built there.

We tried to arrange a weekend of volunteering in Devon as a group, but the logistics of arranging travel over such a distance and accommodation, made it too difficult.

From our local members, we can usually get 10-12 to attend an evening meeting.When we advertised evening lectures locally, we got 12-25 people (including some non-members and friends of members).

We raise funds for the L&B Trust by sales of products produced by members, such as the Photo Database CD and Index to L&B Magazines.

We have had most success providing an L&B Display Stand and Sales Table at a variety of local model railway exhibitions, to promote knowledge of the L&B line, and to generate interest from potential new members.

We have put together a professional-looking display stand, and we hold some stock of L&B-related books and gifts from the shop at Woody Bay to sell to visitors. Usually, we also provide an L&B model – part of a member’s layout, or perhaps a 16mm scale live steam loco – as a focal point.

From our current stalwart volunteers, we can provide a rota to man our stand at exhibitions, with each person only committed to a half-day, or one day’s attendance. We generally do about two or three such exhibitions per year, and could do more, or tour around different exhibitions, with only a small amount of extra volunteer effort.


Our membership covers a wide age range.Inevitably, the younger members have jobs and families, and their free time is limited.The retired members are enthusiastic supporters, but are sometimes reluctant to take on an organising role.

Our costs are minimal, using Email for correspondence wherever possible, so we do not charge our members to participate in the NW Area Group, nor do we make any financial demands on the L&B Trust or Railway Company.Our activities are supported by occasional donations (in cash or in kind) from individual members.

Anyone (current L&B member or not) in the North West is most welcome to make contact, and find out about events.Even better, we would like to hear from anyone who would be willing to help organise future events.

Get in touch. - you will be most welcome!


News, Stories and Forthcoming Events for the North West Group

L&B North West Group in Wigan 30 September / 1 October 2017

Sep
14
2017

The L&B will have a display and sales stand, with a working L&B model layout, at the Wigan Finescale Modellers Exhibition on Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October 2017.

This is probably the largest and most prestigious exhibition in the North West, with a large number of visitors.

Unfortunately, following a change of the show date, this clashes with the L&B Gala at Woody Bay, and the entry into service of the 762 Club’s Lyn.

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

North West Group at Garden Railway Show, Stafford

May
21
2017

Whilst the L&B Gala was in full swing at Woody Bay on Sunday 14 May 2017, the L&B North West Group were manning their usual stand at the annual Garden Railway Show organised by the G Scale Society at Stafford County Showground.

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

A ‘Virtual’ Speaker for the North West Group

Apr
09
2017

L&B members scattered around the country usually read of the latest land purchase or rolling stock development in the Magazine, whilst many of them also get more frequent updates via our topical website.  But we do not always get a true impression of the sheer quantity of work, and the complex planning, that is behind the announcement of each small piece of the jigsaw of rebuilding the railway falling into place.

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

NWAG Meeting – Saturday 8th April 2017

Apr
08
2017

The next meeting of the North West group of the L&B will take place on Saturday 8th April 2017 at our usual venue, the Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS, from 1400 to 1600.

We intend that the middle hour or so of the meeting will be a Skype video link with L&B Company Director and longstanding L&B historian Keith Vingoe, who has kindly agreed to update us, from his home in deepest Cornwall.

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

NWAG at the 009 Society Narrow Gauge Model Railway Show, Rainford, 1 April 2017

Apr
03
2017

The North West group of the Lynton & Barnstaple were invited back to this biennial show, which is organised to coincide with the 009 Society’s AGM when it visits the north. We had attended once previously, in 2015. The AGM draws narrow gauge enthusiasts from all over the country, in addition to the local visitors, making for a busy day, but with a lot of interest in the L&B.

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

North West Group events - 1st and 8th April 2017

Mar
28
2017

The North West group of the L&B will have a display / sales stand and a working model layout depicting Chelfham viaduct and station, at the following event:

Narrow Gauge Model Railway Show
All Saints Parish Hall and Rainford Village Hall
Rainford
Nr St Helens
Merseyside
WA11 8HE

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

North West Group News and Dates for 2017

Feb
09
2017

In 2016, the NW group arranged a successful programme of events, including:

• Two afternoon meetings in Central Manchester
• A stand at two exhibitions, in Stafford and Wallasey
• A visit to Alan Keef’s Open Day to view progress with Lyn
• Three talks about the L&B, given to local groups of the Talyllyn and RCTS, and to members of Manchester Model Railway Society

Also, publicity was given to the L&B in an article published in the December 2016 issue of the 009 Society magazine “009 News”.

So, what are our plans for 2017?

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

NWAG has a Busy Weekend

Oct
31
2016

The North West Area Group has had a busy weekend!

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

NWAG - Two L&B Talks in One Week!

Oct
16
2016

The North West Group of the L&B is often asked to give talks to local groups from time to time, and the past week has seen two such talks to different societies, by two different speakers!

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

North West Group Goes Down Under 11 June 2016

Jun
14
2016

Members of the North West Group braved torrential rain to meet in Central Manchester on Saturday 11 June 2016, to hear local member Peter Ainley describe the narrow gauge railways he saw during a recent visit to family in Australia, and to watch his videos of trips on three separate lines.

Posted By Bob Barnard read more

Pages

Corporate Supporters - Where to Stay

The Denes Fox and Goose Highfield House Lynton Cottage Moorlands North Cliff Sinai House