October Running Day 2024
Northcliff Railway will be open on Sunday, 5th October from 13:30-16:00
The clubhouse and tracks will be available for members to run from 11:00
September Visitors Day 2025
Northlcliff Railway will be open to the public on Saturday, 27th September from 13:00-16:30
The clubhouse and tracks will be available for visitors and members to use from 10:00. Please let Russell or Adrian know if you plan to attend so we can arrange the catering.
September Running Day 2025
Northcliff Railway will be open on Sunday, 21st September from 13:30-16:00
The clubhouse and tracks will be available for members to run from 11:00
Calderdale Museum Event
Thursday, 21st & Saturday, 23rd August 2025 (not on Friday, 22nd) at Calderdale Industrial Museum, Square Road, Halifax HX1 1QG
We will have lots of models on display on the museum’s top floor, showcasing what our members get up to in their workshops, as well as a small pond for the remote-controlled boats
August Running Day 2025
Northcliff Railway will be open on Sunday 17th August from 13:30-16:00
The clubhouse and tracks will be available for members to run from 11:00
The Steam Toys & Meccano Show
BMES are supporting the “Friends of Pudsey Roller” at the Leeds Industrial Museum, Armley Mills, Canal Road, LS12 2QF on Sunday, 27th July, 2025.
For more details, please follow this link:
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/whats-on/291//steam-toys-meccano-show
July Running Day *CANCELLED*
Northcliff Railway will be open on Sunday, 20th June from 13:30-16:00
The clubhouse and tracks will be available for members and visitors to run from 11:00
With the heavy rain this weekend we have had to cancel this planned running day.
Rae Gala 2025
Sunday 6th July – 14:00-16:30
Northcliff Railway
Come and join us for our annual celebration of the gift of Northcliff to the people of Shipley.
Frizinghall Models 75th Anniversary Event
Filed under: Portable Events
BMES will exhibit a small range of members’ models in support of Frizinghall Models & Railway’s 75th Anniversary Event at their store at Unit 8A Sapper Jordan Rossi Park, Baildon, Braford, West Yorkshire, BD17 7AX
June Running Day
Northcliff Railway will be open on Sunday, 15th June from 13:30-16:00
The clubhouse and tracks will be available for members and visitors to run from 11:30
The Bradford Challenge 2025
Saturday 7th June 2024, 13:00 – 16:00 at Northcliff Railway
Every year, our members build locomotives that are designed to compete in a time trial around our miniature raised track in Northcliffe Woods, Shipley. This has evolved into “The Bradford Challenge” for which, as a local model engineering society, college or school, you are cordially invited to join.
We believe that this challenge offers an excellent opportunity for your students or members, either individually or in teams, to design and build a bespoke locomotive. Each is an excellent project in mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering, which could be part of a student’s curriculum or just a fun model to make.
Typically, the locomotives are either powered by:
- “Ducted fan(s) or Propellers” or
- “Wheel-driven”
To give as much opportunity as possible and to cater for all levels of expertise and pockets, particularly younger or aspiring engineers, we also run an:
“All-Comers” class
- Incorporating the ‘Junior Section’ for anyone 18 years or younger.
In this entry class, any form of construction and propulsion can be considered, including Lego or Meccano, electric motor or rubber band!
Depending on response & demand, a basic kit of parts, including wheels and an electric motor, can be provided.
For further details and guidelines of all the classes, please see over the page. To see a locomotive’s view of the track, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHcult62ZPY.
For further details and guidelines, please see this leaflet The 2025 Bradford Challenge – Invitation
BMES at Bradford Industrial Museum 2025
Filed under: Exhibitions
Saturday & Sunday 24/25th May 2025
We will have lots of models on display showcasing what our members get up to in their workshops as well as running our 5″ gauge portable track outside and small pond for the remote-controlled boats
.
May Running Day 2025
Northcliff Railway will be open on Sunday, 18th May from 13:30-16:00
The clubhouse and tracks will be available for members and visitors to run from 11:30
An Invitation to KDMES 75th Anniversary Event
Filed under: Meetings, Rail
Keighley & District Model Engineering Society has invited BMES members to their 75th Anniversary Event on Sunday, 4th May at their Marley Fields site.
Any member who wishes to run a 3 1/2″ or 5″ locomotive at Keighley must let them know (contact Adrian for details).
May Meeting
Bits and Pieces Evening
Wednesday 7th May – 19:30 start
St. James’ Church Baildon
Easter Bunny Event 2025
Saturday 19th April – 12:00-15:30
Northcliff Railway
Bring a picnic and meet the Easter Bunny in the top field past the miniature railway. The Easter Bunny will be bouncing around meeting the children, and the miniature railway will be open all afternoon for rides – you might even get to ride the same train as Easter Bunny! Other attractions are to be confirmed.
April Meeting
Bridge 27 Talk by James Barlow, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Wednesday 2nd April – 19:30 start
St. James’ Church Baildon
**January Meeting Cancelled**
Filed under: Recent News
Unfortunately with the snow and ice we have decided to cancel our planned bits n pieces evening on 8th January and our usual Wednesday working party at Northcliff.
We shall reschedule this meeting probably in May where we currently have a gap.
Bradford MES AGM
Wednesday 5th March – Bradford MES AGM
19:45 Start at St. James Church, Baildon
BMES Annual Lunch
BMES ANNUAL LUNCH – 1st NOVEMBER 2024
For all those who have not yet made a reservation for this enjoyable event, please do so now by contacting Yvonne Coppin on 01274 771639 or: yvonnecoppin@blueyonder.co.uk
We have also arranged for an after-lunch speaker to entertain us. The Speaker is Richard Gibbon OBE, who was a Director of the National Railway Museum in York. His talk is titled “It shouldn’t happen to an Engineer” and promises to hold our attention after the lunch.
Payment for the Annual Lunch can now be made at £25 per person and the preferred method is by Bank Transfer. The details are:
Account Name: BradfordMES
Sort code: 40-13-15
Account No: 11164910
Reference: Your Name
As an alternative, cash or card payment is acceptable and may be handed to Russ at any of our meetings or, as a last resort, post a cheque to Russ Coppin.
Visitors Day 2024
Northcliff Railway will be open to the public on Saturday 28th September from 13:00-16:00
The clubhouse and tracks will be available for visitors and members to run from 10:00. Please let Russell know if you are planning to attend so we can sort the catering.
Rae Gala 2024
Sunday 7th July – 14:00-16:30
Northcliff Railway
Come and join us for our annual celebration of the gift of Northcliffe to the people of Shipley.
The Bradford Challenge Competition
Filed under: Rail
Saturday 8th June 2024, 13:00 – 16:00 at Northcliff Railway
An Afternoon of Speed & Fun
Every year, our members build locomotives that are designed to compete in a time trial around our miniature raised track in Northcliff Woods, Shipley. This has evolved into “The Bradford Challenge” for which, as a local model engineering society/college/school, you are cordially invited to join.
We believe that this challenge offers an excellent opportunity for your students/members to design and build a bespoke high-speed locomotive that will compete to see who can circumnavigate the track twice, in the shortest time, whilst staying firmly on the rails!
Each locomotive is an excellent project in mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering, which could be part of a student’s curriculum or just a fun model to make.
To give as much opportunity as possible and to cater for all levels of expertise and pockets, we will split them into three classes of locomotive:
- “Ducted fan(s) or Propellers”
- “Wheel-driven”
- “All-comers”, a class for the innovative or just plain fun locomotive, such as “Shaun the Sheep” on the right:
We would also like to attract young engineers to the modelling world. We plan, therefore, to run a ‘Junior Section’ for anyone 16 years or younger. To help them get started, we will provide a basic kit of parts, including wheels and an electric motor.
For a locomotive’s eye view of our track, please see the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHcult62ZPY
For further details and guidelines, please see this leaflet The Bradford Challenge Invitation – Jan2024
March Social Steam-Up
As we had to cancel our mince pie steam-up due to the weather we are having a social for members and their families at Northcliff Railway on Saturday 23rd March from 11:00-15:00
If you want to bring any nibbles or baking to share that would be great.
Bradford MES AGM 2024
Filed under: Meetings, Recent News
The Annual General Meeting of the Bradford Model Engineering Society will be held on Wednesday 6th March – 19:45 start at St. James’ Church Baildon
If any member would like an item including on the agenda please contact our secretary Laurence Bentley. All committee positions are open to nominations. Please speak to one of our committee if you would like any information about these roles.
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