5 and 7 1/4″ Ground Level Track

Over the years a number of members have assisted in building approx a third of a mile dual gauge track. It uses both 20mm and 25mm by 10mm black mild steel bar for the rail with a good proportion resting on recycled plastic sleepers. There is an ongoing task to replace the previous wood sleepers with the recycled plastic ones.

The route consists of a small oval near the Clubhouse and garden area with points which enable access to a large loop down the side of an all weather football pitch

The WADMES club owns two locos, one is a steam driven 7 ¼” gauge 0-4-0 Wren and the other is a 7 ¼” gauge petrol / hydraulic Knight. Both are capable of reasonable passenger hauling duties and are used on site and also at a variety of fetes and events for fund raising. Any club member can use these locos as long as they  have been trained as appropriate.

Club members have a variety of their own locomotives.  These range from 5” gauge electric to larger 7 ¼” electric passenger haulers. There are also a number of both 5” and 7 ¼” gauge steam locomotives both standard gauge and narrow gauge outlines.

The track has a number of quite sharp radii / curves so it is always worth checking first before assuming it will cope with your model. We provisionally set running days as the first and third Saturdays of the month but this is not set in stone and also depends on other priorities, Steam Rallies and other events. Again, it is always best to check first before any long journeys to visit us.

The Budmouth College club also has three 7 ¼” electric locos that the students operate and maintain as part of their club. The school club share the facilities with the WADMES club both having contributed to the financial costs of the track.