http://www.hmrs.org.uk/museumstudycentre/index.php
A page from the web site of the Historical Model Railway Society.
Sat 5 Jul 2008

Introduction

The idea that the Society should have a permanent headquarters was first mooted many years ago and was to a great extent the brainchild of the then President, George Dow. It was not, however, until 1993 that a site was found at the Midland Railway Centre and firm plans were able to be made.

Construction work was commenced following the cutting of the first sod by the Society’s Vice-President, Gerry Arundel, on 17th March, 1998. By this time the concept of a headquarters had been modified to encompass a number of other purposes; a display area given over to railway history and modelling and open to the general public, a research facility and a suitable storage area where the Society’s extensive archives could be made available in accordance with its charitable status. The vision of our predecessors has now come to fruition.

The cost of the building, approaching half a million pounds, has been completely raised by voluntary donations from Society members and other friends who believed that the resulting facilities for railway research were much needed. All such giving has been carried out anonymously and the Society wishes to record its sincere thanks to all who have given so generously, be their contribution great or small.

The Society is also indebted to the Midland Railway Trust for its unstinting help, particularly through Steve Huson who has worked with the HMRS’ architectural adviser and Vice-President, Alec Boothroyd, to design the building. In the latter stages of fitting out invaluable help and guidance has been provided most willingly by Richard Winter, Small Projects Manager of Baggaley Construction, Mansfield. Without their help and that of a small number of members and non-members who have rallied round to carry out the decorating, this project would not have reached completion.

HMRS Chairman
April 2005

What is there?

The building serves a combination of three purposes; the storage of the Society’s library and archives, facilities for the study of the books and archives, and the public display of models and railway ephemera.

The upper floor is given over to the long-term storage of the archives and is not open to visitors.

The middle floor is a Study Centre with a reading room, archive store, library and administration. Access to this floor is limited to Society members and bona fide researchers by appointment only.

The ground floor contains an exhibition area which will in due course be open to the public at all times that the Midland Railway Centre’s Kirtley Museum is open. A sales area will also be open whenever possible.

The Reading Room

To book time in the Reading Room, the Centre Manager should be contacted to make an appointment.

The first time you visit the Centre you should bring with you your HMRS or other recognized railway history society membership card and one utility bill bearing your name and address as proof of identity.

On arrival you will be asked to sign in and will be issued with a day pass key which will allow you to come and go throughout the time of your visit. This pass must be handed in at the end of your visit.

Bring with you all your stationery needs as none are available for loan or purchase from the Centre. Tea and coffee making facilities are available for a nominal charge. Sandwiches may be consumed in the designated area away from the study tables, otherwise meals may be purchased from the Midland Railway Centre buffet.

Please do not bring cars down to the Centre unless you are disabled.

The Library

Access to the Library is from the Reading Room and is controlled by the member of staff on duty. There are currently some 4,500 volumes on the shelves together with at least as many serials, bound and unbound. Many of these date back many years, are scarce and consequently valuable. Visitors may browse for themselves, but this facility will be under constant review and may be withdrawn should it be abused.

Readers should remove no more than two books from the shelves at any one time without the express permission of the staff member. On taking a book from the shelves a marker card should be inserted into its space so that the volume can be returned from whence it came.

Some of the books are for reference only and must not be removed from the Centre. Others may be loaned for a period of 28 days immediately after which they must be returned in person or by post (postage paid). This facility will also be under constant review and if abused may be withdrawn.

A book page-scanning facility is available at nominal cost and will operate within the limits of the copyright laws.

The Archives

The Society’s archives are stored in a room off the Reading Room and access is restricted to staff members. Visitors wishing to examine the archives will need to state their requirements and the relevant files and/or boxes will be brought to them.

Whilst there are a limited number of three-dimensional artifacts, most are in paper format. These comprise research papers, timetables and other railway company records, the Society’s large photograph collection from which (where the Society holds the copyright) prints may be ordered. Other prints for which the Society does not hold the copyright are available for personal study but not for publication. There is no loan facility for any item in the archives.

If original drawings are required for examination please make this clear when making your appointment so that a person with the appropriate authorisation can be available.

Catalogues

• Library — The entire catalogue is contained on a traditional card index which may be consulted by readers. Much is now availble on-line.
• Archives — Currently on-line, you may search the lists of timetables (1892 entries) and general items (603 entries).
• Photographs — This is currently available in on-line in PDF format for downloading but in the long-term will be transferred to a format compatible with the Library and Archive catalogues.

Computer terminals are available in the Reading Room to enable visitors to consult all the catalogues.

When all the computer systems and databases have been thoroughly tested and all the necessary search facilities implemented, all catalogues will be available for on-line searching through the Society’s website. Latest information will be published in HMRS News.

Other Services

A photocopying service for short extracts from books and serials is available at nominal cost. An indication of your needs should be made either to the Society Librarian (01706 823989) or the Study Centre Manager. This service is limited by the copyright laws.

Some books from the library may be borrowed by post. Please send your request in writing to the Study Centre Manager at the address opposite. Borrowers will be expected to refund the Society the postage costs. Books must be returned promptly at the end of the loan period, postage paid.

Contacts

The Museum and Study Centre has a telephone (01773 745959) however the Study Centre is not continually manned. Messages may be left on the answerphone but may not be listened to for a few days. If your call is urgent please contact the person you need direct using the details provided in the Members’ Directory. Other contact details you may find useful are: Study Centre Manger - 01623 640598 Sales Area Manager - 01623 646764 The postal address of the Centre is: HMRS, Midland Railway-Butterley, Butterley Station, Ripley, DE5 3QZ

To contact a manager for more information,
click on the appropriate button below.

How to get there

The Centre is at Butterley on the B6179, one mile North of Ripley in Derbyshire.

By train to Derby and then bus 91 or 92, or to Alfreton and then bus 91, 92 or 93 to Butterley Station: then Midland Railway Trust train or walk to Swanwick Junction. 
Bus times may be checked on the Derbyshire Journey Planner. The Midland Railway timetable gives details of their services.

Further details, including travel by road, are on our "How to get there" page or on the Midland Railway Centre web site.