The IWMES Club History, 1934 to 2025
The club was formed in October 1934 with 30 members, and during the first meeting they agreed the club’s current name. Member’s interests included Rail, Aircraft and Boat modelling. They quickly organised monthly meetings, with guest speakers, visits to local companies, and an annual exhibition. The exhibition and member’s subscriptions were the main income. Other activities included aircraft flying competitions at Somerton Airport (Cowes) and boating on the East Medina Mill Pond. The club activities were suspended in July 1940 for the duration of the WW2, and restarted in October 1945 with monthly meetings, annual exhibitions, visits to local companies of interest aircraft flying at the Cowes Airport and boats. In 1947 they joined the Federation of Southern Model Engineering Societies (FSMES), adopted a set of club rules and took out club insurance.
1949 the club proposed a permanent track at Cowes Airport, and work started on its construction. In 1951 the track location at Cowes Airport was brought into doubt due to the airport being sold. They held their first loco trials at Chichester MES, and started providing rides using the club’s portable track at local events.
Boating started using St Mary’s Hospital pond, and there was the first mention of the Vectimod magazine. In 1963 they were given permission to use the canoe lake in Sandown. In 1968, with the collapse of the RMYC, they were also given permission to use the Ryde canoe lake for power boats, where a regatta was held in 1969.
In 1956 the current site of the club at Northfield (Broadfields) was identified as a possible club site, it was later purchased in 1957. This was also the year when it was agreed to have club Trustees, elected at the AGM, and the pavilion on the site was moved to its current location and eventually became shed 1. The club activities continued, as in previous years, with monthly meetings, visits to interesting places, guest speakers, portable track events at locations around the Island, an annual social event and annual exhibitions continued each year, except in 1966.
The Broadfield site was fenced in 1958, and they agreed the construction parameters of a track which was to cater for 5”, 3¼” and 2½” gauges, with a minimum of 3’ clearance from the site boundary and steaming bays located near the pavilion (shed 1). The track sections were built in John De Banks shed, and the position of the track supports were marked in 1962. Ron Groundsell passed away in 1962 donating all his workshop equipment, and contents, to the club. His loco, unfinished models and tools were bequeathed to the society.
Working parties were organised on Saturdays and Sundays during 1962. This resulting in 280ft of track supports and 250ft track being built. Access to the site was over a removable wooden level crossing. In 1963 an electricity supply to the pavilion (No 1 Shed) was installed. By May 1964 the track was finished and the first track day held on the 10th May. Also, in this year the first club boiler inspectors were appointed, and a boiler test code written. The track started to be used regularly on Sundays during the summer. In 1965 the club purchased a new hut and planning permission was granted in 1966.
In 1966 the club decided that the club members should take a trip over the remaining Island railways prior to the closure of the Cowes – Newport – Ryde lines, this was done on Sunday 20th February. The club also held their first Rally on 1st May 1966, and investigated the acquisition of the land adjoining the Broadfields site. This was agreed at the end of 1968, and planning permission was granted to extend track. At this time the club held Open Days which included giving rides to the public.
In 1969 the need for 6 additional passenger trollies was identified. Ajax’s chassis was extended to its current design, and need for a Prefab to act as a club hut was identified. The track was extended in 1971, including a chicane around a tree at the east end of the site, and the new passenger trollies completed. In 1972 the track was lifted, repainted and relayed with wooden sleepers and was completed in 1974. The track improvements included a new traverser and steaming bays. In 1974 it was decided to modify the track, removing the chicane. Work was started on digging cuttings for the new track layout. The modifications included the provision of a water tower, and a tunnel made from an air raid shelter.
Prefab buildings in Cowes became available during 1975, and one was purchased in 1976. Planning permission was granted and the building was completed in 1977. The club activities continued as in previous years with the last exhibition held in 1976. These were replaced with weekend ‘at home’ exhibitions, open days and pond activities in 1977. These were well attended, and replaced the income received in previous years from exhibitions.
The extra land at Broadfields enabled a boat pond to be built in 1976, which began to be used for regattas in 1977. The pond was used throughout the summer months. It was so busy in 1983 that they started having separate weekends for power boats and yachts. In 1994 work started on the reconfiguration of the pond with a new liner. Over the years the pond facilities have been improved with the installation of the raised platform in 2006. In 2009 the pond was emptied, the base dug out to increase the pond depth. A new liner was fitted and the pond refilled along with a second-hand filter system, which was completed in 2010. In 2018 a boat shed was provided for storage of boats and other pond related items.
In 1980 Open Days were moved from Sunday to Saturday. It was also the first year that Open Days were held at Easter, which was extended to running all day on Easter Saturday and Sunday in 1982. 1984 was our Jubilee year, when we held a special exhibition, to celebrate the event. During 1985 exhibitions were replaced with Open Days. This being seen as the way forward, to provide income for the club. The first driving skills trial was held, along with the first annual Don Young rally. The Don Young Rally become the annual Loco Rally which continued until 2015. Level crossing gates were added, and the entrance gate and track fencing improved.
The Vectimod logo with a map of the Island was revived in 1987. In 1990 the RLT was realigned again. The tunnel was extended, with portals added in the following years to be completed in 1993. The first footbridge was built, and car parking was provided on the Broadfields access road.
The club attended the Garlic Festival and Havenstreet Steam Show with the portable track for the first time in 1991, this continued until 2019. In 1992 Salters Halt was moved to allow the new steaming bays, and traverser, to be located to their current position, next to the Prefab.
1994 was the clubs 60th Anniversary Year, with a Rally and exhibition. The event was a well-attended with fireworks at the end of the day. This year also saw a sample of the 7 ¼” gauge GLT track built and new entrance gates built. In 1995 the RLT was redesigned again with work starting in 1996, to be completed in 1997, ready for the 13th IW Loco Rally. Super Simplex was completed in this year. The site was improved in 1998 with improvements to the footbridge, and a new drawbridge. Planning permission was granted for the carriage shed and the Ground Level Track. The year also saw the start of Wednesday afternoon passenger hauling during the school holidays.
The GLT circuit was completed in 1999, with the turntable added in 2000. The club website was launched later in the same year. The site was landscaped and we were donated a ride on mower. In 2002 the building next to the tunnel was completed with double doors to provide workshop and storage area. The adjacent loco storage shed was completed in 2004, with the hydraulic lift added in 2007. The battery charging shed was added in 2009 giving extra the extra safety for charging various lead acid type batteries. The GLT level crossing gates were added in 2012 along with chestnut fencing around the public grass area. In 2014 Mitchell’s Shed was added to house the ride on mower. In 2015 two Portaloo toilets were purchased. These were refurbished in 2017, with a Disabled Portaloo replacing one of the older ones in 2024.
An asthmatic club loco, Hercules, was purchased in 2018. In 2020 Hercules was fully repaired, and repainted in SR colours. Jo’s Tea Hut was added in 2020, to provide refreshments for working members on Open Afternoons. An additional GLT coach shed was added in 2023, with a new ride-in GLT coach added in 2025.
During 2020 we had the first covid-19 lockdown, which stopped all club activities. Later, when restrictions were relaxed, the overgrown club grounds were cleared back to their pre-covid state. In 2021 we restarted holding Open Days, with some restrictions still in place. In 2022 we held an exhibition and Open weekend which was very successful to get the club back to normal with monthly Open Days and a return of Wednesday Open Days in August in 2025.
The first portable garden railway was extended and made permanent during 2005. To separate it from the public a hedge was planted in 2010, to be replaced with a picket fence in 2022. Over the years the 2 tracks have been modified and improved to provide the current layouts, this is a never-ending task!