Fire destroys model railroad club headquarters

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Mike Hughes - 28 Jul 2010 10:33 GMT

A fire has destroyed Seaboard Southern's headquarters. Based in Crawley,
England, the club's meeting place was one of several wooden log cabin
style huts.

In addition to using the club room to make and prepare layouts for
exhibitions, the club has for many years been constructing a permanent
layout.

On Monday 26 July club members received the news that their building,
along with two others nearby, had been completely destroyed by fire. It
seems the fire started in an adjacent hut and quickly spread to Seaboard
Southern's and one other. Only the prompt call to the fire brigade by an
off duty police officer who was night fishing in the nearby lake
prevented further buildings also being consumed in the fire. At this
stage it is not know whether the fire is due to an accident or possibly
due to arson - there were other fires in the area that night which have
been attributed to arsonists

In the UK it is unusual for a model rail group to have the exclusive
use of a building. Seaboard Southern members were rightly grateful and
proud of the efforts they have made to make their premises into an
American themed model railroad club. They are determined that the club
will continue and are even now exploring regrouping and possible
rebuilding options.

Here are some photos of the club taken in happier times
http://mikehughes627.fotopic.net/c1820629.html

Signature

Mike Hughes
A Taxi driver licensed for London and Brighton
at home in Tarring, West Sussex, England
Interested in American trains real and model?
Look here http://mikehughes627.fotopic.net/

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Lobby Dosser - 29 Jul 2010 05:13 GMT

>A fire has destroyed Seaboard Southern's headquarters. Based in Crawley,
>England, the club's meeting place was one of several wooden log cabin style
>huts.

Very unfortunate! Looks like a well done layout.

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Wolf K - 29 Jul 2010 15:07 GMT

> A fire has destroyed Seaboard Southern's headquarters. Based in Crawley,
> England, the club's meeting place was one of several wooden log cabin
> style huts.

Good looking layout, pity is was destroyed. But if you can rebuild, it
will be better than ever!

wolf k.

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Mike Hughes - 29 Jul 2010 15:17 GMT

>> A fire has destroyed Seaboard Southern's headquarters. Based in Crawley,
>> England, the club's meeting place was one of several wooden log cabin
>> style huts.
>
>Good looking layout, pity is was destroyed. But if you can rebuild, it
>will be better than ever!

Thanks Wolf. The guys are already taking about doing something positive
- even if that means going back a stage and the members making modules.
The only fear is that, as the huts are owned by the council, they may
decide not to rebuild them (they've done this with two other, larger,
huts but that was a few years ago). With the credit squeeze on everyone
is looking to save money.

We shall see what happens

>wolf k.

Signature

Mike Hughes
A Taxi driver licensed for London and Brighton
at home in Tarring, West Sussex, England
Interested in American trains real and model?
Look here http://mikehughes627.fotopic.net/

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Model Forum / General / Railroads / July 2010

Fire destroys model railroad club headquarters