Keighley and District Model Engineering Society has a membership whose common interest is the making, maintaining and running of working models. There are a variety of interests such as clocks and road vehicles, but the main interests are yachts, trains and boats. The skippers have access to Weecher Reservoir on Bingley Moor to sail their craft, and the enginemen have a railway track at Marley Activity and Coaching Centre in Keighley. Boats are sailed on Redcar Tarn (also known as Keighley Tarn) between Keighley and Whitley Head. 

At Weecher there is opportunity for the public to watch the sailing boats, and you will often find people sailing during the summer months on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday afternoons. There are also special events and competitions to test their skills. 

Behind the football pitches at Marley Activity Centre the KDMES members have built a railway track in an oval, giving a running distance of approximately 400m. To make it easier to drive the engines the track is raised off the ground and uses specially built coaches to enable passengers to sit astride the track. During the summer months there are Public open days in the afternoon of the third Sunday in the month, when children and adults are able to ride behind the steam and electric locomotives. We also have special events like birthday parties. 

On Saturday afternoons at Redcar (Keighley) Tarn you will find Scale and Power Boats being sailed by club members. There is a permanent landing stage with pit area and a set course of buoys laid out on the lake. Enthusiastic members sail all year, whatever the weather.

If you would like to be more than just a spectator or passenger at our events then why not join us? Talk to one of the members on your visit, fill in a membership form, or contact via email. The links below will open an email page to the appropriate section secretary.

Membership form. Please print this pdf.

NB All photographs of children taken with the permission of their parent or guardian