What is the CMRA?

The Chiltern Model Railway Association (CMRA) was founded by a small group of local model railway clubs (centred around Hertfordshire, England) in 1965 to facilitate the avoidance of clashes of exhibition dates, provide a means of communication between the clubs and encourage mutual support. Its aims are best summarised in the key phrase "to encourage and promote the model railway hobby".

Since that date the Association has gradually expanded. Now with approximately one hundred and thirty member organisations, the Association covers a large portion of England. The membership includes a number of national "scale/gauge", company and nationality interest groups. In all, the Association can be said to represent over nine thousand individual modellers.

The range of services offered to member organisations has expanded over the years and now includes exhibition insurance, loan of exhibition equipment, exhibition diary, layout register, guidelines for running exhibitions, modellers workshops and seminars.

The Association also organises the prestigious St Albans Model Railway Exhibition which is now held on the first weekend of January each year where the dates are in double figures. The show features over 20 high quality layouts and is attended by well known specialist members of the trade.

Membership is open to any bona fide organisation with an interest in the hobby (for further details contact our Chairman, of whom details are on the contacts & links page). Please note membership is not open to individuals, also applications for membership are vetted by an applications committee of whom the majority are not members of the Association's Policy or Management Committees.

CMRA Ltd

For many years the Association was organised as an informal non statutory body. However the increasing scope of operations and the issues affecting it eventually made it logical to form a company limited by guarantee - CMRA Ltd.

Our company registration number is 3340950 and our company registered office is at: 8 Ffolkes Place, Runcton Holme, KING'S LYNN, Norfolk PE33 0AH.

The shares are "owned" by the membership for the time being which elects the Company Directors. The Company Directors form the Policy Committee of the Association and are the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Association Secretary, Treasurer, Exhibition Manager and up to two other people. Formal accounts are prepared in the Company's name and registered at Companies House annually.