These guidelines are to ensure maximum safety, maximum reliability and maximum fun. Inevitably, they look restrictive and forbidding, but they’re mostly no more than common sense. If you are running on an Association layout or on someone else’s garden line please keep them in mind.

If you are in charge of a steam loco, it’s your responsibility to ensure that it’s both safe and reliable.

If your kit includes containers of meths, gas and any other potentially dangerous substances, make sure that the containers are secure, well packed and clearly labelled.

Always run your trains with the utmost consideration for others; breakneck speeds, trains left unsupervised and stationary locos and stock left on running lines can all lead to collisions and damage.

Never put a loco or stock on a main running line unless you intend to run it properly. Short test runs and photocalls are better organised away from main lines

If you are using radio control always fly the proper flag on your transmitter aerial and always check for other members who may be on the same frequency as you.

Do not pick up, turn over, fiddle with or move anybody else’s loco or piece of rolling stock without checking with the owner. Not only is it bad manners, it may be collapsible or worse still hot!

If you are attending a garden meeting, the golden rule is: -follow the requirements of the host. It’s their event and they have every right to run it the way they want to. If the invitation says no toddlers or no animals, don’t turn up with half a nursery school and three great Danes.

If you are going to a garden meeting, phone first, and preferably with a couple of days notice.

If there is a running roster, use it and use it sensibly, don’t put yourself down for more than a reasonable number of runs. Remember that other members may not yet have arrived, and will appreciate a chance to run when they do.

The host’s arrangements for firing and steaming up must be adhered to.

Remember you are a guest in someone else’s garden as well as someone else’s railway, treat both of them with courtesy and respect.

If you are running at an event where members of the general public are present, always remember that you are representing not only the Association but also the whole railway modelling fraternity. A public show is not a place for irresponsibility or amateurish behaviour.

If you plan to run at a public event, your loco should be a tried and reliable one and you should be completely familiar with its operation. Even during slack periods, public exhibitions are not the places for test runs and faultfinding exercises.

If the organiser of the Association stand at a public event has appointed a track marshal, then his word is law. If you disagree with something the track marshal asks you to do, do it anyway.

Only people immediately concerned with running or preparing trains should be inside the layout.

There shall be no smoking inside the layout.

Familiarise yourself with the arrangements for steaming up, and stick to them. Lighting up a steam loco is potentially a very dangerous activity, care and consideration for other members is vital. Before you begin to prepare your loco make sure you know where the layout’s extinguisher is kept and how to use it.

If (as is almost always the case) a running roster is in operation, use it and obey it. Never, for any reason, put a loco or a piece of stock on the layout if it isn’t your booked running period.

Once you have a running period, it is your responsibility to be ready with your train at the proper time. You should know how long you loco takes to prepare, there is no excuse for not being ready.

At your booked time, check with the track marshal before running. If the layout is being operated with more than one engine in steam in each period, liase with the other drivers during the run. Good sense and cooperation are necessary if both of you are to enjoy yourselves and also present a good image to the general public.

Always drive your trains at realistic speeds and in a reasonable manner, continuous running can be varied with the odd (short) station stop. If a particular piece of stock is troublesome, remove it and forget about it until your running period is over. Do not stop everything and get your toolbox out.

Similarly, if your loco gets into major difficulties, remove the entire train and let other drivers continue the show.

If you have to refuel your loco during a running session always do so as far away from the general public as possible, and with the utmost care. If possible, remove the loco to the steam up area and refuel there. Under no circumstances should a loco be refuelled on the main running lines.

Bring only one full gas canister to the event and leave the part used one at home. Store the canisters in the open around the layout; remember that concentrated gas is far more dangerous. Today’s Health and Safety laws may seem to be very restrictive but they are there for a purpose, to protect everyone. Think safety at all times. Layout owners, particularly those with portable layouts, should think seriously in terms of writing a Risk Assessment and equip themselves with a suitable set of fire extinguishers and/or fire blankets.

At the end of your booked time, check with the track marshal about leaving the running lines. If the next runner isn’t ready (perhaps he wasn’t as efficient with his steaming-up as you undoubtedly were) you may be asked to fill for a short time. When you have left the track, see to your loco and stock and leave the layout.

Most Association layouts provide siding space for simple display. Don’t park locos and stock on running loops or on the layout baseboards. At big events, additional display space may be available.

Don’t use the layout as a table, tools, equipment and cups (empty or otherwise) belong in other places.

Be sensible about where you stow things inside the layout, loco and stock boxes, loose tools and their boxes can easily get in other people way if they are left lying around. Be particularly careful about containers of gas and meths.

Always remember that at a public event you are not primarily running trains for your own amusement. You are a performer giving a show to a paying audience. They have a right to expect the show to be a good one.

The track marshal’s job is not an easy one. His word is law and his position powerful----but it should not be abused. He is responsible for ensuring that all the points listed above are maintained, and firmness and tact are needed in equal amounts. He should be instantly recognisable---A badge might be a good idea.

On an exhibition layout something should be happening at all times. A battery engine and train should be kept ready in reserve at all times to fill any gaps.

If the event is large enough (and if someone suitable can be found and coerced) a clearly identifiable representative whose sole responsibility is answering the public’s questions can profitably be stationed inside the layout.

Steaming up areas is always of great interest to the general public, if possible they should be sited somewhere safe but still visible to onlookers. Safety considerations must however be paramount.

Track marshals are responsible for appointing a deputy or deputies in their absence.

Always remember that a public show is for the public. If a separate person is not available, then the track marshal is the most obvious person to represent the Association, and this must be added to his duties. Nothing looks worse at a public exhibition than a self-absorbed group of operators who ignore the public completely.