The Engine Shed in Reading is having its Christmas session on Saturday 14 December!
Free to attend, no need to book.
Join us at 12b Southview Park, Reading RG4 5AF for some festive fun to round off the year!
Some of the Reading group may remember Tom Stephenson who flew into Reading from Seattle in 2020 and donated his bespoke handmade and carved track and layouts which are a firm favourite with the group. On 10th October Tom and his wife Annette ‘dropped by’ to donate the most beautiful handmade layout we have EVER seen. The pictures do not do the layout justice; the attention to detail is amazing.
Tom, an engineer, found us on the internet about five years ago, and decided he would support us with his layouts from 6,000 miles away. He has now dropped by twice with his handmade play resources. It was quite emotional watching him unpack this work of art for our Engine Shed family. What a world 
We had two great summer trips this year – to Lord McAlpine’s estate at Fawley Hill, near Henley, and to the High Wycombe Model Engineering Society. Thank you to both organisations for looking after us, and for making us feel so welcome. We had lots of train rides, and many cups of tea.
Train rides on a very hot day at the Fawley Hill Estate, August 2024
Lunch and train rides at Holmer Green, near High Wycombe, August 2024
We are having a fundraising Open Day on Wednesday 10 April for the general public, of all ages! Come and play on our fantastic layouts – Hornby, G gauge and others. £5 entry. Refreshments available.
Timing 10 am to 3pm. Venue: Engine Shed Unit, 12b Southview Park, Caversham RG4 5AF
Free Parking outside or in the neighbouring streets for two hours.
We are so pleased to receive a grant of £6,000 from the Postcode Society Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The grant will help with rental and utility costs at our new home in Reading. Here our layouts are permanently on display and we will be able to run more sessions throughout the month. Contact us if you would like to volunteer at our new space in Reading.
More information on the grant funder and their activities can be found here: www.postcodesocietytrust.org.uk and People Postcode Lottery www.postcodelottery.co.uk
From Saturday 30 September, the Reading Engine Shed will be meeting at its new home:
12B Southview Park, off Marsack Street, Caversham, Reading RG4 5AF
This venue replaces the old venue at Katesgrove Children’s Centre.
At our new venue in Southview Park we will have new times for different age groups.
NO NEED TO BOOK, JUST TURN UP.. There is some parking outside the door and two hour free parking in the neighbouring streets.
The first week of the summer holidays has started well with the Reading group organising two wonderful train trips – one to Pinewood Miniature Railway and the other to Fawley Hill, entertaining over 70 people at both events. We are grateful to the team of volunteers at both railways for delivering such a wonderful visitor experience.
August is looking exciting with trips to High Wycombe and to Great Cockrow Railway planned. For more info on trips please email mail@theengineshed.org.uk.
After a couple of years of fundraising we have been able to buy a mini-bus/van to transport people and trains! This will enable us to hold further pop-up train sessions, as well as to take groups of Engine Shed train enthusiasts on days out. We look forward to a fun-filled summer….
We are grateful to the many funders and some individuals who helped us with this significant purchase. They include Earley Charity, Shanly Foundation, Mobbs Memorial Trust, Awards For All, The Cresswell family, Reading Lions, The John Sykes Foundation, Rotary Club Reading Abbey and others. We plan to detail the names of funders on the side of the vehicle.
Thank you to everyone who has helped us with this wonderful asset which will make our activities much more accessible.
