About Us

Benefits of Membership

Members receive six copies per year of the Society’s magazine TRAMFARE and can place small ads free in the magazine. It has articles of general tramway interest from around the world, as well as on aspects of tramway and light railway modelling. There are also regular features such as “Model Tramway News” mainly concerning modelling in the smaller scales, and reports from the various Area Groups.

If you would like to receive a FREE SAMPLE COPY OF TRAMFARE please fill out the form below:

    Request Free Tramfare Sample

    Members can participate in the various meetings organised by the Society, either nationally or at local Area level, where these have been set up. Meetings allow an exchange of ideas, knowledge and modelling expertise, and life-long friendships can be formed.

    For details of AREA GROUPS click here.

    Members who model in the larger scales can obtain parts through our Model Engineering Supplies service.

    For details of the Parts for Sale click here.

    Members have access to our various archived collections – we have over 1200 drawings, 117000 UK and 24000 foreign photographs, and many books.

    For Details Of Our Archive Click Here

    If you would like to join the society or renew your membership click here.

    A Brief History Of The Society

    This is Richard Elliott’s model of London Transport 1898, an HR2 class tram, which he built in 1932, shortly after the real things entered service:
    This is Richard Elliott’s model of London Transport 1898, an HR2 class tram, which he built in 1932, shortly after the real things entered service.

    The Society was formed in January 1938 by George Jackman, at a time when the future of the tram in Britain was beginning to look bleak. A Royal Commission on Transport in 1931 had declared the tram “obsolescent”, and the London Passenger Transport Board, formed in 1933, had begun to replace its trams by trolleybuses. Although some large city systems were modernising and extending, others, such as Birmingham and Manchester had also embarked on abandonment.

    A number of people were concerned about this and began to campaign on behalf of tramway retention, and these eventually coalesced in 1937 to form a new Society – The Light Railway and Transport League. There were, however, differences of opinion as to what the objectives and strategies of that Society should be, and this led to a split, with what is now the Light Rail Transit Association concentrating on campaigning for tramway retention and modernisation, and the Tramway and Light Railway Society, which catered for a more general interest in tramways, and in particular, modelling.

    To See The Society’s Constitution click here.

    Two early members of the Society were Richard Elliott and Frank Wilson, both of whom were excellent modellers, and it was mainly their influence that established the Society’s predominant scale of ¾ inch to the foot for the larger models. A layout was constructed in this scale and was displayed at Exhibitions for many years from the 1950s onwards, helping to foster interest from the public. A magazine was developed, which continues as “Tramfare”, and an Area organisation was introduced, allowing local meetings to take place. This continues to the present day.

    This is a view of one of the early exhibitions – from 1956 showing models mainly from London but also including one from Llandudno:

    This is a view of one of the early exhibitions – from 1956 showing models mainly from London but also including one from Llandudno:
    One of the early exhibitions in 1956 showing models mainly from London but also including one from Llandudno

    For Details Of Area Meeting Venues Click Here.

    The Society has a Model Engineering Secretary who maintains a store of parts available for large scale modellers, who might otherwise find difficulty sourcing those parts eg motors, gears, wheels, trucksides etc.

    For Details Of The Parts Service Click Here

    One of the aims of the Society is to study and research all facets of Tramways and Light Railways, and to publish the results. Over the years the Society has published a number of books and recently produced a definitive guide to Large Scale Tramway Modelling.

    For Details Of Books Currently Available From The Society Click Here.

    For Details Of The Current Officers Of The Society Click Here

    © 2026 Tramway and Light Railway Society | The TLRS is a registered Charity – No. 272961.
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