A fire has destroyed Seaboard Southern's headquarters. Based in Crawley, England, the club's meeting place was one of several wooden log cabin style huts.
In addition to using the club room to make and prepare layouts for exhibitions, the club has for many years been constructing a permanent layout.
On Monday 26 July club members received the news that their building, along with two others nearby, had been completely destroyed by fire. It seems the fire started in an adjacent hut and quickly spread to Seaboard Southern's and one other. Only the prompt call to the fire brigade by an off duty police officer who was night fishing in the nearby lake prevented further buildings also being consumed in the fire. At this stage it is not know whether the fire is due to an accident or possibly due to arson - there were other fires in the area that night which have been attributed to arsonists
In the UK it is unusual for a model rail group to have the exclusive use of a building. Seaboard Southern members were rightly grateful and proud of the efforts they have made to make their premises into an American themed model railroad club. They are determined that the club will continue and are even now exploring regrouping and possible rebuilding options.
Here are some photos of the club taken in happier times