SAFFRON Walden Model Railway Club’s headquarters has been moved on.

After 30 years at Audley End Miniature Railway the Mk1 carriage was transported to a new home at the Epping and Ongar Railway on Tuesday.

As featured in the Reporter in February the club had been given a three-month deadline to remove the carriage and find new premises.

After several options were considered, the Epping and Ongar Railway got in touch with the club and offered a new home for the carriage.

Club secretary Richard Davies said: “We are pleased that the carriage has found a new home and that it will be fully restored to running condition and we hope by the end of this year it will be carrying passengers once again in Essex.”

The carriage was carried by a specialist vehicle from Audley End and into Saffron Walden where it made a bemusing sight to shoppers.

It continued its journey via Stumps Cross onto the M11 and south to North Weald where it was unloaded straight onto the tracks.

We are particularly grateful to Simon Hanney, general manager at the Epping and Ongar Railway who organised the move,” added Mr Davies.

Meanwhile, the club is still on the lookout for new premises. In the short term it will be meeting at one of the meeting rooms at the Methodist Church in Saffron Walden.

But as club treasurer Julian Nettle explains, it needs a longer term home.

“We are investigating the purchase of a jack-legged portacabin to act as the club’s headquarters for the future,” he said.

“Obviously the only thing we need is a place to locate it. We would be glad to hear from any businesses, farms or local residents who may have some space that we could utilise.”

Anyone who may be able to help can contact Mr Nettle on 01799 521029 or e-mail julian.nettle@btopenworld.com