Born in the late 1970's out of an idea to form a society to further the aims of those with an interest of model engineering. What an honour, what a challenge, the chance for the then "Doncaster Model Engineering Society" to build its track at the rear of the most famous railway place on earth, "Doncaster Plant Works".  Birthplace of Mallard, Flying Scotsman, Green Arrow, Cock of the North to  name a few. 
So with hearts full of good intention away we go eventually managing to lay 900ft of 5 & 71/4" ground level track, imagine our dismay only five years later, to be told after all this hard work had been done that below the top soil, underneath our track bed lies "The Works" dumping ground of blue asbestos boiler lagging.  At the end of the 1984 operating season, and with winter approaching this seemed like a good opportunity to consider our next move and what a move it turned out to be.  Well somebody moved it, the track that is.  Only problem was they forgot to tell us about it, the whole of the track disappeared, removed by a person or persons unknown.

Members have always been very generous and one of them who owned a small local factory at the time allowed us to meet there until another site could be obtained.  This came by way of another club member's very large garden, a very fine site, but on the sudden death of the member the site had to be vacated.  A move to the rear of a country pub where planning permission was not obtained was a bad move, and short lived,

An approach to Thorne Parish Council in 1996 to see if they wanted a miniature railway in their local park was welcomed by the council. Plans were submitted and the appropriate permission was given. The council offered the use of a very solid brick building a former World War II air raid shelter, with power and a nearby water supply, we could not wish for a better start. The building is now the locomotive depot, which was recently adapted by the addition of a three foot high steel end door for the rolling stock to gain access to it.

The first stage of the venture at Thorne  was completed by late July 1999, with a 600 ft loop of dual 5 & 71/4 inch gauge ground level track with a 100 ft long branch line to the preparation area and locomotive shed. Two major events in 2000 directly affected us when the Doncaster Model Engineering Society became the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society Limited. In May 2000 the Sandtoft Miniature Railway members voted to cease operating the railway at the Sandtoft Transport Museum and the majority of the members decided to join us en-block, therefore doubling our membership and bringing with them a new enthusiasm and wealth of experience.

Ted Robinson helping to fill the water tank on Paul's locomotive "Princess Sarah" on the pioneering first run at Thorne Memorial Park a new venture that was to see the many challenges ahead of operating a miniature railway in a public park. Today the railway remains the only miniature railway operating in a public park in the Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.

Thanks to Paul for his contribution to give us a history of the earlier days of the Society. I spent about 30 years at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft helping to develop it as a museum that persevered and restored trolleybuses were once again going to be able to operate taking power from the overhead wires. Paul and several of the present day members of the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society formed the Sandtoft Miniature Railway group. They constructed what was once the miniature railway at the museum. The railway at Sandtoft was by 2000 a major attraction, but due to circumstances I and about thirteen other SMR members voted to transfer our activities to Thorne. Some of the rolling stock that we had put in store early May was back in service in time for the Spring Bank Holiday Monday, but this time at Thorne. This now enabled the train service at Thorne to be on a more regular basis operating most Sunday afternoons.
As the railway became more popular I put on my former publicity hat so to speak that I had at Sandtoft and helped to give the railway at Thorne greater publicity. One thing was to give the railway a name. I first tried Thorne Park Railway. However confusion was the outcome of this when the details for the Thornes Park Railway at Wakefield nearly had our details put in the Steam Heritage publication. A second name for us was to be the Thorne Memorial Park Railway. That was alright until recently we had to make a further change and add the word "Miniature".

At Sandtoft I was involved with grant funding. It was now time to set about helping to get funding for the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society to build two new coaches, purchase materials to build a new battery electric locomotive, purchase the steam locomotive "Koppel"  and purchase rail for a second loop. Further funding was obtained to purchase two marquees and some computer equipment. This funding provided the means for the skills of the members to build the new locomotive "John L Stokes" and the new coaches. We are very grateful to the Doncaster Council for Voluntary Services (Doncaster CVS) for the funding they have provided not only for the above project but for
The train service was now becoming a regular feature in the park. We have good support from the local population and with the introduction of this website many visitors from other parts of Britain and Overseas. During the last few years we attracted many new members of all ages, most noticeable has been the help from the younger ages, who have been willing to come along and join us in helping to be train guards, to sell tickets and help with  the light refreshments.

In August 2005 the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society  was selected from list of community groups by Bramall Construction and a local residents panel for what was termed a "Wish List" that Bramall Construction could help to fund. We produced an illustrated document with our "Wish List" for the projects that we would like to implement if the resources could be made available.
At the next meeting a short list was made available for the projects that would have the most visual improvement to the tracks and the station area.
The first work will be to install fencing at the Thorne Central Station area and provide a new central platform. Wooden edges will also be put in place from the level crossing (this serves the marquee on the Summer Festival Events) to the station to keep the grass and track ballast segregated.