About Us

About DSMEE

The DUBLIN SOCIETY OF MODEL AND EXPERIMENTAL ENGINEERS exists to promote the development or the model engineering hobby by providing support and encouragement to interested people. 

The Society was founded in January 1901 in the Grafton Tea Rooms, in Grafton Street, Dublin, when a group of like minded enthusiasts got together. It is one of the oldest model engineering societies the world, having been formed only 3 years after the Society of Model Engineers in London was founded in 1898. 

 

Due to the lack of a suitable site, DSMEE did not have a track open to the public until 27th August 1949, when a short track was opened in Herbert Park in Dublin. In 1981, the Society moved to its present location in Marlay Park. 


The range of modelling by members is very diverse, from locomotives, stationary engines, traction engines, clocks, and ships to some of the machine tools which are required to make the models. Members’ locomotives include coal fired live steam, internal combustion engines and battery powered electric motors.
Many or our modellers have not had any formal engineering training but have been encouraged and supported by fellow members to develop their interest. Our members come from many trades, professions and backgrounds. The goal of the Society is to provide a social setting for likeminded hobbysists not just from Dublin, but also from other parts of the country. The Society is also in regular contact with fellow societies in Northern Ireland and visits are exchanged on a regular basis.  

We have two separate miniature railway lines in the grounds of Marley Park in Dublin 16.  One of the lines is at ground level and the other is run on elevated track. The ground level line has a total length of 900 meters, all of which caters for 7¼" gauge. 309 meters of the 7¼" line was out of action for many years but work was recently completed  to bring the entire line back into service. This makes our 7¼" ground line the longest in the Republic and the second longest on the island of Ireland. 591 meters of the ground line is dual gauge, which caters for both 7¼" and 5" gauge locomotives and rolling stock.  The 5" gauge line is, we believe, the only ground level line of this gauge currently in operation in Ireland. 


The raised line is 280 meters long and caters for 3½" inch, 5" and 7¼" gauge locomotives and rolling stock, and is currently the longest 3½" gauge line now in operation in Ireland. During the summer, the Society provides free train rides for children on Saturday afternoons, from 14:00pm to 16:30pm, on the elevated line, weather permitting. These trains are hauled by locomotives using either live steam, internal combustion or electric batteries as a power source. In a typical year some 6,000 children enjoy this experience.

In addition, there is also a Gauge 1 (45mm) elevated line, some 30m long, suitable for running Gauge 1  and 45 mm narrow gauge model trains. 

Members hold regular meetings at Marley Park throughout the year, usually on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Some Saturdays in winter feature a talk or demonstration on a suitable subject followed by an opportunity to meet fellow members, and an opportunity to work on the Society’s facilities and use the Society's workshop. 

DSMEE is organised and managed by a committee comprising directors and officers who are elected annually by the members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). New members are always welcome. The Contact page above gives details regarding contacting the Society if you wish to join, or if you just want to see our activities and facilities. 

Share by: