Welcome to the HMRS website. This website is a new implementation in 2021 of our first trading website with additional features and a redesigned Home Page and menu system.
We hope you find this improves the facilities of our site and hope you will wish to find out more about the society and maybe join.
25 June 2026 update on Postage Costs
With reluctance, but considering the disruption we are experiencing with delivery of our products to the USA and France at this time of turmoil in the world, we have taken the decision to suspend sales to the USA. In addition from June 2026 we have also removed France from the list of Countries to which we will deliver. This is due to massive postage cost rises and the admin charged which double the cost of a £20 order. Here is a summary for that £20 order.
France now demand that the import duty is paid by the sender, for which privilege it charges an admin fee and the Royal Mail charges a handling fee.
In addition, they now demand that it be tracked, which puts the postage cost well up. The cost line up is:
Import duty on £20:00 £7:34
Admin Fee: £1:50
PO handling charge: £1:73
Postage cost: £9.95
Total: £20:52
We do this reluctantly but we cannot cover the cost of re-shipping items which have been 'misplaced' in transit nor the individual country demands on the post office. We hope that other countries in the EU do not follow suite. We hope we may be able to return to sanity soon but cannot guarantee that. This means that you can no longer choose any USA or French addresses as a destination.
04 May 2026
The shipping rates have been updated today due to the rise in postage costs charged by Royal Mail from mid April. We regret having to do this but we have no choice. We use the cheapest (NOT the fastest) rates and most do not have to be signed for but some of the heavier items to some zones may require a signatiure. These heavier rates above 1 Kg to some World Zones have increase by a larger percentage unfortunately. We do not apply any VAT to orders outside the UK .
We have added Cyprus to our shipping destinations
We use the cheapest rate available to the various zones of either Large Letter or Small Parcel, untracked , second class with insurance up to £20. We only use the more expensive medium parcel, tracked rate for packages above 2 Kg internationally. If you are buying several heavier items, it may be worth trying to split the order into two. It's hard to predict.
2025
The society began a project to digistise many more of our drawings & archives as well as photographs in 2025. We have invested in extra equipment and it continues with the first priority being our drawings. We expect to add a new batch of drawings to the website in the summer and the overall project continues. It is, though, a long term project.
8 September 2025
The VAT which was originally being charged on sales to the EU area has been removed as too complex to deal with the administration of its apportioning. Therefore any sales to the EU may have VAT added at point of delivery. This means you may be requested to pay it to the postman and a handling charge may also be incurred. We are sorry but it is beyond our control and extra fees were being charged by many postal services anyway.
Members, researchers and visitors are welcome at the M&SC, but a prior appointment is absolutely necessary. Phone the M&SC on 01773 745959 or email Secretary email . Someone will meet you at the Swanwick gate to let you in. Please do not turn up on spec. Access from Butterley is only possible when Midland Railway Trust trains are running and coincide with our opening times. The M&SC is normally open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-30am to 3-00pm. but visits on other days may be possible by prior arrangement.
Phone orders will only be taken if someone is present in the M&SC who can take them. Orders by Post are not available. Please order using our website.
Area group and other meetings are at the discretion of local group organisers and maybe at a venue and/or online. Please see the ’What’s On’ page for any new information.
Please also refer to Further Information