Organisers of an annual model railway exhibition say this year’s event will feature more layouts than ever before.
Workington Model Railway Exhibition, organised by Solrail, takes place at Energus in Lillyhall tomorrow, Saturday November 15 and Sunday November 16.
Now in its 13th year, it will feature 17 layouts and the exhibition brings together groups, organisations and individuals from all over England and Scotland, who share a passion and enthusiasm for all things model railway,
It includes a Thomas the Tank Engine layout and Solrail has persuaded Bob Hetherington, of Skinburness, near Silloth, to bring his layout, Garrigill.
The layout is a ‘might have been’ had the Stockton and Darlington Railway built a line over the Pennines to join up with the Alston and Lord Carlisle’s railways that ran into Brampton.
The time period in the 1860s and nearly all of the stock has been scratchbuilt by Bob over the last 40 years.
Brian Irwin, of Carlisle, is a regular at the show and he has made a diorama called Locomotion 200, featuring the locomotive that pulled the inaugural train running over the famous bridge, which stands to this day.
Several of the layouts have been featured in national model railway magazines.
Exhibits incorporate a whole range of technologies from hand propelled to the very latest digital command control systems with some layouts having authentic background sounds.
The event is supported by a group of trade stands providing almost anything the modeller needs.
Scalefour Cumberland returns for a fourth year, in its own room, including demonstration stands Building Track, Making Stock, Building Locomotives and Lineing Coaches.
Computer simulation programmes will also be available to try.
The exhibition will be open from 10am to 5pm tomorrow and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
Admission is £8 for adults with accompanied children free. Also available will be a free souvenir programme, listing everything on display, while stocks last.
