Local layouts again take pride of place at Workington Model Railway Exhibition this weekend (Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 November 2019) says Philip T Tuer, Chairman, Cumbrian Railways Association.
Of the 16 layouts attending this year, only three have been seen at the show before. 11 are from within Cumbria, a show record!
Local modeller, Ray O’Neil, from Workington, will bring his OO gauge layout BREWERY SIDINGS, based somewhere around Ulverston in south Cumbria. This is an ‘Inglenook’ design. Ask him what this is when you visit! Small and very well detailed it shows you that there is no need for a big space for a layout as this one will keep him occupied all weekend.
A special theme this year is ‘narrow-gauge’. Andrew Holland of Lowca brings another of his layouts, CASTLETOWN. A model showing what can be built in this increasingly popular scale in a small space. To reinforce the theme of narrow gauge Stuart Bass, from Cleator Moor, will be exhibiting his entry into a recent competition held on Tyneside, BRON is a station that serves a hamlet in Wales. Another narrow gauge layout, again a competition entry, comes from Andrew Woolass from Seascale, ARNTHWAITE is a ‘shelf’ layout depicting two scenes in the North of England. Still on the narrow gauge theme Paul Titmuss makes a welcome return from Oldham with his latest layout ANNASCAUL. This is very different as it is modelled to OOn3 scale, being based on the Tralee & Dingle Light Railway in south-west Ireland.
Rod Moore, from Blindcrake, brings another selection of vintage Hornby Doublo trains. Last year he won the trophy for best layout as voted for by the visiting public. Can he do the same again this year?
From Penrith is a new Z scale layout built by Chris Wright, depicting the Bullet trains of Japan. The layout features special lighting and a sound system, as well as a functioning fairground with seven working rides.
Carlisle sees two groups, both based in the Railway Station there. A new layout in N gauge is PORT CARLYLE from the Border Railway Society. A junction station beside a harbour with goods facilities as well as a very well used beach, so it must be high summer! BOBBIN MILL HALT by Richard Elton, of the Carlisle and District ‘O’ Gauge Group, makes a welcome return after its first public display last year. Lots and lots of work has been undertaken since its last visit both to improve its running but also the overall appearance. Those that visited last year will be able to see for themselves just how much it has changed, although not everything is on view!
From further afield comes a large ‘OO’ gauge layout from the Furness Model Railway Club. COPPELL is a magnum opus of a layout running a very large variety of trains that could have been seen on the West Coast mainline in Lancashire. From Southport, Terry Tasker makes a welcome return with another of his layouts. This time it is an N gauge one called DUNNLAKIN. A busy layout in a small space. Peter Shields from Sunderland, brings his O gauge layout, LONDONDERRY GOODS, a small ex-NER/LNER/BR yard somewhere around Sunderland in the early to mid 1960’s. Also making a return is Marc Dobson from Dalton-in-Furness. WC BOGGS & Co. Can you guess what they make? On Sunday only, a small layout from Mike Butler of Barnard Castle called GREEN LANE in N gauge has several different areas to discover.
The furthest travelled layout EVER to come to the Workington show is from Deal in Kent. Called SIX QUARTERS and built by Oliver Turner it was inspired by a photograph in an Industrial Railway book of the railway crossing in LOWCA. Oliver has never visited Cumbria so will be visiting the actual location to see if he can recognise where the line used to run. He is hoping to meet local people, who remember the area, and can tell him more about it, even better would be if you have a photograph or two to show him!
Thomas the Tank Engine makes a welcome return for the very youngest to operate (and not so young) and will be looking for engine drivers. Step up and take the controls, all welcome.
Workington Model Railway Exhibition, is to be held at the ‘high tech’ 21st century venue Energus building, Blackwood Road, Lillyhall, Workington – Post Code CA14 4JW, where there will be free car parking and outstanding refreshments. Easy access for disabled visitors as everything is one level.
The venue is served by regular bus services from Workington and Whitehaven railway stations, using Service No:- 300 on Saturday via the Energus building stops at Lillyhall. Sunday there is a 15 minute walk from Harrington Road.
The event is supported by a group of trade stands that will be able to provide almost anything the modeller needs. To help individuals get the most from their models demonstrators ‘showing you how to’ will be on hand. If it is making finescale track, building authentic looking trees, weathering your models, building kits or models from scratch then somebody will be able to help. Local Railway Societies will be out in force to promote their cause as well as the Cumberland Railway Museum based in St Bees.
The exhibition, the largest in Cumbria and borders area, brings together groups, organisations and individuals from all over Cumbria and Northern England who share a passion and enthusiasm for all things model railway, so why not get along and enjoy what’s on offer. This will be the eighth year that the exhibition will be presented by Solrail, a ‘not for profit’ team of enthusiasts and volunteers.
The exhibition at ENERGUS, Lillyhall, Workington will be open from 10am until 5pm on Saturday 16 November and, from 10am until 4pm on Sunday 17 November.
Admission costs £5.00 with accompanied children free, which is the same as last year. Also included is a free programme listing everything on display.
Further details on the website: solrail.co.uk
