Model Railway Event Organizers Aim for Record Visitor Numbers

Organizers of a model railway event have stated their aspiration for a record-breaking number of attendees at their latest exhibition. The event, located in Workington, Cumbria, features 17 distinct layouts of railway scenes, which were constructed by Solrail, a volunteer group. Philip Tuer, the exhibition organizer, remarked: “Interest in the hobby seems to be growing. We’ve had 1,600 before at an event, so I’d love to see 2,000 people through the doors.” He further added, “People still love railways – this country is where it all began.” The various layouts frequently depict historical settings, including a meticulously detailed representation of Burntisland in Fife, Scotland, which originally served as the southern terminus of the Edinburgh and Northern Railway. Other displays offer a more whimsical character. “A lot of people think it’s a disappearing hobby, but the popularity of Thomas the tank engine seems to have boosted numbers,” Mr Tuer said. He continued, “There are a lot of modern railway enthusiasts in the North East and Cumbria because, of course, of this region’s importance in the industry.” Mr. Tuer also noted, “Here in Cumbria we’ve got a number of amazing heritage railways, like Ratty, and Lakeside and Hatherwaite, for example.” Addressing a common misconception, he stated, “There’s this misconception that it’s just men, but that’s not true, we have quite a few women building layouts too.” The exhibition is open on Saturday and Sunday at the Energus Building in Workington and provides advice for individuals interested in starting their own model constructions. “These events are so important,” Mr Tuer said. He concluded by saying, “I fell in love with trains when I was a little boy and it’s lovely to see children today get excited too.” Readers can follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas may be sent to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Details on their approach to external linking are available.