Chuffed by show (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Chuffed by show

12:00pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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GENERATIONS of model railway fans flocked to an annual show to admire layouts from across the country.

Hundreds of visitors old and young marvelled at the intricate miniature worlds on display at this year’s Basingstoke and North Hampshire Model Railway Society, which ranged from 1930s snow scenes in Kent to a modern German West Rhine Railway.

The society invited 30 modellers and societies to display layouts at their massively popular two-day show, and these were spread across five rooms at Aldworth Science College, in Western Way, Basingstoke last weekend, including their own Lulworth layout.

The unfinished layout is a fictitious line from Wool on the London and South Western Railway, set in the late 1950s and early 1960s which has been under construction for five years.

One of the more original exhibits was Iron Mould Lane, by Richard Lear, representing an ironworks north of Bristol.

Another standout exhibit came from Herefordshire. John de Frayssinet’s prize-winning County Gate layout is based on Devon’s Lynton to Barnstaple railroad and a once proposed route to Minehead.

Mr de Frayssinet, 64, who constructed the layout over five years, said: “It’s my first time to this show. It’s a long way from home, but I was invited to come and I have a team who help me exhibit.”

Young children were mesmerised by Thomas Junction which featured character locomotives and a number of other popular children’s characters, while numerous trade stalls sold all the necessary tools and materials to visiting hobby modellers.

Dave Richards, society secretary and event organiser, said: “It’s the biggest show that we’ve run since 1986-87 in terms of the number of layouts.

“It’s good to see the younger ones taking an interest. Modelling encompasses a lot of skills like electrics, design, architecture, artistry and woodwork and we’re always looking for new members of any level.”

Basingstoke club has 37 members and meets every evening from Monday to Thursday. Anyone interested can contact Mr Richards on 07769 935999.