2 July 2009
Jerry Hepworth
Publicity & Public Relations Officer, WVMRC
The twenty-first Southwold Model Railway Exhibition, organised by the Waveney Valley Model Railway Club, takes place at Saint Felix School on the weekend of 8th and 9th of August.
Two halls exhibiting twenty layouts, trade stands, societies and modelling demonstrations, including live steam and Garden Railways outdoors.
Layouts and models representing periods from the 1890s to the present day, with steam, diesel and electric traction. Of local historical interest will be a layout of the former narrow gauge Southwold Railway! Not to be missed are the scenic demonstrations by Roy Hickman, children and the not so young being invited to make a model tree!
This year the club has secured the attendance of Hornby Magazine and their editor Mike Wild who will be bringing along the magazine featured layout, Bay Street Shed MkII.
On Sunday, special guest Richard Spendlove MBE, BBC Regional broadcaster and co-writer of TV comedy series “Oh Dr Beeching” will be visiting the exhibition and he will be pleased to meet any of his listeners.
Live steam will again feature this year with passenger-carrying trains and traction engines, built by Halesworth & District Model Engineers, providing rides in the grounds. Very popular last year was the live steam set up from the Gauge 1 Model Railway Association, East Anglia Group. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to consume their refreshments in the outdoor (covered) seating area, whilst watching the steam trains of all periods running around!
Included in the selection of trade stands will be one specialising in Garden Railways with others selling everything from ready-to-run locomotives, carriages and wagons to complete train sets; model road vehicles; specialised railway paints, cardboard model buildings; plastic and metal kits; books and DVDs; electrical components; modelling tools and materials.
Societies attending will include the Historical Model Railway Society, Great Eastern Railway Society, Diesel and Electric Modellers United, Southwold Railway Society, Midland & Great Northern Railway Society, The Gauge 0 Guild.
This year the raffle will be supporting the RNLI and the local First Responders, both of these organisations depending on fund raising and donations as they have no government support.
Saint Felix School is located about two miles from the A12 at Henham (Between Ipswich and Lowestoft) or a mile from Southwold town centre alongside the A1095, Halesworth Road.
There is a large free car park and there is wheelchair access into and around the exhibition.