Model railway club to hold exhibition in Horsham

Set to take place on Saturday October 6 at the venue in Denne Road, the event will run from 10am to 5pm and will feature 14 layouts at various scales and gauges.

Kevin Tayler, HMRC secretary, said: “Sunny Hill will be there as a ‘have-a-go’ layout, which has proved popular with young visitors at previous open days and during our regular appearances in Swan Walk during the February half-term break.

“There will also be traders, selling new and second-hand model railway items. We are hoping to be able to have a ‘ride-on’ railway operating in the space behind the Drill Hall.”

Since its early days in a local youth centre, the club has grown steadily and now has over 50 members who meet every Wednesday at the St Leonard’s Church Hall in Cambridge Road, Horsham.

In addition to its modelling activities, the club has arranged visits to railway attractions. Last year, 16 members visited the Didcot Railway Centre before travelling on to the nearby Pendon Museum.

Four layouts are currently under construction. Sunny Hill is the simplest, providing opportunities for younger members to develop basic railway modelling skills. An N gauge model of Worting Junction, the point at which the lines from London to Southampton and Exeter via Salisbury divide, is nearing completion and will be seen at exhibitions from the autumn.

Twofils, a large OO layout, and Quarry Lane, a tiered OO9 layout featuring various mining and quarrying activities, are under construction.

Adult tickets for the exhibition are £5, children under ten go free while those between ten and 16 will pay £2. A family ticket, for two adults and two children will be £12.