Top 10 reasons to visit the 2021 Great Electric Train Show

Top 10 reasons to visit the
2021 Great Electric Train Show

The 2021 Great Electric Train Show is just a few days away and takes place on October 2/3 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. Here are our top 10 reasons that you NEED to be there...

1. Pete Waterman's West Coast Main Line

Great Electric Train Show 2021

The huge 64ft x 12ft Making Tracks West Coast Main Line built by Pete Waterman and the Railnuts group is making its one and only exhibition appearance at the 2021 Great Electric Train Show on October 2/3. The Hornby Magazine team is adopting the busy overhead electric layout for the show weekend with Pete and his team with Mike and Mark bringing a big collection of West Coast Main Line rolling stock for the 2000-2018 period to fill its giant 40ft long storage yard loops. Expect digital sound, scale length trains, all four tracks in operation and more.


2. Manufacturer stands

Manufacturers at GETS

Model railway manufacturers are coming to the Great Electric Train Show in 2021 with KR Models, Hattons Model Railways and Ellis Clark Trains making a welcome return to be joined by Revolution Trains and Cavalex Models for the first time. However, it isn't just rolling stock makers you can see at the show: look out for stands from Green Scene, DMG Technical, DCC Concepts, 3D Printing Corner, Isinglass Models, Keen Systems, Scale Model Scenery, C&L Finescale, Mega Points Controllers, Ten Commandments, West Hill Wagon Works and more, all of who have their own exclusive product ranges to enhance your layout.


3. Shopping!

Shopping at GETS

We all love a good shop at a model railway exhibition and the Great Electric Train Show has more than 40 trade stands at this year's event offering everything from ready-to-run rolling stock in 'N', 'OO', 'O' and larger, detailing parts, accessories, lineside features, buildings, scenic materials, storage solutions, kits, tools, electronics and more. Plus if you want to make more of the day there is a huge range of shops around the venue to entertain your partner too.


4. Brand new layouts making their debut

New layouts at GETS

There are brand new exhibition layouts which are making their public debut at the Great Electric Train Show this year. They include Malcolm Briggs' North Cornwall Brewery (above), the extension of Mark Pollard's Old Elm Park plus Hornby Magazine's latest project layout - our Great Central Railway preservation inspired 16ft x 8ft layout positioned on Balcony 1. Don't miss them.


5. Latest samples on display

The very latest product samples will be on display at the show both on the Hornby Magazine stand and manufacturer stands. On the Hornby Magazine stand we will have three display cases filled with the latest product sample - including models you won't have seen before - from Hornby, Accurascale, Heljan and Bachmann which have been kindly loaned to us for the event.


6. Product launches

New products are being announced at the 2021 Great Electric Train Show! Keep your eyes peeled at the venue and if you can't join us (or you have mobile access at the show) check in KeyModelWorld during the weekend for the very latest in product news. 


7. Meet the team!

The Hornby Magazine team will be at the show all weekend! Mike and Mark will mainly be with the West Coast Main Line layout in the main hall while Richard is looking after the Great Central Railway theme layout on the balcony. Ask him nicely and he'll even let you drive the trains.


8. Mike Buick's Oak Road

Oak Road

Mike Buick's popular Great Western Main Line layout is coming to the Great Electric Train Show with its superb modelling and impressive automated train control. Expect scale length HSTs sweeping through a superbly detailed station.


9. Live Steam Roadshow

Live steam

Have you ever seen live steam powered models in 'OO' gauge? You can at the Great Electric Train Show! The OO Live Steam Club is attending with its demonstration layout where you can see Hornby 'OO' gauge live steam locomotives running. We can't wait to see them in action.


10. Free parking and a free shuttle bus

There is free parking at the Marshall Arena for the Great Electric Train Show all weekend plus if you are arriving by rail we have a free shuttle bus running each day from 9am. It is operating from Milton Keynes Central railway station, served by the West Coast Main Line, and you see the full timetable in the News section.