On October 8/9 the 2022 Great Electric Train Show opens its doors with more than 30 layouts, 50 traders, demonstrators and more. MIKE WILD previews this not-to-be-missed model railway exhibition from the Hornby Magazine team.
THE FINAL PREPARATIONS are underway for the 2022 Great Electric Train Show at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes where a star-studded line up of more than 30 model railways will be joining an extensive list of 50 traders together with modelling demonstrations to make this an event not to be missed.
The annual Great Electric Train Show is hosted in the main show hall at the Marshall Arena as well as encompassing the balconies. On site there are refreshments while free parking is available at the venue for those travelling by road and rail users can take advantage of a free shuttle bus service between Milton Keynes Central railway station and the venue.
This year’s line-up draws exhibition layouts in scales from ‘N’ to ’SM32’ from across the country with owners travelling from the South West, South East, Midlands, North West, North East and beyond - including favourites from Hornby Magazine and brand new layouts making their exhibition debuts.
Above: Hornby Magazine’s Fairlie Syniad Da will be making its second public appearance at the 2022 Great ElectricTrain Show. Mike Wild/Hornby Magazine.
THE DETAILS
When: October 8/9 2022
Where: Marshall Arena, Stadium MK, Stadium Way West, Milton Keynes MK1 1ST
Times: 10am-5pm Sat (9.30am entry for advance tickets), 10am-4pm Sun (9.30am entry for advance tickets).
Prices: Adult advance £14, adult subscriber advance £12, child advance £8. Adult on the day £16, child on the day £9. Up to two children under 16 admitted free with each paying adult on Sunday only. Advance ticket sales close on September 30 2022.
Website: www.keymodelworld.com/greatelectrictrainshow
Features: 30 layouts, more than 40 traders, demonstrations, refreshments, parking, disabled access, free bus link between Milton Keynes Central railway station and venue.
Above: Chris Morris will be bringing his latest ‘N’ gauge layout to the show – Dawlish Warren. Mike Wild/Hornby Magazine.
Great Electric Train Show 2022 Layouts
Topping the billing for the 2022 Great Electric Train Show is Pete Waterman’s Making Tracks II. Built as a follow-up to the 2021 Making Tracks layout (which made its final appearance at the 2021 Great Electric Train Show), this brand-new 64ft West Coast Main Line themed layout will again be making one last public appearance at this year’s show following the summer-long Chester Cathedral event. This is the only time the layout will be seen in the south of the country. Making Tracks II models the WCML from Kilsby Tunnel to Hillmorton Junction which includes the grade separated junction which takes the Northampton Down line over the WCML on the approach to Rugby station.
The Hornby Magazine team will be stocking the layout and operating it during the weekend, while regular readers will be able to see the latest project layouts from the magazine on display on the Key Publishing stand immediately next to Making Tracks II. On the stand there will be the opportunity to meet the team, survey the Ffestiniog themed narrow gauge layout Fairlie Syniad Da (HM175/HM176) and take the controls of our Great Central Railway ‘OO’ gauge layout – Quorn Magna and Swithland Sidings.
If that isn’t enough to entice visitors to the show, the 2022 Great Electric Train Show will be the first exhibition for a brandnew ‘O’ gauge layout by the builders of Dubmill Sidings called Allerby. This huge 40ft x 17ft exhibition layout is set to be an outstanding addition to the lineup and is one of several large layouts for the event. Also ticking the ‘big’ box is Stafford Railway Circle’s Whiteacres (HM130) which measures 35ft x 12ft while there will also be the chance to see Ivanhoe MRC’s Loughborough Midland (full feature coming in HM185), Simon Paley’s latest ‘OO’ gauge layout Collingwood (pages 22-31), Bradford-on-Tone by Somerset Railway Modellers (HM178) and many more big ‘OO’ layouts.
‘N’ gauge modellers have plenty to look forward to at the 2022 event with featured layouts including Spirit of Swindon exhibited by Neil Mason, Dawlish Warren by Chris Morris (HM180), Roxby Town by Geoff Buttler (HM182), Ambleton Vale by Ray Taylor and Anna Bass (HM156) and a first outing in its new form for Mike Buick’s Market Lavington.
On Balcony One the Double O Gauge Association will be displaying a selection of layouts which have featured in Hornby Magazine including Tony Dean’s Greenford Broadway (HM183), Brian Tamplin’s Gravesdown South (HM159), Ian Forsyth’s Holly Bank Grove MPD (HM172), plus Steve Rogers' Fawcett Street.
Extending the event further, Balcony Two will see a collection of larger scale layouts on display including Norfolk Railway Syndicate’s Gare de Brindille in SM32 scale modelling French narrow gauge operations, Penphyl Halt in Gauge 1, a compact ‘O’ gauge steam shed called Grub Lane and more.
Above: Pete Waterman’s Making Tracks II WCML layout is set to be one of the star attractions at the 2022 Great Electric Train Show. Measuring 64ft x 12ft it has four-track running with a modern theme. Mike Wild/Hornby Magazine.
Great Electric Train Show 2022 Trade Stands
With a 50 trade stand line up for this year’s Great Electric Train Show, there is something for everyone from the latest ready-to-run models to scenic materials, glues, paints and tools.
This year we are pleased to welcome Hornby Hobbies back to the show and its stand will be front and centre as you enter the venue directly opposite the Hornby Magazine stand. Hornby’s stand is one of six manufacturer stands at the event alongside Accurascale, Cavalex Models, Ellis Clark Trains, KR Models and Revolution Trains offering a great chance to see the brand new development samples first-hand. New product launches are planned at the event too, so be sure to visit these stands to see the latest models and here on www. keymodelworld.com.
If you are looking for new rolling stock, there is plenty of choice including Rails of Sheffield, Cheltenham Model Centre, Locomotion Models, Loughborough Model Centre, Tony’s Trains, Trains 4U and more – the full list is available in Table 2. Add to this specialist stands from DCC Concepts, DC Kits, Digitrains, Shedring Hobbies, 3D Printing Corner, Isinglass Models, Primo Models, Trainsporters, Layouts 4U and Hobby Tools 4U and there are plenty of stands to tempt your wallet.
Above: Loughborough Midland will be representing the 2000s on the Midland Main Line at the 2022 show. Richard Watson/ Hornby Magazine.
HOW TO GET THERE
•Milton Keynes is the central point between London and Birmingham, located just off the M1 via Junction 13 from the south (A5) and Junction 14 (A421) from the north and east, and connected to the two cities by rail via the West Coast Main Line.
•Once you get to Milton Keynes, the Arena MK and the Great Electric Train Show is a ten-minute drive from Junction 14 of the M1 and seven minutes from Junction 13, or you can follow the A5 to the venue. The Arena MK is built onto Stadium MK, so if you see signs for the Stadium, you’re heading the right way. Event signs will be located at the roadside on the weekend of the event. Use postcode MK1 1ST for sat navs.
•If you’re travelling by train to Milton Keynes Central railway station, a free bus service will be operating every 30 minutes throughout the day to the Arena MK for the Great Electric Train Show. It will depart from the bus stands immediately outside Milton Keynes Central railway station (see website for timetable). If you are attending via Bletchley or Fenny Stratford stations, it is a 10-minute journey by taxi from either location.
Above: Richard Smith’s Howbrooke models the contemporary railway scene in South Yorkshire in ‘OO’ gauge. Richard Watson/ Hornby Magazine.
FINAL CALL
There are just five weeks to go until the 2022 Great Electric Train Show opens its doors – and we’ve still got more to tell you! We will be revealing the final layouts for the show here online at www.keymodelworld.com in the run up to the event to complete the 30+ line-up.
Advance tickets are available to purchase now offering a discount on entry prices – just call 01780 480404 or visit shop.keypublishing.com to order your tickets now and you will also gain early entry to the show at 9.30am. And don’t forget that kids go free on Sunday (up to two admitted with each paying adult) and our Kids Zone will be making a return at the 2022 event as well.
The Hornby Magazine team is looking forward to opening the doors to the 2022 Great Electric Train Show which is set to be one of the biggest yet. See you there!
Above: The Park Keepers’ model of Sydney Gardens promises non-stop transition era running in ‘OO’ gauge. Trevor Jones/Hornby Magazine.
