Pete Waterman OBE has set a new Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Portable Model Railway with the latest incarnation of his West Coast Main Line set 'OO' gauge exhibition layout Making Tracks: The Final Frontier.
The record attempt took place at Key Publishing’s new National Modelling Exhibition, Model World LIVE, at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham on Saturday April 27 2024.
This latest version of the layout was built by Pete and the Railnuts team over the past six months especially for the new National Modelling Exhibition and at 208ft x 14ft, was officially recognised by Guinness World Records.
The Making Tracks layouts have been progressively built for summer-long displays at Chester Cathedral over the past few years – attracting more than 50,000 visitors to the Cathedral last summer alone – and this latest example was combined with over 100ft of new scenic layout for Model World LIVE.
Pete’s breathtaking ‘OO’ gauge Making Tracks: The Final Frontier depicts several sections of the modern-day West Coast Main Line between Rugby and Bushey including three signature stations modelled to scale.
The total layout takes in Hillmorton's grade separated junction, Kilsby tunnel, Blisworth, Milton Keynes Central station, Tring cutting, Northchurch tunnel, Watford tunnel, Watford Junction station, Bushey viaduct, Bushey station and Carpender's Park bridge. It also features a four-track main line throughout with the option to pass trains at Milton Keynes Central station.
◘ You can read the full story behind the record-breaking attempt in the July 2024 issue of Hornby Magazine (HM205).
