FINAL PREPARATIONS are under way for the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition which is set to return to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham later this month. It resumes following Covid-enforced cancellations over the last couple of years.
This year’s event on November 26/27 will be held in Hall 5 at the NEC and will feature more than 80 model railway layouts, including Hornby Magazine’s ‘OO’ gauge Great Central Railway-inspired Quorn Magna and Swithland Sidings and our most recent ‘OO9’ layout – Fairlie Syniad Da. The Hornby Magazine editorial team will be at the show all weekend to answer any questions you may have, while there will be special offers on subscriptions and books on the Hornby Magazine stand (A24), together with a range of model railway accessories and limited edition models.
Above: Hornby Magazine’s ‘OO9’ Fairlie Syniad Da and ‘OO’ Great Central Railway inspired Quorn Magna and Swithland Sidings layouts will be the centrepiece displays on the Hornby Magazine stand at the Warley show this year. Mike Wild.
Amongst the layout highlights booked to attend this year’s show are some well-known examples which have appeared in Hornby Magazine including Ray Taylor and Anna Bass’ ‘N’ gauge Ambleton Vale (HM156), Barry Platt’s ‘OO’ Ashdan Junction (HM121) Soar Valley Model Railway Club’s
‘O’ gauge Charnwood Forest (HM99/100), Brian Woolrich’s ‘OO’ Durston (HM106), Martin Wright’s ‘OO’ Kirkby Stephen West (HM5), Max Fowler’s ‘OO’ Maxwell Colliery loading point (HM105), Mark Pollard’s ‘O’ gauge Old Elm Park (HM141), Steve Pike’s ‘OO’ gauge layouts Seven Ash and Oake (HM125/HM134), Redditch Model Railway Club’s ‘OO’ Smallwood (HM151) and many more.
Above: Maxwell Colliery Loading Point (HM105) models Merry-Go-Round coal train operation in Scotland during the 1980s and 1990s. Nigel Burkin/Hornby Magazine.
Above: Steve Pike’s ‘OO’ gauge Oake (HM134), represents Western Region operations in Somerset during the 1960s. Trevor Jones/Hornby Magazine.
Further highlights include Martin Olley’s 3mm scale Uppingham, John Aldrick’s 2mm scale Ivybridge, East Kilbride Model Railway Club’s Stanley Junction, Steve Flay’s 4mm narrow gauge Tan-y-Llyn and Pete Howells’ ‘HO’ Burford. As well as UK outline layouts, the event will also play host to a collection of European and Continental layouts including Ron Bailes’ Chica (‘O’ USA), Rod Mackay’s Diano Marina (‘HO’ Italy), Dave Paylor’s Kozel Cement (Czech ‘HO’), Paul Taylor’s Pottendorf (‘HO’ German), Nigel Harrold’s Tipton Sub Division PA (‘N’ USA) and more.
Manufacturers will also be represented including Accurascale, Bachmann Europe, Cavalex Models, Dapol, Heljan, Hornby, Kato, KR Models, Oxford Diecast, Peco, Rapido Trains UK, Realtrack Models and Revolution Trains, displaying examples of their latest projects and recently-released models.
Above: Mark Pollard’s highly-detailed ‘O’ gauge Old Elm Park (HM141) reflects a BR Western Region steam roundhouse during the 1960s. Trevor Jones/Hornby Magazine.
The Warley show also gathers together an impressive line-up of trade support and this year’s event includes Absolute Aspects, ADM Turntables, Artist James Green, C&L Finescale, Cheltenham Model Centre, Dart Castings, DCC Concepts, DCC Train Automation, DC Kits/Legomanbiffo, Deluxe Materials, Digitrains, DMG Technical, Durham Trains of Stanley, Ellis Clark Trains, Footplate Models, Frizinghall Models and Railways, Gaugemaster, Grimy Times, H&A Models, Hattons Model Railways, Hereford Model Centre, Kernow Model Rail Centre, KMS Railtec, Kytes Lights, LCut Creative, TMC, Modelu, P&D Marsh, Petite Properties, Primo Trees, Rails of Sheffield, Railtec Transfers, Scale Model Scenery, South West Digital, Ten Commandments, Tony’s Trains, Trains4U, West Hill Wagon Works and Youchoos amongst the exhibitors.
Above: Brian Woolrich’s ‘OO’ gauge Durston (HM106) is amongst the impressive line-up for this year’s show. Trevor Jones/Hornby Magazine.
Inspiration and advice will also be on tap from a team of experts in their respective fields through a series of demonstrations and displays.
This year’s show will also feature the Severn Valley Railway’s fullsize unique new-build British Railways Standard 3MT 82045 as its centrepiece, together with a ‘Palbrick’ wagon from the National Wagon Preservation Group.
Doors open at 9.45am on both days – 9.15am for advance ticket holders – with ticket prices set at £20 for adults (£18 in advance) and £1 for accompanied children. Twoday tickets are also available.
THE DETAILS
Event: Warley National Model Railway Exhibition
When: November 26/27 2022
Where: Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT
Times: Saturday 9.45am-6pm, Sunday 9.45am-5pm
Prices: Adults (£20 (£18 advance), accompanied children £1
