Wimborne Railway Society Exhibition (RAILEX) 22nd and 23rd March 2025

Introduction to Model Railways

Model Railways is a hobby shared by millions of people of all ages around the world. Famous modelling enthusiasts include Rod Stewart, Jools Holland, Pete Waterman, Eddie Izzard, Anne Diamond and Michael Jordan. At the heart of this enthusiasm is a fascination with scale models that reproduce lots of details of the real thing, right down to the rivets and bolts.

Those entering the hobby come via different routes. For railway enthusiasts who enjoy observing real trains the models are mementos of the romance of railway transport.

Some people like to collect, build and run the models of the trains they saw when they were very young, often taken to see them by their grandparents. They build working layouts featuring stations, signal boxes, scenery, vehicles, shops, people and places that they remember or imagine.

Others enjoy the historical research of looking back into our country’s industrial, engineering and railway heritage. But above all they all enjoy combining models with movement. They can control everything that happens or simply relax and watch their models run round, sometimes enhanced by sound too.

For some, model railways is a casual engagement, perhaps now and then buying a loco from Model Railway Solutions and reading about the hobby in specialist magazines.

Others go a little further, perhaps building a small layout on a board with some scenary and buildings. They like to visit local model shows like Wimborne Railex whenever they can.

For others model railways becomes a passion, they dedicate years to building a layout perhaps in their attic or garden. They join local clubs like Wimborne Railway Society and enjoy the social interaction, sometimes working in a team to construct exhibition quality layouts like ‘Wimborne’ and ‘Bournemouth West’.  But they all agree that model railways are a great way to escape the pressures of everyday life, yet in a way also enriching their daily world.

Come and find out more about taking the first steps to becoming a railway modeller or rediscovering model railways again at  Wimborne Railway Society, Chapel Lane, Wimborne or at our next Exhibition.

The Allendale Community Centre, Wimborne Minster, Saturday and Sunday March 22nd/23rd 2025.