There was a real experience to be had in Folkestone last weekend (4th-5th October 2009). Two floors at the Leas Cliff Hall were taken up with railway model makers from all over England and perhaps beyond.

There were displays and suppliers of trains, kits, miniature trees, people, buildings, factories, diodes, cogs, motors… Anything – as long as it was tiny.If you ever want to be truly fascinated by the world we live in, do not miss the next Model Railway Exhibition – undoubtedly to grace Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall again next autumn.

I had to rid myself of the notion that hobbies were light-hearted, solitary undertakings and enter the world of the obsessive miniature train society. Attention to detail was perhaps the biggest understatement you could make…


Some photos from the exhibition:

Six men – from the same model railway club judging by their uniform – pointing out that one of the lesser known 1993 locos had a largely gun grey undercarriage rather than black (I paraphrase).

It was impossible to deny the sense of pride felt by the exhibitors, who clearly spend many-a-day in custom built model train dens or attics.

Playing God? Perhaps part of the enjoyment is being in control.

One of the reasons why a model railway is exhibited is so that the exhibitor can pass on his knowledge to – and perhaps be admired by – aspiring model train enthusiasts. Here, possibly more important than the train itself was the realism of the lake. And below, how the lake was made.

The whole venue was packed with nervous excitement. This man had to frantically dive into his bag for his camera before the train detached its carriage.

and even a video :

Some displays were extraordinary. Despite inconsistencies of scale and era, if ever there was a professional display, it must look something like this. Even the music was rapturous!


Yes, obsessive geeks to many, but it was easy to see that with a little childlike fascination a normally sane person could easily get sucked in. I found myself picking up a few business cards before I left and hoping that one day I might have a son…