🗓️ Saturday 11th – Sunday 12th April 2026
Head down to Swanage Railway this weekend as it hosts its first ever Model Railway Weekend.
The brand new event will feature some 40 model layouts displayed at Swanage, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden stations, as well as at Harman’s Cross village hall.
See the heritage railway in miniature, alongside a range of layouts of different scales and gauges.
You’ll also get to cast your vote for your favourite model railway layout on the Saturday, with a trophy going to the Best in Show.
Plus, there’ll be the chance to meet author Christopher Awdry, who contributed to The Railway Series of books, which features Thomas the Tank Engine.
Christopher will be at Swanage Station on both days at the following times:
- 11.30am – 12:30pm
- 2pm – 3pm
Refreshments
Hidden Pizza will be at Harmans Cross village hall across the weekend, serving handmade, wood-fired pizzas, plus teas and coffees.
Layouts
Layouts on display are set to include:
Swanage Station
- Southwick (O Gauge), owned by Harry Pollard
- Broadstone (N Gauge), owned by Nick Lloyd and Josh Voce
- Redacre (00 Gauge), owned by Gavin Brown
- Orestone Quay (00 Gauge), owned by Graham Barnes
- Crookham Vale (009 Gauge), owned by BRMRC
- Gants Hill (16.5mm Gauge), owned by Martin Rich
Harmans Cross Station & Village Hall
- Bournemouth West (00 Gauge), owned by the Salisbury & South Wilts Railway Society
- Swanage Railway (00 Gauge), owned by Paul Edwards
- Shillingsford (00 Gauge), owned by Ron Randall
- Summitelse (2 Layouts), owned by Keith Dibden
- Fence House NCB (00 Gauge), owned by Ian Forsyth
- Rookery Lane (00 Gauge), owned by Tim Buck
- Harmans Cross Station Diorama, owned by Keith Jarman
- Harlyn Pier (O Gauge), owned by Richard Frost
- Kingsmouth (00 Gauge), owned by Alex Atkins
- Ridgeway (TT:120 Gauge), owned by Yeovil Railway Centre/Wessex Wagons
Corfe Castle Station
- Fornham Lane TMD (00 Gauge), owned by Zac Hopkins
- Corfe Castle (00 Gauge), owned by Hans van de Burgt and coming all the way from The Netherlands
- Bovington Junction (N Gauge), owned by RADMRC
- Barton St David (00 Gauge), owned by Ben Puddick
- Ravenscar (N Gauge), owned by Michael Banks
- Bembridge (00 Gauge), owned by Mark Pretious
- Oldshaw (P4 Gauge), owned by Guy Molyneux
- Memory Lane (Hornby Dublo), owned by Swindon Model Railway Club
- Puffin Colliery (00/009 Gauge combined), owned by Swindon Model Railway Club
- Swanage Station Diorama, owned by Robin Brasher
- Plus up to 6 additional layouts courtesy of the Swanage Sygnets Youth Group
Purbeck Mining Museum (Norden Station)
- Red Hook Bay (HO Scale), owned by Mike Carter
- Crovans Junction (00 Gauge), owned by Mark Foreman
- Dibsyard & Shelly’s Sidings (00 Gauge), owned by Duane Wingett
- Hillside Park (N Gauge), owned by Nigel Appleton
- 5″ Ride On Railway, owned by AMR (Separate tickets required)
Find the most up-to-date layout list, along with confirmed traders for the weekend on the Swanage Railway website: https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/model-railway-weekend
During the two-day event, there will also be the chance to drive one of the railway’s Class 08 diesel shunters at Swanage Station, under the guidance of one of the railway’s drivers.
Tickets
- Travel tickets: Tickets include free access to exhibition areas, including Harman’s Cross village hall
- Village hall entry only: £5 if you’re not travelling on a train
- Driver experience tickets: Available on Swanage Railway website
Travel tickets and village hall entry are available in advance or on the day.
For the latest updates, travel tickets and experience-booking, please visit the Swanage Railway website: www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events/view/model-railway-weekend
