Centenary exhibition celebrates 100 years of Manchester Model Railway Society

Manchester Model Railway Society is once again hosting its annual Christmas Model Railway Exhibition at the Sugden Sports Centre on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14 - a perfect pre-Christmas day out for all the family.

This year, a very special show will celebrate the club's centenary. It will feature 26 model railway layouts, including the original Thomas the Tank Engine created by Rev W Awdry for his son Christopher, as well as six layouts making their first public appearance.

The biggest layout in the show this year, at more than 40 feet long, is one which visitors can operate themselves. Manchester "Big Trams" first debuted in the early 1950s and has been entrancing children and their parents ever since.

In addition to layouts new and old, this year's exhibition includes a 'timeline' series of themed displays showcasing the history and development of real and model railways over the last two centuries.

As always, there will be a wide range of traders and societies, perfect for stocking up on gifts for transport enthusiasts of all ages.

Every year, hundreds of people attend the two-day exhibition, which has a reputation as one of the premier model railway exhibitions in the country.

Exhibitors come from all over the UK to take part, and this year is no exception. There are layouts that have travelled from Sussex, Edinburgh and Cardiff, and exhibitors who have, between them, won the prestigious national award, The Railway Modeller Cup, nine times.

Exhibition Coordinator, Philip Sweet, commented: “This year’s exhibition is the most complex we have ever staged - planning started in April 2021. There are many superb, award-winning, modern layouts, together with six layouts making their public debut.

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