The Christmas Model Railway Show returns with fun for all the family

Manchester Model Railway Society, the third oldest model railway group in the world, is preparing to open its 84th public exhibition this December.

The Manchester Model Railway Society’s annual exhibition attracts enthusiasts from not just the UK, but from across the globe - with this year's event even attracting a visitor from Australia.

This year’s exhibition, which takes place over the weekend of December 9th and 10th at The Sugden Centre, will showcase experiences and enthusiastic modellers as they deliver interesting demonstrations and answer questions from the audience.

There will also be a range of stalls from a variety of traders, societies and organisations, stocking unique, small gifts for the transport enthusiasts in your life.

The exhibition is the perfect day out for not only those who love transport but also for novices who simply fancy wandering around the stalls and learning more about this fascinating hobby.

Hundreds each year are drawn to the unique opportunity of being hands-on with the layouts and being able to operate several themselves.

Exhibition coordinator, Philip Sweet, commented on how one keen ticket holder is travelling to the exhibition from the other side of the world.

“We usually get three or four visitors who fly in from Ireland or France to visit the show, but this is exceptional," he said. "The MMRS is the third oldest railway modelling group in the world. This shows we have a worldwide reputation as well.”

The ticket was bought by Dean Craddock from Perth in Western Australia and was sold only hours after they first went on sale at the beginning of September. Dean is an ex-pat from the West Midlands who is visiting his family for Christmas and hopes to squeeze in as much railway