Model dad’s miniature railway send-off
A model railway enthusiast is enjoying his hobby from beyond the grave. The ashes of Peter Hurst now travel in a special truck on the tracks he built. It was the idea of his sons who wanted a poignant tribute to their 88-year-old dad who spent 40 years tending to his impressive miniature train set in the attic of his Leeds home.
A man who loved model trains is now travelling on the tracks he helped create after his ashes were placed in a special truck.
Peter Hurst’s death from dementia in January caused a creative spark in his son’s mind to give him the perfect send off.
Simon Hurst, from Leeds, had his father’s ashes placed inside a model coal locomotive to take trips around the huge track based on the Great Western Railway.
The 53-year-old said: “I just thought it would be a nice touch. My dad lived in a four-bed house in Leeds and in this house he has a massive model railway laid out.
“He built it up from 1972 when we moved here and it was all based on the Great Western Railway as it was before it was all privatised.”
Peter, who was 88 when he died on January 20, was evacuated to Blaenavon in Wales during the Second World War and grew fond of the rail links and scenery.
The former customs and excise officer moved to his Burgess Hall Drive home in 1972 when Simon was aged just eight.
When he moved in he began building his own version of the GWR complete with realistic scenery.
The structure eventually measured more than eight metres long and five metres wide and had 60 tiny figurines, who could drink in four miniature pubs and worship in three churches.
Simon, a brewer at Goachers Ales, said: “His ashes have been put in a coal locomotive and that runs around the track that he built himself.
“It was a weird idea that I came up with and I didn’t know how the family would react to it.
“He was evacuated to Wales during the war and he got an affection for the Great Western Railway.
“His model was a bit of a hidden gem and he didn’t show it to many people.”
Simon and his brother Paul are now faced with a challenge to find a new home for the set . They hope someone will love it as much as their dad did.