Contact Model Rail

I love wayside stations and have a fantasy list of layout subjects ranging from Baltimore in Ireland to the Isle of Wight and the Golden Valley line in Herefordshire. But it’s the inner city terminus that I find the most exciting. There’s that sense of anticipation on arrival that, within minutes, you’re going to be outside in the hustle and bustle of a city. There’s also the sense of adventure as you gaze up at the departure board and think of all the exciting, faraway places that could be reached, simply by jumping aboard a train.

It’s easy to see why a station such as Liverpool Lime Street made such an impression on a young John Holden. It’s always a pleasure and a privilege to visit John and to see this wonderful layout at close hand. You really don’t get to see half of this layout, from its wonderful detail and artistry to the technical innovation, at exhibitions.

What really makes ‘Lime Street’ special is the way that it takes you back in time. Termini such as this are now the centrepoint of urban regeneration, but there are no trendy eateries or microbreweries on John’s layout. The crowds of miniature people stepping off the station are seemingly oblivious to the seedy goings on next door. This is what life used to be like and ‘Lime Street’ is full of such stories of how Liverpool used to be. That’s what we’ve focused on in this issue – all the stuff that brings ‘Liverpool Lime Street’ to life and makes it one of the best exhibition layouts in the country.

Richard Foster Editor