Behind the Backscene
This month, we fire the questions at laser-cutting boffin Julie Lightburn, who was greatly inspired by Blue Peter as a child.
Julie Lightburn is the owner of the laser-cutting specialists York Modelmaking and the online shop York Model Rail.
1 What is your earliest railway memory?
I guess I was about 12 months old when my dad took me to the York Model Railway Show. I was fascinated by all of the layouts.
2 What is your most memorable train journey?
I would like to say it was my first trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and my first trip on a steam train. But, in reality, the most memorable was when a bullet shattered the glass doors of our carriage just outside of Paris!
3 Do you have a favourite railway station?
It has to be York, for the sheer magnificence of the sweeping curved roof. I was thrilled to recently have the job of laser-cutting plywood roof girders for a model of York station by Kirtley Model Buildings.
4 How did you get into the hobby industry?
I trained as an architectural model maker and started working for York Modelmaking straight from college. We started laser-cutting for model railways when the building trade was badly hit by the recession of 2008.
5 What hobbies do you have?
I’m also a professional landscape artist, but as I have very little time to paint I see this as a hobby rather than a profession.
6 Have you ever built a model railway?
I’ve never had the time to build my own layout, but I’m very proud to have played a small part in helping numerous railway modellers create some spectacular layouts.
7 If you could build your dream model, what would it be?
It would have to be a fictitious railway layout so that I could incorporate all of my favourite components that I’ve made for other people over the last 12 years. Please forgive me for mixing up architectural styles from all over the world!
8 Who is your hero?
Can I have three please? John Noakes, Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves, the 1970s Blue Peter presenters. All of their various craft projects really inspired me as a child.
10 Where do you find your inspiration?
The lovely feedback I get from my customers and the photographs they send me of their models.
11 What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
My biggest challenge was taking over the model railway part of the model making business when the owner retired four years ago.
12 What has been the best decision you’ve ever made?
My first answer was going to be deciding to buy out the model rail business, but my husband interjected that surely it was deciding to marry him. As he’s been my chief assistant since lockdown I’d better agree! And, of course, when I took Paul’s surname it was perfect for the laser-cutting business (lasers use light to burn through the material).
13 If you could change anything about the hobby, what would it be?
I would like it to be ‘cool’ for young people to take up the hobby. One upside of the pandemic has been that more people have declared themselves lifelong model railway enthusiasts.
14 What was your big ambition as a child?
To be a professional artist/craftsman, but I had no idea I would end up being a modelmaker when I was the only girl who chose to help build a model castle at primary school. At this young age I wanted to be a bus conductor when I grew up.
15 If you had a time machine, where would you go?
That’s a tricky one. I think I’m going to plump for the 1870s, to be working alongside the NER chief engineer Thomas Elliot Harrison and architect Thomas Prosser, designing York Railway Station.
16 What’s your hidden talent?
If you need paint mixing to match any colour brickwork, I’m your girl.
17 Do you have any strange quirks that you’re prepared to share?
Probably too many to mention – I’ve never been one for doing anything just for the sake of fitting in.
18 What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever had?
Concentrate on the job in hand when the overall picture is just too daunting. I wish I was better at following this advice!
19 How would you like to be remembered?
I would simply like to be remembered as being kind and helpful wherever possible. But maybe in 100 years’ time I’ll also be remembered for my art and my paintings which will be hung in national galleries – we can all dream!
I would like it to be ‘cool’ for young people to take up the hobby