New Statfold partnership sees a Warley model show revival planned this autumn

IT may have withdrawn from its annual landmark exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham, but a new partnership with the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd will now see the Warley Model Railway Club continue putting on such shows at the Tamworth haven for smaller gauge steam locomotives.

In January, the club announced its annual November show, which had become renowned for including centrepiece displays of standard and narrow gauge locomotives and rolling stock, was to be stood down for the foreseeable future as organisers – some of who had been involved in the planning for nearly 30 years – wished to retire and there were insufficient replacements stepping forward in order to see it continue.

Now, the club has partnered with the team at Statfold Country Park to see a smaller-scale but no less impressive show join the events calendar listing there on October 12/13.

The exhibition will welcome up to 30 model railway layouts spanning an array of scales and eras, along with a choice selection of quality retail trade stands and manufacturers. A revamped programme of modelling demonstrations is currently being formulated to reflect the varying emergences of techniques, technologies and demographics of the modern and diverse hobby.

Moving forward

Tickets will also include full access to the Statfold museum’s collection of locomotives (the largest in the country) and rolling stock, along with unlimited rides on both the 2ft and 121/2in gauge railways, with themed attractions around the site for entertaining younger visitors.

Warley exhibition manager Nigel Smith said: “This new and inspiring venture is not just the old Warley National Model Railway Show reloaded. It’s about the club and our associated charity moving forward within the dynamics of this everpopular hobby.

“By joining forces with the people at Statfold, we can mitigate those daunting factors which resulted in the winding up of our NEC event and continue the club’s endeavours and charitable aims to promote the benefits and merits of railway modelling to the wider public. All in all, this will make for a splendid and invigorating day out for established enthusiasts and family groups alike.”

Statfold Country Park has ample on-site free parking but will also offer a free connecting bus service to and from Tamworth railway station and the town centre for those travelling by public transport. Catering services will also be available, situated at locations within the country park.

Further details will be available in due course via both the Statfold Country Park website, www.statfold. com, and the Warley MRC show website, thewarleyshow.co.uk

Over the February 10-18 half-term holiday, LMS Royal Scot 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot worked trains on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, substituting for BR Standard 7 No. 70000 Britannia, which was originally announced but saw cylinder repair work overrun. On Monday, February 12, the light of a setting sun catches Royal Scot as it passes through Green End, between Grosmont and Goathland. MAURICE BURNS

Right: Visiting from the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Peckett R2 0-4-0ST No. 1370 of 1915 May (right) ran alongside resident Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 0-4-0ST No. 7681 of 1951 Agecroft No. 7681/Bolton No. 1 on February 25 during the first of two successive 15th anniversary gala weekends at Whitwell & Reepham Railway, which also marked 65 years since the preBeeching closure of the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway network. The event featured an intensive timetable with demonstration goods trains. JAMES KINDRED