Melksham train show is 'among the best in the region'

Trainwest 2009 attracted hundreds of people to the Christie Miller Sports Centre in Bowerhill at the weekend, with some “exceptional” displays among the 30 on show.

Exhibitor Dave Simpson, 44, who runs the Gas Cupboard Models and Hobbies store in Warminster Road, Westbury, said he was very impressed with the standard of model railway layouts.

He said: “Normally you get two or three displays which are exceptional, but this time it was the norm.

“It was an extremely good show - one of the best in this area.

“It was very, very busy on the Saturday and slightly quieter on the Sunday, but there was still a fair few people.

“I would say there was a variety of people there including those who are just starting out as well as chaps who have wanted to make one, but have never got round to it.”

Mr Simpson, who has a 16ft by 18ft model railway display at home in his garden shed, said the hobby still got a bad press.

“A lot of people leave model railways behind in their teens and don’t come back to it until later in life, usually after being married for a while,” he said.

“There’s not a huge amount of people between 14 and 35 involved.

“It wasn’t until I opened the shop that I I realised how many people like model trains - they came out of the woodwork.

“When I built my layout my friends at the pub took the mickey but when they come round and look at the display it’s a different matter.”

Among the displays was one representing the high speed railway link between London and the Channel Tunnel by Stuart Conlon and Tim Hitch, of the Calne-based Bentley Model Railway Club.

Brighton Model Railway Club members created a display inspired by the Rio Grande Railroad in North America, while Ian Lampkin and Dan Spalding from Redhill showed off their display of the Smrzovka railway station in the north east of the Czech Republic.

Model shops and book sellers were among those to set-up trade stands at the event.