HMC to host new show “The Great Electric Train Show”
Thousands of enthusiasts are expected to converge at the Heritage Motor Centre when it hosts the Great Electric Train Show with Hornby Magazine from Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 October. This superb new model railway event will feature over 25 top quality layouts across all of the scales including the Taunton MRG’s Bishop Lydiard-based Bath Green Park, a stunning recreation of the Somerset & Dorset Joint railway’s northern terminus.
Other star attractions include Peter Midwinter’s Great Tunsley Dale, which features a Peak District limestone quarry in the late 1950s/60s; Empingham, a Northamptonshire branch with ironstone workings by Peter Rumbelow; 82G, an atmospheric ‘O’ gauge Western/Southern shed layout; Ian McDonald and Martin Wright’s Kirkby Stephen West, depicting the Settle & Carlisle line during the steam/diesel transition era; and Grathwaite Junction, the South Cumbria MRA’s blue diesel era layout in ‘OO’.
Trade support will include Hornby Hobbies, Bachmann, Dapol, Penketh Models, Cheltenham Models, Grimy Times, DC Video & Kits, Skytrex, Mercian Models and many more. Several modelling demonstrations are also planned and Hornby Magazine will operate at least two of its layouts including the ‘O’ gauge Clayhanger Yard industrial layout being built by Phil Parker of Parker’s Guide fame and editor Mike Wild’s DCC Bolsover & Seven Lane Pit which features sound and smoke unit fitted locomotives in ‘OO’.
Tom Caren, Show Manager for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We are delighted to be hosting the Great Electric Train Show which is a brand new show and one that I’m sure will be incredibly popular with enthusiasts and those looking for a great day out”.
Free courtesy buses will operate on the Saturday connecting the exhibition with the main line network at Leamington Spa station. Doors will open both days at 9am with the actual show commencing at 10am. There will be express ticket lanes for those who buy their tickets in advance. Prices on the day are adults/OAPs £10, children £8 and a family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) costing just £30. Advanced admission prices are adults/OAPs £9 and children £7. There are no further discounts on the family ‘on the day’ price, which already represents excellent value.
Continuing with the theme of trains, Tim Bryan, Head of Collections at the Heritage Motor Centre will conduct a lecture on the Golden Age of Steam on Saturday 19 October from 2pm – 3pm. Tim will look back at the railways in the 1920?s/30?s, an era when despite increasing road competition, train travel and steam traction were still prominent.
Before becoming Head of Collections at the HMC in 2004, Tim worked at STEAM: Museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon. He has written and lectured extensively on transport and heritage topics. Tim’s 16th book ‘The Inheritance: the GWR between the Wars’ was published in June 2013.
Booking in advance is advisable to secure a place. The cost is just £5 per person for the lecture only or £14 for day entry into the Museum including the lecture. Seats may be available on the day subject to availability. Please see the website for further event details at heritage-motor-centre.co.uk.
