Model rail exhibition back at the Maritime Museum this month

Kilmarnock and District Model Railway Club will be setting up in the impressive Linthouse building at the harbourside once more.

The event will take place on Saturday, January 27, from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday, January 28, from 10am to 4pm.

The club's Bill Fitzpatrick said: "Since moving to the museum, the exhibitions have been a great success and 2023 was our best year ever. The museum has challenged us to surpass that in 2024."

The event always attracts a good crowd of rail enthusiasts and families - and the kids will have great fun examining some of the incredible models on display.

The host club will be bringing along its OO Gauge continuous run layout Netherton and its self-drive Thomas layout Ward’s Way, along with a 009 narrow gauge layout to show just how much track can be put into a small space.

Visiting layouts are Renfrewshire MRC with Ceddesfield Halt in O Gauge and Ayr MRG’s 009 narrow gauge Kyleport.

Private layouts are Douglas Sutherland with his Tram Layout; Tam Gauld with Carom East and Paul Slyfield with Clarance Sidings.

Bill said: "We are fortunate again to have Dave Coddington with his vintage model railway showcase. This year, he will show 1980s Hornby model railways – a good example of nostalgia."

The event will see a number of regular traders returning, including Douglas Blades with books and CDs, Lathalmond Models and Durham Trains of Stanley, each with a large stock of model railway essentials.

KMS, from Aberdeenshire, will be back with a range of more unusual items in DDC controls and loads of O Gauge goodies.  They will also welcome a new trader this year – Shedring Hobbies – with a range of scenic bits and pieces, many 3D printed, to bring life to a model railway.

Franzi’s scenic dioramas will be returning with the nice little extras to add to your layout and Graham McQuaker, from Irvine, is bringing Modern Transport Images with a range of ready-to-use and kit-built commercial road vehicles to populate the roads and streets on your layout.

Some societies will show their wares. The Model Electronic Railway Group are bringing their two demonstration layouts showing how electronics can be added to a layout.

The N Gauge Society of Scotland will be demonstrating an alternative scale – 2mm to the foot, for Modellers, perhaps short of space for a layout.

The Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group, now based at Waterside, will have a stand showing what they do in preserving industrial railways.

The Irvine Model Group will show what they can do with plastic kits of all shapes and sizes.

The Ayr Bay RC Yacht Club will show what happens at Irvine Pond on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday when the weed allows. The club races radio-controlled yachts in the pond usually attracting a lot of interest from the passing public.

The introduction of craft stalls last year was a remarkable success and many of them are returning this year with a tremendous range of skills on show, ready to be bought and treasured.

Prices for the exhibition are £7 (adults) and £5 (concessions ), with free entry for those aged under 16 (up to three per group).

If you require any further information, contact Pam Fitzpatrick, Honourary Secretary, on 01563 533393 or pamf.inverstourie@btinternet.com or contact Bill Fitzpatrick on 01563 533393.