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Model Railway Weekend

The Swanage Railway is hosting its first Model Railway Weekend between Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th of April. We are thrilled to be able to combine our full size railway with their smaller counterparts and we are sure you will be too!

Our Model Railway Weekend will include a range of different scales and gauges to see over the two day event, with different layouts and displays along the railway. Layouts will be on display at Swanage Station, Harmans Cross Station and Village Hall, Corfe Castle Station and Norden Station. 

We will also be offering the chance to drive one of our Class 08 Diesel Shunters from Platform One at Swanage Station during a short Driver Experience, where you will get to drive from the Station to our sidings and back again with one of our friendly and experienced drivers! Bookings will open for this experience closer to the event.

Travel tickets will be available on the day from our ticket offices as well as from our website in advance. The exhibition is free for all passengers with travel tickets including the Village Hall or a separate £5 entry ticket to the Village Hall will be available on the day for those without a travel ticket. 

If you’d like to exhibit at the event, please use the application form on our website to apply.

Confirmed layouts:

Swanage Station;

  • Southwick (O Gauge), Owned by Harry Pollard

  • Broadstone (N Gauge), Owned by Nick Lloyd and Josh Voce

  • Redacre (00 Gauge), Owned by Gavin Brown

  • Orestone Quay (00 Gauge), Owned by Graham Barnes

  • Crookham Vale (009 Gauge), Owned by BRMRC

 

Harmans Cross Station & Village Hall;

  • Bournemouth West (00 Gauge), owned by the Salisbury and South Wilts Railway Society

  • Swanage Railway (00 Gauge), owned by Paul Edwards

  • Shillingsford (00 Gauge), owned by Ron Randall

  • Summitelse (2 Layouts), owned by Keith Dibden

  • Fence House NCB (00 Gauge), owned by Ian Forsyth 

  • Rookery Lane (00 Gauge), owned by Tim Buck

  • Harmans Cross Station Diorama, owned by Keith Jarman

  • Harlyn Pier (O Gauge), owned by Richard Frost

  • Kingsmouth (00 Gauge), owned by Alex Atkins

 

Corfe Castle Station;

  • Fornham Lane TMD (00 Gauge), owned by Zac Hopkins

  • Corfe Castle (00 Gauge), Coming all the way from The Netherlands!  - Owned by Hans van de Burgt

  • Bovington Junction (N Gauge), owned by RADMRC

  • Barton St David (00 Gauge), owned by Ben Puddick

  • Ravenscar (N Gauge), owned by Michael Banks

  • Bembridge (00 Gauge), owned by Mark Pretious

  • Oldshaw (P4 Gauge), owned by Guy Molyneux

  • Memory Lane (Hornby Dublo), owned by Swindon Model Railway Club

  • Puffin Colliery (00/009 Gauge combined), owned by Swindon Model Railway Club

  • Swanage Station Diorama, owned by Robin Brasher

  • Plus up to 6 additional layouts courtesy of the Swanage Sygnets Youth Group

 

Purbeck Mining Museum (Norden Station);

  • Red Hook Bay (HO Scale), owned by Mike Carter 

  • Crovans Junction (00 Gauge), owned by Mark Foreman

  • Dibsyard & Shelly's Sidings (00 Gauge), owned by Duane Wingett

  • Hillside Park (N Gauge), owned by Nigel Appleton

  • 5" Ride On Railway, owned by AMR (Separate tickets required)

 

Confirmed traders:

- Model Railway Solutions - Corfe Castle Station

- Cheltenham Model Centre - Swanage Station

- Wessex Wagons - Harmans Cross Village Hall

- Christopher Awdry - Swanage Station

- Ben Powell Railway Art - Swanage Station

 

More layouts will follow and the website and event page will be updated accordingly - keep checking back to find out more!

 

Meet Christopher Awdry

We’re delighted to welcome Christopher Awdry, renowned author and son of the creator of The Railway Series, to Swanage Station on both days of the event.

Christopher will be at Swanage Station at the following times:
11:30 – 12:30 and 14:00 – 15:00

Famous for writing stories featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, Christopher will be selling a selection of his own books, including the 20th anniversary re-release of Sodor: Reading Between The Lines, as well as favourites from his Eastbourne Miniature Railway series.

Visitors will have the chance to meet Christopher, hear him talk about his work, and have books signed. A range of Thomas the Tank Engine titles will also be available to purchase from our gift shop for signing on the day.

 

Food & Refreshments

Hidden Pizza will be at Harmans Cross Village Hall across both days, serving teas, coffees, and their much-loved handmade pizzas, freshly cooked in a traditional wood-fired pizza oven. A perfect stop for lunch or a relaxed break during your visit.

Dates for Model Railway Weekend

11th Apr 2026 Book Tickets
12th Apr 2026 Book Tickets

Additional Experiences

Fancy adding something extra to your Model Railway Experience?
Make your day even more memorable with one of our additional experiences. 

Class 08 Diesel Driver Experience - Swanage Station

Jump aboard one of our Class 08 Diesel Shunters at Swanage Station and take control of the locomotive during our taster experience under the watchful eyes of one of our experienced drivers. Your experience will include driving the Class 08 from Swanage Platform up to our sidings within Station limits and then back again to the Station. You'll get to feel the power and torque of the locomotive as you move the power handle through the "notches" and then try your hand a braking, all whilst you enjoy the drivers' eye view. This experience costs £25.00 and it lasts approximately 10 minutes and it will include an opportunity for photos at the end. Participants must be a minimum of 18 years old. 

BOOK NOW

 

Miniature Railway Driver Experience - Norden Station/Purbeck Mining Museum

Jump on board one of AMR's five inch miniature locomotives during your very own Driver Experience and try the controls for yourself whilst the team from AMR show you the ropes. AMR will be hosting the Driver Experience on board one of their Hymek locomotives and participants will get to drive and shunt their own train and drive over a working level crossing on their fully signalled railway. AMR even use their own token system, so whilst passenger trains pass by you'll get to form your own train and then when you're given the green light its time to get going! This experience costs £25.00 and it lasts approximately 20 minutes. Participants must be a minimum of 12 years old.

BOOK NOW

 

Miniature Railway Travel Tickets

Come along to the Purbeck Mining Museum at Norden Station and jump on board the AMR, a five inch portable miniature railway! The team from AMR will be bringing a fleet of locomotives, including two steam locomotives which will all be running along the line. During your journey you will pass the bottom of the Purbeck Mining Museum and you'll see the full scale of the impressive mine shaft, you may even see some other miniature locomotives on the line as you whizz past signals and over a fully functional level crossing. Adult tickets are £3.00 and Children are £1.50 per trip. 

This experience will be bookable on the day. 

Terms and Conditions

  • Dogs are permitted on trains and platforms. If someone in your party is nervous around dogs, contact [email protected] before your visit.
  • If you wish to sit near another family, please make one booking to cover all seats.
  • Alcohol may only be consumed if purchased from Swanage Railway bars or outlets. Bringing your own alcohol is not permitted.
  • Please treat staff, volunteers, and fellow passengers with courtesy and respect. Swanage Railway may refuse entry or travel to anyone whose behaviour causes concern.
  • Please be considerate of our heritage, community, and neighbours during your visit.