11th Apr 2026
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 are also happy to confirm that there will be a range of traders to see at Swanage and Corfe Castle Stations as well as Harmans Cross Village Hall.
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! You can also try your hand at driving a miniature Hymek Class Diesel at the Purbeck Mining Museum on the portable miniature railway thanks to the team at AMR. Bookings are now open for these experiences and they can be booked using the links which are further down this page.
Combined entry and travel tickets will be available on the day from our ticket offices and are also now available from our website. 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.
Please note that all layout applications for the 2026 show are now closed. We will reopen applications for the 2027 show later on this year.
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
Gants Hill (16.5mm Gauge), Owned by Martin Rich
Webb Locos - 7 ¼ gauge Scale locomotive based on a locomotive from The Metropolitan Waterboard Railway
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
Ridgeway (TT:120 Gauge), Owned by Yeovil Railway Centre/Wessex Wagons
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
- Badge Station - Corfe Castle Station
- Trains & Terrains - Corfe Castle Station
- Cheltenham Model Centre - Swanage Station
- Wessex Wagons - Harmans Cross Village Hall
- Christopher Awdry - Swanage Station
- Ben Powell Railway Art - Swanage Station
- The Dorset Print Man - Swanage Station
We also have a Model Weathering Demonstration at Corfe Castle hosted by Model Railway Solutions. They will have models on display which have been weathered professionally and visitors will be able to take part and try weathering models themselves. Gloves will be provided and it is free to take part.
A "Best In Show" award will be awarded to the best layout which will be voted for by visitors on the Saturday, with the winner being announced on Sunday. This has been generously arranged by Peco Model Railways and Railway Modeller Magazine who will be there to hand the award over to the winner.
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.
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.
Book in advance online for discounted prices.
Adults £25 day rover (on the day £30)
Children £12.50 (on the day £15)
Carer for a less abled passenger - Free
Under 5's - Free
Dogs - Free (may not be admitted to all venues)
Swanage Railway
Station House<br />
Railway Station Approach<br />
Swanage<br />
Dorset<br />
BH19 1HB