A re-creation of Rishton station in miniature proved to be a big hit at the 50th annual model railway exhibition held by the Blackburn and East Lancashire Model Railway Society at the Hyndburn Leisure Centre over the weekend of 5th and 6th September.
The N Gauge layout - that’s half the size of 00 at a scale of 2mm to the foot - portraying the station and its surroundings in the 1950s/60s when steam reigned supreme was one of the most popular attractions at the event. Visitors voted it the Best N Gauge layout, a well-deserved reward for the proud quartet who toiled for over two years at the society’s Oswaldtwistle Mills HQ to build it - Barry Davies, John Hadcroft, Graham Holden and Keith Johnson - and their helpers in running it at the show.
Society treasurer John Rocca hailed their 50th show as a great success with more visitors than they had expected - including many new faces - and he said the “friendly” nature of the event had been remarked upon by many of those who attended. The many traders who supported the show reported good business and were eager to book for next year’s event.
Apart from the Rishton layout, the biggest hit of the show was the impressive 00 Gauge Museum of Transport, which won both the Visitors’ Trophy for “Best in show” and an award for Technical Merit. The visiting layout of Clun won an award for its signalling.
And there was one other lucky winner at the show - a youngster from Rishton who won the raffle for a train set.
The society meets weekly at Oswaldtwistle Mills Business Centre and new members are always welcome. For further information, contact Honorary Secretary Andy Shaw on 01254-238187. |
