January can be a real chore of a month. The festivities of Christmas and New Year have passed and people are back into the drudgery of work.
The mornings remain dark and cold and many people will be counting the cost of a possible overspend during the holidays. It is normally a month that Brits just want to get over and done with but this January sees a little treat for at the end for model railway enthusiasts. On January 25th and 26th, Barton Peveril College will play host to the Southampton Model Railway Exhibition with vendors from all over the region set to be in attendance.
Hot on the heels of the London Model Engineering Exhibition, which is due to take place at Alexandra Palace this weekend (January 17th to 19th), the Hampshire event will be a slightly less high profile event. However, there will be a number of top names from the world railway modelling that will be in attendance to give their expert advice on how to get the best out of their own collection.
Southampton Model Railway Society will be hosting the event and the group has been an institution in the city since it was formed way back in 1966. The society has been meeting every week since the Swingin' Sixties and as of January 2014 has a new home in the shape of Kemps Quay. Members meet every Wednesdays and Fridays with the days being dedicated to either construction and modelling or operating nights.
The group boasts a number of impressive layouts, it believes that its permanent layouts "reflect the diversity of interest" that members hold. It currently has Casterbridge in 7mm/O Gauge, Ackthorpe in 4mm/OO Gauge and Lowe Quay in 4mm/OO Gauge. The society states that this displays the range of prototype and modelling that its members has.
Casterbridge, Ackthorpe and Lowe Quay are just a selection of the displays that visitors will be able to view at the exhibition. Modellers from all over the region will be bringing their own personal layouts which will now be impressing visitors. Among the confirmed layouts is Yeoton Wharf, Horfield and Angel Bank all in various configurations, showing the diversity among the modellers from the Hampshire area.
There is the chance for both novice and experienced modellers to see some demonstrations from a selection of the best in the business. Roger Slade will be giving a talk on White Metal Kits while Roy Mears will be shedding light on LNER Coaches. Both David Smith and Phil Read will be talking at length about the benefits of O Gauge Modelling and Peter Bailey will be giving a demonstration on Water Colour Painting.
Southampton Model Railway Exhibition is sure to be a great day out for all the family not matter what their modelling skillset. Anyone from a complete novice to an absolute professional is welcomed to view some of the best layouts in the south of England.
Tickets are priced at £7 for adults, £6 for senior citizens, £3 for children aged between five and 15 while a family ticket (two adults and two children) will cost £17.