When we first came together as volunteers at Locomotion, we were given an exciting challenge—to help create a brand-new OO-gauge model railway layout for display in Main Hall. From the very beginning, we knew this was going to be something special.
The vision was not simply to build a railway, but to create something that would spark imagination, inspire future generations of railway modellers and give visitors a chance to connect with the hobby in a meaningful way. We wanted people to see what could be achieved with enthusiasm, creativity and teamwork using materials and models that anyone could buy and use themselves.
Before we picked up a single tool, we spent time sharing ideas, sketching plans and imagining what our railway could become. We talked through themes, scenery and how the layout could tell a story. Eventually, we agreed on a design that would take visitors on a journey through town and countryside, across a striking viaduct and into a miniature world full of character and detail.
From the technical side, we wanted the railway to run on a dual operating system—one analogue and one digital (DCC). Not only would this allow us to demonstrate the capabilities of different technologies, but it would also build resilience as if one system was to fail, we could still run with the other.
We also wanted the layout to show how a model railway comes to life. Rather than hiding the process, we decided to celebrate it—allowing visitors to see the different stages involved, from bare baseboards and trackwork through to detailed scenery, buildings, trees and tunnels.
By December 2025, it was finally time to begin building. There was a real sense of excitement as the project started to take shape.
Our first job was fitting the viaduct and shaping the landscape around it. Piece by piece, the layout began to grow from a simple framework into something that felt alive. We carefully laid the track, tested trains and made countless adjustments along the way. There were moments of frustration when things didn’t quite work as planned, but solving those problems together became part of the fun.
One of the most rewarding parts of the project was watching the town and station areas emerge. We spent hours deciding which buildings would fit best and where each one should sit. Some were ready-made, while others came as kits that needed patience and teamwork to assemble. Every little detail helped add personality to the layout. Colleagues joined in by helping to build some of the structures, and it was wonderful seeing everyone’s contributions become part of the finished scene.
One particularly moving moment came when we were entrusted with a collection of scratch-built models created by one of our volunteers who had sadly passed away. Their family wanted the models to continue bringing joy to others, and we were honoured to include them on the layout. Among them was a beautifully made signal box, which now carries a special OO-scale nameplate in their memory. It has become a lasting tribute to their passion and skill.
While some of us focused on buildings and details, others turned their attention to the landscape itself. Using wire, plaster and paint, we shaped hillsides and embankments around the viaduct, slowly transforming plain surfaces into realistic scenery. Layer by layer, grass and foliage were added until the whole area began to feel like a real countryside scene recreated in miniature.
Throughout the build, visitors regularly stopped to watch our progress. Seeing their reactions became one of the most enjoyable parts of the experience—whether that was recognition, excitement, curiosity or even confusion! We welcomed all interest and loved answering everyone’s questions.
Some visitors even brought along their own locomotives for us to run on the layout. Watching Mallard, a Deltic and even Gordon from Thomas & Friends make their way around the track brought huge smiles not only to visitors, but to us as well. Those moments of shared excitement reminded us exactly why we had taken on the project in the first place.
We also loved speaking to people who were curious about starting the hobby themselves. One visitor told us he had owned a baseboard and a box of track for years but had never known where to begin. After spending time chatting with us and asking questions, he left full of enthusiasm and determined to finally start building his own railway when he got home. Moments like that made all the hard work worthwhile.
Reaching the official launch date was an incredibly proud moment for all of us. What started as a collection of ideas and sketches had become a living, working railway enjoyed by hundreds of visitors.
But in many ways, this is only the beginning. One of the joys of model railways is that they are never truly finished, and we already have plenty of ideas for the future. We want to continue developing the station area, experiment with 3D printing, improve scenery details and add features such as working streetlights to bring even more life to the layout.
We’re also looking forward to introducing the second digital operating system on the inner circuit, which we hope to have fully running by the end of Summer 2026.
Most importantly, we hope the layout continues to inspire people—whether that means encouraging someone to rediscover an old hobby, helping a visitor start their very first railway, or simply bringing a smile to someone’s face as they watch the trains go by.