ScoutRail, Jan 2018

Our annual ScoutRail model railway show in the first weekend of January was another huge success. If you were one of the hundreds of visitors that came along, we hope you enjoyed it and thank you for your support!

The event started in 1984 and takes place every January in Exeter Hall. It's organized by volunteers and leaders from Kidlington Scout Group, and all of the proceeds go to maintaining our buildings and equipment.

This year, we had 11 model layouts with a mix of regular exhibitors alongside several models that haven't been seen at ScoutRail before. Visitors also had the opportunity to buy new models and scenery from trade stands.
In the centre of the main hall was a 30ft live steam railway, which has been part of the event for about 20 years now. Next to that was a large layout running Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, spending its 11th year with us, and we were pleased that Land Scout Asa Masterson joined us again with his popular Lego City layout.

Elsewhere were many other smaller models that have been built to represent real or fictitious railways around the world. Two of these were brand new layouts that have either just been finished or are still under construction. The Kineton layout that was in the small hall is a work in progress being built by the Leamington and Warwick Model Railway Club. By using photographs, books and talking to locals, the team are recreating a line that was demolished during the 1970s. The Frampton on Severn model was also being shown for the first time and has been built to show how a branch line terminus in rural Gloucestershire would have looked in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

It really was a great weekend and our thanks, as always, go to everyone who makes it possible: the exhibitors and traders; the volunteers; the Scout Leaders and Scouts; the caretaking team at Exeter Hall; and the many visitors who come year after year and make it all worthwhile.
We're already busy planning next year's event, which will take place on the weekend of the 5th and 6th January 2019. See you there!