The Model Railway Journal Exhibition held at Central Hall, Westminster in November 1990 is often regarded as one of the finest curated model railway shows ever staged. I was only seven at the time and missed the opportunity to experience it firsthand – but its legacy left a lasting impression. This page gathers together some of the layouts that have most inspired me over the years. Some are large, some are small. A few are home-based; others were built for exhibition. They span a wide range of scales, locations and periods, but all share one thing in common: they capture something essential about railway modelling at its best.
Together, they represent my personal vision of the ultimate model railway exhibition.
British
- Amberdale by Philip Harvey
- Arun Quay by Gordon Gravett (7mm scale/O gauge)
- Ashburton by Chris Lamacraft (4mm scale/EM gauge)
- Ashburton by John Birkett-Smith (2mm scale/N gauge)
- Bayards Dock by Bob Haskins (EM gauge)
- Belfield Hall Estate by Stephen Brown
- Blea Moor by Peter Kirmond (4mm scale/OO gauge)
- Blueball Summit by Andrew Bartlett
- Bodmin General by The North London Group (4mm scale/P4 gauge)
- Borchester Market by Frank Dyer
- Bradfield Gloucester Square by John Elliot
- Bramblewick by Tom Harland
- The Buckingham Branch including Leighton Buzzard Linesale by Revd. Peter Denny (4mm scale/EM gauge)
- Butley Mills by Iain Rice
- Carron Road by Nigel Bowyer (4mm scale/EM gauge)
- Catcott Burtle by Chris Nevard (4mm scale/OO gauge)
- Chapel Wharf by David Mallott (2mm scale/2FS gauge)
A dockside cameo in a suitcase, Chapel Wharf was inspired by Admiralty Wharf in Plymouth and stands as a benchmark for compact 2mm finescale modelling. - Charmouth by David Taylor (7mm scale/O-16.5 gauge)
- Chee Tor by the Manchester Model Railway Society
- Chipping Norton by Keith Armes (2mm finescale)
- Churston by Keith Ettle
- City Basin Goods by Stephen Dance
- Combwich by Chris Nevard (4mm scale/OO gauge)
- Copenhagen Fields by The Model Railway Club (2mm scale/2FS gauge)
- Craigcorrie & Dunalistair Railway by Ted Polet
- Ditchling Green by Gordon Gravett (7mm scale/O gauge)
- Drws-y-Nant by Nigel Ashton (2mm scale/2FS)
- Engine Wood by Tim Maddocks
- Exebridge Quay by Dave & Shirley Rowe (4mm scale/Broad Gauge)
- Faringdon by Stephen Williams
- Gravelly Oak by Ed Purcell
- Grindley Brook by The Hillingdon Railway Modellers
- Hambleden Valley by Steve Howard
- Hambledon Moor by Don Mason
- Highbury Colliery by Jerry Clifford
- Hursley by Martyn Welch (7mm scale/O gauge)
- Inkerman Street by The Model Railway Journal Team (7mm scale/O gauge)
- Inverneuk by Anthony Yeates (2mm scale/2FS)
- The Kendal Branch by David Jenkinson
- Laira MPD by John Dornom
- Leintwardine by Iain Rice (4mm scale/P4)
- Llanastr by Rodney Hall (4mm scale/P4)
- Llangunllo by Geoff Forster
- The Lutton Branch by Frank Roomes
- Lydham Heath by Barry Norman (‘S’ Gauge)
- Lymebrook Yard by Steve Farmer
- Maristow by Bob Harper
- Meldon West by Tom Blount
- Middlepeak by Geraint Hughes
- Midsomer Norton by Alan Smith (2mm scale/2FS)
- Mini-MSW by Alan Whitehouse – 2mm Scale/2FS
- Modbury by Ian Smith (2mm scale/2FS)
- Moors View by Paul Holwill (2mm scale/N gauge)
- The North Cornwall Railway by John Greenwood
- North Shields by Chris Pendleton (4mm scale/P4)
- Oldshaw by Andrew Bartlett
- Orford by Paul Clarke
- Penmaenpool by Geoff Taylor (4mm scale/OO gauge)
- Petherick by Barry Norman (4mm scale/EM gauge)
- Port Sandford by The North Devon Model Railway Club
- Portchullin by Mark Tatlow (4mm scale/P4 gauge)
- Runswick Bay by The Keighley Model Railway Club
- Ruyton Road by John Spencer (4mm scale/EM gauge)
- Saffron Street by David Lane
- Shell Island by Neil Rushby (4mm scale/EM gauge)
A masterclass in atmospheric minimalism, Shell Island depicts the end of a remote Cambrian branch line with restrained composition, believable operation, and a powerful sense of place. - Sherton Abbas by David Stone
- St. Erth by Steve Martin
- St. Merryn by The Scalefour Society South London Area Group
- Stoney Lane Depot by Grahame Hedges
- Totnes by John Birkett-Smith
- Treneglos by Chris Tooth, Damian Ross & John Wordle
- Trerice by Iain Rice (4mm scale/P4 gauge)
A compact Cornish cameo layout set on the fictional North Cornwall Minerals Railway, Trerice captures the quiet end of a clay branch with immersive scenery, elegant trackwork, and deep personal resonance. - Tucking Mill by Jerry Clifford
- Wansbeck Road by Mick Simpson
- Wenford Bridge Goods Depot by John Greenwood
- Wolverstone by Iain Rice
- The Yaxbury Branch by Jas Millham
- Ynysarwed Sidings by Stephen Harris
- York by Peter Kirmond
North American
- Allagash Railway by Mike Confalone (HO scale)
- Boston & Maine’s New Hampshire Division by Paul Dolkos (HO scale)
- CP Rail’s Newport & Lyndonville Subdivision by Neil Schofield (HO scale)
- The Columbia & Western by Mark Dance (N scale)
- Conrail Lehigh Line by Mike Rose (HO scale)
- The Crooked Mountain Lines by Robert Hegge (¼” scale)
- Delaware and Hudson Model Railroad by Ken Karlewicz (HO scale)
- The Galt Sub by Bob Fallowfield (HO scale)
- The Kingsbury Branch by Bill Denton (N scale)
A tightly observed N-scale cameo of Milwaukee Road’s urban Kingsbury Branch. Bill Denton’s layout distils the gritty complexity of 1970s Chicago into just 12ft, with masterful trackwork, industrial realism, and a lasting influence on urban modellers. - Lehigh Valley by Ron Papiercavich (N scale)
- The Moffat Road by Mike Danneman (N scale)
- Roque Bluffs by Iain Rice (HO scale – P87)
- Southern Alberta Rail by Grant Eastman (N scale)
- Tenino Western Railroad by Tyler Whitcomb (N scale)
- The Virginian & Ohio by Allen McClelland (HO scale)
- The Yosemite Valley Railroad by Jack Burgess (HO scale)
Continental European
- Abendstern Nebenbahn by Vikas Chander (HO scale)
- Biscatrain by Jean-Claude Barbut (HO scale)
- Catalunya by Shirley Rowe
- Filisur by Barrie Kelsall
- De Graafstroom by Vincent de Bode, Peter van der Kooij & Claude Moinier (3.5mm scale/12.26mm gauge – P87n3.5)
- Pempoul by Gordon & Maggie Gravett
- Rambach (Pfalz) by Andreas Mayer
- Sonneberg by Michael Köhler
What layout first made you stop and think differently about railway modelling? I’d love to know what’s left an impression on you.