Modellers were on the right track at Bognor show

The junior members of the town’s model railway club were the youngest people to have their work on show in its annual exhibition.

The eight enthusiasts played a large part in creating Troutbeck Bridge OO gauge layout based on a Lake District village which was on view for the first time at last weekend’s exhibition.

Among those who built the two-track display was Harry Triggs, aged ten. He was inspired to join the club after he visited last year’s exhibition and was able to drive some trains around a display.

“Building a layout keeps you quiet and occupied,” he said. “It’s better than playing a computer game. It’s more realistic.”

Fellow modeller Joshua McPeake, nine, said: “I’m happy to see the finished layout. I’m proud to see it on display.”

Aaron Wallace, 14, built the base of the layout and painted some of the roads. “It feels like everyone has put something towards it,” he added.

Exhibition manager Paul Hopkins said Troutbeck Bridge was created from nothing by the young members from a 12-week course last year.

“They did an awful lot of the work. As well as construction, there was a lot of theoretical things about how railways work.

“Starting the junior section is all about reaching out. Railway modelling has a lot of young members and old members and we can’t carry on with just the old members,” he said.

There were 14 layouts on show in the exhibition at Felpham Community College; various trade stands took the total to nearly 40 to fill two halls.

The winner of the Penfold Cup awarded to the best display by Bognor’s town mayor, Cllr Jim Brooks, was Ottosscwhande by Iris and David Guscott.

The exhibition has come as Bognor Regis Model Railway Club, whose current format dates from the 1970s, is booming with almost 50 members. Its premises in the Aldingbourne Community Sports Centre are bursting at the seams.

Planning permission is being sought to bring a portable building to the site to ease the immediate space shortage.