The third Cam and Dursley Model Railway Exhibition, run by the Dursley Wings & Wheels Society in conjunction with the Gloucester Gauge 0 Group, was held at Dursley Community Centre on Sunday.
This show was a resounding success and had record numbers – seeing just over 340 visitors from families to enthusiasts attending throughout the day. Profits from the show will be going to the SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) and the Dursley Community Centre charity trust. This year’s show remit was the same as previous Dursley shows, working with local charities in and for the community.
Due to the success of the first show in 2024 the donation was used to install a defibrillator unit at Dursley Community Centre and Rednock School Sports Hall that is still in community use today.
This year’s exhibition was held across three rooms and a bar area, showcasing working model railway layouts and dioramas in N/O/TT/OO/gauges, and two rather large 3.5-inch and 5-inch gauge model steam locomotives, along with trade stands and a 3D printing and model making demonstrations. The Avon Valley Railway (based at Bitton), Dean Forest Railway and the Vale of Berkeley Railway also had stalls that proved popular with the visiting public. Outside SARA had a rescue boat and vehicle on display which proved to be very popular.
The show had a part emphasis on local railways and featured a (OO gauge) fine scale model of Bristol Docks with working cranes, a model of Berkeley Station circa 1960 and Jack Boskett’s fine scale model of Tewkesbury Engine Shed. Also, a stand with local Dursley Branch Line photos and memorabilia was on show along with local rail historian Ian Thomas on hand answering questions about the history of the area’s railways. The exhibit hall upstairs had a very large O gauge test track layout (owned and operated by the Gloucester Gauge O Group) that is 28ft x 18ft.
A large scenic N gauge model railway on show (among other excellent layouts) in the downstairs main hall named Binegar – this is an accurate scale model of the named station and yard on the Somerset and Dorset Railway. In fact, there was a total of 13 model railway layouts and dioramas of outstanding quality operating throughout the day across the three rooms, made by clubs and individuals from Somerset, Bristol, Thornbury, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Tewksbury and the Midlands. There was also a Thomas the Tank Engine layout that could be operated by children and parents on the day, proving to be much fun!
Wings and Wheels Society Dursley and the Gloucester Gauge O Group would like to thank all the Exhibitors, local WI Ladies, SARA volunteers, Dursley Community Centre, demonstration and society stands along with their enthusiasm and help for the show and making it possible. Also, we would really like to thank the families, public, enthusiasts that visited the show supporting us throughout the day for making this a highly enjoyable and successful community event to raise money for charities, for without them this show would have not been possible.
Words and pictures by Rich Kelsey
