By James Broadhurst

Last updated at 12:32, Tuesday, 20 November 2012

More than 1,000 train lovers from across the country flocked to Cumbria’s biggest model railway exhibition in Workington last weekend.

Andy Curl lights one of his candle-powered steam boats

The annual exhibition at Workington Leisure Centre, Moorclose, took place on Saturday and Sunday, with between 1,200 and 1,300 people turning up.

Organiser Philip Tuer, 58, of Carlisle, said: “We had between 300 and 400 children who all got in for free for the first time and that went down very well, especially in the current economic climate. “We had a number of sponsors, and local companies gave us raffle prizes. Without their help we wouldn’t have been able to go ahead with it.”

He added that he had spoken to people who had travelled from as far as the north east, Dumfries, Chester and Southport.

Workington MP Sir Tony Cunningham also attended the exhibition which featured about 20 model railway layouts, the largest of which was up to 25ft long and the smallest only 4ft.

The exhibition included clockwork models that were converted to run on steam. There were 13 trade stands.

Mr Tuer added: “The vast majority of traders went away happy and the demonstrators were starting to get hoarse by the end of the weekend because they spoke to so many people.”

Solway Rail Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation with a committee of 12 volunteers, ran the event.

First published at 11:37, Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk