Model trains, real ales and cakes galore: Axminster’s big day out at the station
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
The Axminster Model Railway Exhibition is set to return to the town’s railway station on Sunday, 27th July 2025.
Taking place from 10.00am to 3.00pm, the event will once again be free to attend, with donations welcomed to support future community activities. This unique gathering of modelling enthusiasts is being organised in partnership between local charity For the Love of a Railway and two of the station’s businesses, the Railway Kitchen café and The Ale Way, with additional support from South Western Railway staff.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural exhibition, which drew in visitors of all ages, this year’s event promises to be even bigger and more varied. A wide selection of model railway layouts, displays, and family-friendly activities will be spread across the station, making it a popular draw for both seasoned modelling buffs and those new to the hobby.
At least ten working model railway layouts will be on show, covering a range of scales and themes. One highlight is a detailed model of Axminster Station as it appeared in the 1960s, complete with recognisable town centre buildings. ‘Shobrooke Road’, a fictional preserved station imagined on a never-built branch line between Crediton and Thorverton, will also feature. Another creative layout is ‘Jenton Quarry’, cleverly constructed to fit inside a metal cargo trunk.
Additional displays include ‘Country Railway’, which depicts a rural scene with grazing animals, a pond, and a road crossing. A number of large-scale G-Gauge continental locomotives will be presented in static form. The exhibition will also include ‘Stenson’, a compact N-gauge layout that operates across two levels and has been kindly loaned by model railway manufacturer PECO.
Beyond railway modelling, visitors can expect to see a variety of static models, including a selection of wartime boats from Uplyme Model Dockyard, showcasing vessels that served during the Second World War. Seaton Scale Modellers will present a tribute to the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with an impressive display of World War Two vehicles and aircraft.
There will be model-making demonstrations throughout the day, a collection of railway memorabilia, and an interactive ‘drive-the-line’ simulator offering visitors a chance to experience what it’s like to operate a train. A photographic exhibition featuring the work of a local train driver will also be on display, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the region’s railways.
Refreshments will be available throughout the day. The Railway Kitchen will be open during the event, serving breakfast, lunch, cakes, coffee, and their popular new bubble tea. Now in its third year, the café has been nominated for The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants of 2025. The Ale Way will also be open, offering a choice of locally brewed ales and light refreshments.
Organisers hope the exhibition will once again bring together the local community and introduce more people, particularly children, to the rewarding and creative hobby of model railways.
With something for all ages, it promises to be an enjoyable and memorable day out.
More details about the exhibition and For the Love of a Railway can be found on their official website:
https://fortheloveofarailway.co.uk/axminster_model_railway_exhibition
( Photos courtesy of Axminster Model Railway Exhibition & The Railway Kitchen 📸 )