One of the big layouts on display at the Wairarapa Railway Modellers biennial show. PHOTOS/JADE CVETKOV
John Lazo-Ron
The public got all on board the Wairarapa Railway Modellers biennial show with more than 1500 enthusiasts viewing train exhibits over two days.
The show, held at the Carterton Events Centre on the weekend of May 15-16, celebrated 40 years since the club’s founding.
Returning exhibits such as the Meccano layout and Kleindorf, a Marklin display where children were invited to control the trains, were very popular, alongside many exhibitions not seen before at the Wairarapa show.
Club member and model train enthusiast Jeremy Price said the club was chuffed at the public’s response to the show.
“The club is really happy how it all turned out with the number of layouts and exhibitors and the general public coming in to enjoy it all,” he said.
“It was a fantastic weekend.”
Price, who was also on the event’s organising committee, said the show was an opportunity to showcase the hobby of railway modelling to the public and hopefully attract future members.
“Railway modelling encompasses many different skills,” he said.
“Carpentry, electrics, building model trains and buildings, scenery, you name it. And the best part about it is that you’re creating a little world of your own with your train running through it.
“You’re setting the whole scene, and it’s entertaining.
“We want people to see that and get into what this is all about.”
This year was the first time the club had used the show as a means to raise funds for community organisations.
Price said the club built a railway model layout – with all the bits and pieces coming from different members – that was raffled off during the show, with the proceeds all going to Carterton Food Bank.
The raffle raised $1000.
The cafe at the show was also catered and run by members of the Masterton Holdsworth Lions Club.
The Lionesses had a successful weekend providing refreshments to railway enthusiasts, young and old, with profits going to the Lions Club.
“This year, we thought perhaps we should put something back into the community, so that’s what we did with the Carterton Food Bank and the Lions Club,” Price said.
