National Festival of Railway Modelling Returns to NEC Birmingham
Britain’s largest model railway show convened at NEC Birmingham on November 22 and 23, drawing hundreds of enthusiasts to view more than 60 curated layouts and explore over 100 exhibitor stands. The event mattered for hobbyists because it combined high quality display layouts, practical demonstrations and networking opportunities that can influence purchases, projects and club activity across the country.
The National Festival of Railway Modelling returned to the NEC Birmingham on November 22 and 23, bringing together an extensive selection of model railway layouts, traders and clubs. More than 60 layouts were on display, selected by the editorial team at British Railway Modelling magazine, and over 100 exhibitors filled the halls with vendor and manufacturer stands, traders and club displays. The show maintained its reputation as the premier event in the UK hobby calendar.
Visitors moved through a varied programme that included the World of Railways stage featuring industry experts, practical demonstrations and scenery clinics aimed at both newcomers and experienced modellers. Layouts covered a broad range of scales and subjects, from OO, O and N to HO and specialist gauges, and included named attractions such as Crimson Road and Deadmans Lane. Narrow gauge presentations sat alongside modern and historical scenes, illustrating the craft and creativity available across eras and modelling approaches.
The show opened on Saturday at 10am to 5pm with 9:30am entry for pre booked ticket holders, and on Sunday at 10am to 4:30pm with 9:30am entry for pre booked ticket holders. Family friendly elements and hands on experiences offered opportunities for younger visitors and newcomers to try basic skills, while serious modellers could inspect new kit announcements and seek advice from clubs and manufacturers. Practical demonstrations and clinics provided immediate takeaways for scenery, wiring and layout operation, reinforcing the event as a place for skills transfer as well as display.
Clubs and traders travelled from across the country and beyond to participate, making the event an important networking hub. For many local clubs the festival provided a rare chance to show newly built layouts to a national audience, reach potential members and test concepts in front of informed peers. For traders and manufacturers the concentrated footfall and specialist audience offered a crucial marketplace for new releases and feedback.
Held at the NEC Birmingham the festival also offered convenient travel options and visitor services that helped draw a broad audience. As one of the major dates in the hobby calendar the event again underlined the vitality of model railways in the UK, combining spectacle, education and commerce in a two day celebration that will shape projects and purchasing decisions for months to come.
