Christopher Awdry, who has continued his father’s legacy by writing more stories for the world famous railway series featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, will be signing his books during the Swanage Railway’s very first Model Railway Weekend.
The new event takes place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April 2026 with 36 model railway sets displayed at Swanage station, Corfe Castle station, Harman’s Cross station and village hall, and at the Purbeck Mining Museum, next to Norden station in Dorset.
Christopher Awdry, son of the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, is a renowned author in his own right
Meet the author
Famous for writing stories featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, Christopher – son of the late Reverend Wilbert Awdry – will be selling a selection of his own books, including the 20th anniversary re-release of Sodor: Reading Between The Lines, as well as favourites from his Eastbourne Miniature Railway series.
Visitors will have the chance to meet the author, hear him talk about his work, and have books signed. A range of Thomas the Tank Engine titles will also be available to purchase from the Swanage station gift shop for signing on the day.
Christopher will be at Swanage station between 11.30 am and 12.30 pm as well as between 2 pm and 3 pm on both the Saturday and Sunday.
Model steam locomotives which are so good they could be mistaken for the real thing if it wasn’t for their size!
A model of Broadstone station, which has now been demolished and replaced with a leisure centre, will be on display over the weekend
Models of old Dorset stations
Among the nostalgic miniature railway layouts on display will be depictions of much-loved Dorset stations long since closed by British Rail, including Bournemouth West, Broadstone and Shillingstone.
There will also be model layouts of Swanage and Corfe Castle stations as they looked in the heyday of British Railways, with the Corfe Castle display travelling from the Netherlands for the event.
As well as viewing the model railways, visitors will also be able to book the opportunity to drive a standard gauge 1950s ex-British Railways Class 08 diesel shunter at Swanage station, or a five-inch gauge miniature model of a 1960s British Railways ‘Hymek’ diesel locomotive at the Purbeck Mining Museum next to Norden station.
Also at the Purbeck Mining Museum, visitors will be offered the chance to ride on a five-inch narrow gauge portable miniature railway featuring battered-powered models of steam and diesel locomotives, working signals and a fully functioning level crossing.
Swanage Railway volunteer Charlie Rogers was driven to turn the idea of a model railway weekend into reality
“Promises fascination and excitement”
Charlie Rogers who volunteers his time on the Swanage Railway as a steam locomotive fireman when not working as a train engineer on the national railway network, is the main organiser of the weekend and a life-long model railway enthusiast. He said:
“We are combining our full size steam and diesel trains with their smaller counterparts to present the Swanage Railway’s first Model Railway Weekend, which promises fascination and excitement for both children and adults.
“With 38 exhibitors and seven traders across the Swanage Railway, the event offers a range of different model railway scales and gauges.
“The Model Railway Weekend has taken a lot of planning and organisation, so I would like to thank the many people that have helped to bring the idea to an exciting reality.”
Enthusiasts will be able to view 36 different model railway layouts
Where you can view the model railways and locos
Swanage station
- Southwick (O Gauge), owned by Harry Pollard
- Broadstone (N Gauge), owned by Nick Lloyd and Josh Voce
- Redacre (00 Gauge), owned by Gavin Brown
- Orestone Quay (00 Gauge), owned by Graham Barnes
- Crookham Vale (009 Gauge), owned by BRMRC
- Gants Hill (16.5mm Gauge), owned by Martin Rich
- Webb Locos – 7 ¼ gauge scale locomotive based on a locomotive from The Metropolitan Waterboard Railway
- All 30 Merchant Navy Class Locomotives in 00 Gauge (Subject to confirmation)
Harmans Cross station and village hall
- Bournemouth West (00 Gauge), owned by the Salisbury and South Wilts Railway Society
- Swanage Railway (00 Gauge), owned by Paul Edwards
- Shillingsford (00 Gauge), owned by Ron Randall
- Summitelse (2 Layouts), owned by Keith Dibden
- Fence House NCB (00 Gauge), owned by Ian Forsyth
- Rookery Lane (00 Gauge), owned by Tim Buck
- Harmans Cross station diorama, owned by Keith Jarman
- Harlyn Pier (O Gauge), owned by Richard Frost
- Kingsmouth (00 Gauge), owned by Alex Atkins
- Ridgeway (TT:120 Gauge), owned by Yeovil Railway Centre/Wessex Wagons
Model railways will be on display at Corfe Castle station rather than Peter Rabbit who made a popular appearance over the Easter weekend
Corfe Castle station
- Corfe Castle (00 Gauge), owned by Hans van de Burgt
- Bovington Junction (N Gauge), owned by RADMRC
- Barton St David (00 Gauge), owned by Ben Puddick
- Ravenscar (N Gauge), owned by Michael Banks
- Bembridge (00 Gauge), owned by Mark Pretious
- Oldshaw (P4 Gauge), owned by Guy Molyneux
- Memory Lane (Hornby Dublo), owned by Swindon Model Railway Club
- Puffin Colliery (00/009 Gauge combined), owned by Swindon Model Railway Club
- Swanage station diorama, owned by Robin Brasher
- Plus up to 6 additional layouts courtesy of the Swanage Sygnets Youth Group
Purbeck Mining Museum near Norden station
- Red Hook Bay (HO Scale), owned by Mike Carter
- Crovans Junction (00 Gauge), owned by Mark Foreman
- Dibsyard and Shelly’s Sidings (00 Gauge), owned by Duane Wingett
- Hillside Park (N Gauge), owned by Nigel Appleton
Entry to see the model railways is included in the price of a Swanage Railway travel ticket for the same day.
Those who only wish to visit the display at Harman’s Cross village hall and not travel on the railway, can pay a £5 entry fee on the door.
Further information
- More about Swanage Railway’s Model Railway Weekend
