MODEL railway enthusiasts were in their element over the weekend as the West Wilts Gauge 0 Group celebrated its 16th annual model railway show at the Paragon Hall in Westbury.

The event featured lots of layouts for visitors to enjoy, including a Hornby 00 and several of the group’s own 0 gauge layouts with nearly 300 people walking through the doors on the Saturday event.

Group organiser John Cruse said the event was a resounding success. He added: “It was an excellent show in the end and we had a great turnout from both local people and others from around the country, which for a small show in Westbury is brilliant news.

“Over the last 16 years, the show has become well established in the area and each year people come back to see the selection of layouts we have.”

As well as a range of layouts, the show offered visitors an opportunity to taken in the impressive demonstrations by the Bristol 0 Gauge Group who were there modelling railway techniques.

A Devil's Bridge model was also exhibited along with DCC layouts which were able to show people locamotives as well as sound controllers.

Mr Cruse said that his personal highlight was seeing the model railway of Sydney Gardens in Bath and the amount of work that had been put into it.

“The railway and scenery was instantly recognisable and it was beautifully modelled and so it was a great crowd pleaser,” he added.

“We had a couple of historic locomotives and a Hornby Tinplate which dates back to the 1930s.

“Railway modelling is a very creative hobby and there are a lot of things one has to do from historic research, artistic work for scenery as well as checking it works.”

The group is now planning next year’s event which they hope will build on the success of Saturday.