Pendon Museum - The Madder Valley

A couple of weeks ago I managed to visit the Pendon Museum. This model railway gem is tucked away in a quiet corner of Oxfordshire (literally, it's down a dead-end lane in a quiet village), but is well known within the hobby, but despite living a few miles away for 4 years some years ago, this was the first time I'd been.

The Madder Valley Railway was built by John Ahern in the 1930's and 40's, yet is remarkable in it's realism for the time - scenic railway modelling was in it's infancy and there was little if any commercial support for realistic scenery. Even by today's standards it is a good example of a railway in the landscape, something few modellers achieve yet many would like to. The railway travels from one town to another through landscape, with apparent purpose and belonging. It is also interesting as a freelance model that draws inspiration from many narrow gauge and light railways, despite being a OO "standard" gauge model, yet the whole works convincingly. Definitely an inspiring model.

More soon...