Worthing exhibition 2026

On Saturday I popped into my local exhibition by Worthing Model Railway Club, held at a new venue which had space for a reasonable number of layouts. The programme doesn't have much detail and I didn't make notes... but here are a few of the layouts. 

Not sure if this layout was listed in the programme, a rather traditional GWR branch line terminus in OO, with some nicely modelled and characterful buildings. 

Wendover was a very fine detailed model in 4mm scale. Sadly, the lighting was directly overhead making photography tricky. 

The Cruel Sea featured this highly detailed model corvette along with a dockyard - in N. The scene is inspired by an old movie. The subtle colouring and lighting is very effective. Operation was a bit less interesting - two trains shuttling at speed on separate tracks - I don't think that's what this one is about. 

Thredy's Wharf (O gauge) had this nice mobile crane. 

It also had a loco shed at the front of the layout, with the detailed interior open to view - a rather neat idea and nicely done. 

Small Dole Sidings (OO) was a modern image Inglenook shunting puzzle, working rather well. 

Larger and Lime Works - American NG in On30.

Wandleford (OO), a simple yet effective layout for watching trains go by. 

My favourite feature is the garden at the front, hosting a charity open garden event with stalls visible at the far end, it also has a working miniature railway (the blur passing the lawn!). 

Tittleworth was the only 009 layout. A bit of a rabbit warren, it looks nice enough if a little crowded with tracks. The RTR trains were rather short, and disappeared off stage for long periods before another appeared. It's party trick was that it was fully automated - note the operating colour light signals.

I took a peek around the back - like an iceberg, two-thirds of the layout was out of sight, which explains the long pause between trains. The electronics is rather frightening - this layout was part of the MERG stand and shows the electronics can become a hobby within the hobby. 

My favourite layout was Canute Road Quay, a OO shunting layout set in Southampton docks. A Cameo-style shelf layout it's compact and relatively simple in layout, but looks right. 

The engine shed is tucked out of the way and is easy to miss.