Wimborne Railway Society Exhibition is at the Museum of East Dorset from Thursday, October 6 from 11am, to Saturday, October 8 at 4pm.
Back by popular demand!
The line through Wimborne finally closed in 1974 and now only a few traces of the line remain in the local area.
But the society hopes its model provides some tangible connection with the time when Wimborne was part the national rail network and an important part of Wimborne’s recent history.
The model represents Wimborne from just east of the low narrow bridge at Leigh Road to just west of the Stour viaduct, adjacent to Poole Road, and just short of Lady Wimborne’s Bridge. All the major items on the model are built as accurately as possible.
They run trains suitable for the line from mid 1950s to the end of passenger services in 1964 using two forms of running. One that uses all four operating positions for lots of movement and the other is a replication of the actual timetable from the late 1950s.
The model has featured in Railway Modeller, the Hornby Magazine and most recently in British Railway Modelling.
In October 2021 it appeared at the Great Electric Train Show and in April 2022 attended the Shepton Mallet show alongside the largest model railway in the UK.
Wimborne is due to attend a number of other Model Railway shows in venues across the UK.
Wimborne Railway Society meets every Tuesday and Thursday at the United Reform Church Hall, Chapel Lane, Wimborne.
The Thursday meeting has a varied programme talks/activities interspersed with club nights where members can use the test track and talk ‘railways’.
Tuesday is usually a work session on the layouts.
Entry price to the exhibition is included with museum admission charges and annual pass holders go free.

And following last year’s highly successful model railway exhibition at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne, the Central Southern Gauge O Group (CSGOG) will be returning once again on Sunday, October 23.
The group specialises in O gauge models (twice the size of the more common Hornby Trains). There will be several layouts including two narrow gauge lines, a vintage tin plate layout, the group’s own test track, model railway traders and a bring and buy stall.
The Gauge O Guild and the Swanage Railway will also be present.
Many of the models have been crafted by hand or put together from kits.
Though nowadays, with O gauge becoming so popular many locos, carriages and trucks can be bought
ready to run.
Much scenery detail is lovingly applied, to make it look just like the real thing – but in miniature.
There is plenty of parking and a café on site.
Admittance is just £5 per adult with accompanied children free.
Apart from the exhibition the CSGOG normally meet from 7pm on the second Wednesday of each month, at the Allendale Centre.
Visitors of all ages and modelling abilities are always welcome at meetings. There’s no obligation to join the group, but it is hoped visitors will be inspired by what they see and will want to become a member.
Visit: csgog.org.