Model railway enthusiasts in Abingdon are staging a special celebration at the weekend.

Abingdon and District Model Railway Club (ADMRC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion it is holding a two-day model railway show at the Abingdon campus of Abingdon and Witney College on Saturday and Sunday.

Organisers have already sold 500 tickets and are hoping 2,000 people will attend through the weekend.

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There will be 40 model railway displays, including several for children - Thomas the Tank Engine will be featured.

Oxford Mail: Club spokesman Graham Hadingham said: "It's a big event for the club because it's our 50th anniversary.

"We've got one or two VIP guests coming along including Mark Hopwood, the managing director of Great Western Railway - we invited him and he said he would drop in.

"It would be great if we get some new members signing up at the event."

Tickets cost £12 on the day and there are no concessions but under-18s get in free if they are accompanied by an adult.

The show is open from 10.30am to 5pm on Saturday and from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday.

The club meets regularly at premises in north Abingdon.

Mr Hadingham added: "As well as aiming to raise funds for our club we hope to entertain the public, adults and children, with a show of 40 high class model railway layouts covering all popular gauges, plus supporting traders, all to encourage interest in our hobby.

"Posters have gone up and flyers are out in many locations in Abingdon, Didcot, Wallingford, Oxford and beyond."

For more information and tickets visit ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/abingdon/abingdon-witney-college-abingdon-campus/abrail-24-sat/2024-03-02/10:00/t-xmrvmgx

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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