Members of Bridport & District Model Railway Club are celebrating a first class return of their summer exhibition.

The club hosted the model railway exhibition, for the first time in three years, at the Sir John Colfox Academy. Previously editions had been scuppered by pandemic restrictions.

Turnout was with the event “very well supported by local people and visitors from as far afield as Exeter, Shaftesbury and Poole”.

Visitors were able to see themed exhibitions with British, American and Continental trains in the collection of models with a variety of popular gauges: from ‘N’ gauge (2mm to one foot) up to ‘0’ gauge (7mm to one foot) there were trade stands selling all manner of model railway products.

The judges were able to scrutinize all the exhibits in the show in order for one to win the ‘best in show’ trophy, which was presented by Bob Ahrens, the Club’s Exhibition Manager.

The trophy was won by the brilliant ‘N’ gauge layout called ‘Moors View’ showing a winter scene on Dartmoor exhibited by Paul Holwill from Exeter.

The runner up was the ‘009’ gauge layout ‘1914/8 Winter in France’ showing the movement of troops in France exhibited by Steve Simms from Yeovil and third place went to the ‘1/35’ gauge layout ‘Over the Top’ showing the final moments of the Western Front exhibited by Peter Hollins from Poole.

A spokesperson for Bridport and District Model Railway Club said: “The Club was pleased with the support given by the public and wishes to thank everyone, including the Sir John Colfox Academy, who made the show so successful.”

Douglas Beazer, publicity officer for the club, said he was heartened by the number of plaudits and positive comments received from members of the public over the course of the exhibition.

Visitors were able to view layouts depicting scenes with a wide variety of stock from different periods of time.

There was a stand where visitors will have the opportunity to buy both new and second-hand model railway products as well as enjoying the meticulously crafted exhibitions.