Railex Buxton 2025

Two exhibition posts in a row? Oh my!

The weekend just gone saw the return of the Railex Exhibition in Buxton. I'll admit I was a little sceptical heading there this year, not for the contents of the exhibition, but this year they'd changed up the entry fee. Turning up between 9-10 cost £4.30 more than a standard entry, the upshot to that being discounts at selected traders. It didn't really interest me, but given the event clashes with several other non-train events in Buxton and the surrounding area, and that long stay car parks are fewer than you'd think you can understand not wanting to arrive too late and being forced to go home.

Reading the show guide (Again, a very nicely produced 'bookazine' like last year) it's a relief to see that the organisers are fully aware of this, and that plans are already in place for improvement and expansion next year, including a different weekend date and what sounds like a bigger venue. Roll on 2026!

Heading in there was the usual display of courtesy rules displayed, but one in particular caught my eye:

"No livestreaming of the exhibition"

Sounds almost comical, but it clearly must be a new problem shows are facing. I've no doubt that there are people out there who would happily sit at home watching whilst someone else did all the leg work and commentary in real time.

As always, what follows isn't a complete show guide, mainly due to two things. Number one, I forgot to pack the proper camera again (D'oh!) and two, I was having such a nice time just talking to people. Special mention to the team running the 009 Society stand. Steve, I'm sorry if I stopped you making as much progress with that coach kit as you'd have liked!

Hindlow (OO) Nigel Fisher - Based on the nearby station that formed part of the now closed Buxton to Ashbourne line. Although this section of the line does still exist as a freight only line serving the nearby quarries, the station itself is long gone.

Really liked this blending of the physical layout with the processing plant painted on the backscene.

Two Bridges (OO) Rex Ashton - I'm ashamed to say this was the only image I took of this layout, but there is a reason. I've had one of these Ratio signal boxes sat around part built for quite some time now, but the assembly of the windows left e very confused as to how they went together. The exploded diagram in the instructions is a little confusing, and the photos I could find online weren't much help either. So, reference acquired!

St. Etienne-en-Caux (HOe) Charles Insley - Nice to see Charles again at Railex after he'd had to drop out last year. This is only a small part of what was a fairly compact 'L' shaped layout, but I wanted to make sure I got a picture of the on scene cassette system. This particular type uses metal 'L' brackets for the track work with small bulldog clips making the electrical connection to the layout.

Also accompanying the above layout was the 009 Society publicity stand. It occured to me that I've never actually had a chance to look properly into the display cases showing some of the Heritage stock created by members over the decades. During my chat about kitbashing with Stuart Mann (Publicity Officer) I noticed this 'Director's Saloon' bash of a Dundas Bro Madog coach kit. Another one to add to the ever increasing 'to do' list!

Grindley Brook (7mm Finescale) Hillingdon Railway Modellers - A monster (In a good way!) of a layout taking up a good chunk of the Octagon Hall. It did however allow for scale length trains to run through the scene. It certainly alway had a good crowd in attendance whenever I passed by.

Edgeware Road (7mm Broad Gauge) Peter Boyce - A very unique subject for modelling, Victorian era Broad gauge London Underground! Surprisingly, the description in the show guide talks about how the early Metropolitan line is actually quite a popular subject for broad gauge modellers!

Just looking at the combined livery of the locomotives and the coaches, I can see the appeal. That is very tempting as a colour scheme. Even though the metropolitan isn't a deep level tube line, I can only imagine how quickly the white on the coaches darkened!

Nicola Landing (On2 & On3) - This was fun to see again, especially when comparing it to it's 'under construction' appearance during the 2024 show. The thing that struck me the most was just how the river surface is just a gloss blue. I just works. Perhaps sometimes simplicity is the key.

Telindalloch (OO) Terence Tew - Scottish modelling in a small space, and for m this is the layout I'd have liked to have taken home, even if it was only for that forest backdrop. A photograph just doesn't quite convey how deep it made the layout appear to the eye.

Apparently there's over seventy trees on this layout. On the right hand side you can see how the physical trees blend with the flat trunks on the back scene, giving the depth. Love those colours. I'll happily admit I'm very much an Autumn person, so the temptation to model something like this at some point is very strong.

Heading back to the car parked under the railway viaduct there was an unexpected detour. Just by chance on the walk in I'd spotted the Buxton Railworks shop (I had actually half convinced myself I'd misread 'Nailworks'!) Always nice to find a new model shop in the local area, and even better one that specialises in preowned items, though there is a very good supply of the Peco/Wills/Ratio products alongside. It seems I may have to start making more than one trip a year up to Buxton.

One item that I wasn't leaving the shop without was an old Hornby Country Church, complete with working 'music box' chimes. I've been after one of these for so long, and at £5 I thought very reasonable. Having a closer look back at home revealed that the whole thing had been put together by a previous owner using a minimal amount of all purpose glue, so disassembly and a repaint/rebuild is definitely on the cards. Those original stained glass window glazing pieces have got to go, they'd probably look more at home in a 1980s workout video!

Wait for it, these Hornby churches are going to start popping up everywhere now that I've got one!

In fact, just having a look at the preowned section of the website has presented me with a project I've been umming and arring about for a few months but at a more than reasonable price. More on that another time...

A big thanks to the team behind Railex Buxton this year. Definitely enjoyed myself and looking forward to next year!