Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June 2015.

Over this weekend the award-winning South Devon Railway (SDR) will be holding its very first ‘Models & Miniatures’ themed event with smaller scale model attractions up and down the scenic seven–mile line.

At Totnes Littlehempston station, a specially erected tent on the platform will host a Thomas the Tank Engine model railway display and there will be a ‘00 gauge’ display in the ‘Monster’ van in the bay platform, plus some Post Office memorabilia.

At idyllic Staverton station, the large waiting room will see “Products of Binn’s Road” – a striking display of Hornby ‘O’ & ‘OO’ gauge items made in Binns Road, Liverpool by Hornby, plus Meccano products, along with a few other model brands. There will also be a second hand sales stand of model vehicles and railway items.

And at Buckfastleigh, the Miniature Railway around the grounds and South Devon Garden Railway Group will both be operating, along with a layout of the old Ashburton station in the museum, plus an ‘00’ gauge layout in the Shop and an ‘N’ gauge layout in the Café.

Buckfastleigh will also host some quarter scale traction engines; two static seven and a quarter (7¼”) gauge steam locomotives, and a rare 009 gauge model railway layout. there will also be two dioramas in ‘00’ gauge from the old museum with layouts of Buckfastleigh & Staverton stations.

There will be the chance to ride on a vintage Omnibus around the Buckfastleigh site which is suitable for up to 15 children in one go, but with an additional charge of £1.00 a ride. The SDR’s own red Routemaster London double-deck ’bus will also be running around the town.

And, in the SDR’s Picnic coach, Paul Dimmock is bringing his 15ft x 6ft ‘OO’ fine scale model railway layout, and the City of Plymouth Boat Club will be bringing a display too.

For this weekend only, there will be a second-hand, ‘bring & buy’ sale in the SDR's Shop.

The Blue two train timetable will be running featuring a mixture of steam & diesel power, and visitors will receive a map and programme of events upon arrival. All attractions are, of course, subject to availability.

SDR spokesman Dick Wood commented:

“Model railways have been popular with children of all ages now for over 100 years and, In 1914, Frank Hornby built a new factory in Binns Road in Liverpool in order to cope with the growing demand for his popular Meccano and model railway products.”

“For the next 60 years, Binns Road was the home of all of Hornby products and his models were the start of many a schoolboy’s fascination with railways. So, it’s fitting to have a display of items once made there for visitors to see and admire as part of our first Models & Miniatures event.”

• Working timetable for the weekend