Press Releases

Big, small, real or model, there's something for everyone at the National Slate Museum's annual Model Railway extravaganza coming up this half term, between 16 – 19 February 2012.

The show, which attracts thousands of visitors and enthusiasts every year, is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy numerous working and static displays, including substantial layouts by well known local railway clubs such as Colwyn Bay, South Caernarfonshire and Penmorfa as well as by individuals!

There will be numerous activities to enjoy including free rides for children on miniature steam engines, daily demonstrations and talks as well as shed-loads of engines and layouts of all shapes and sizes — from '00' gauge to the ever popular '32'mm gauge engines!

"The Model Railway Show has grown to become a really popular part of the north Wales events calendar and we look forward to it every year." explained museum Keeper Dr Dafydd Roberts.

The National Slate Museum has a lively interest in rail heritage, after all, narrow gauge railways were fundamental to slate quarrying operations and our own collections include the quarry steam engine UNA."

This year however, UNA a Hunslet engine built in 1905 - will not be seen in her usual pride of place steaming up and down the yard, as technician Elfyn Jones-Roberts explained:

"UNA is currently going through a major inspection which is carried out every ten years. This has meant stripping the whole engine down for close viewing by the Boiler Inspectorate, something which all steam engines have to go though in order to gain their boiler certificate for insurance purposes. This though provides with a great opportunity to hold talks every day in order to show just what's involved in the process and to reveal her innermost workings — a great opportunity to learn more about these types of engines!

Other engines on show include Dorothea, a 'coffee pot' scale model of a type of engine built by De Winton at Caernarfon towards the end of the nineteenth century, as well as a battery powered engine built in the First World War. There will also be numerous activities for children, including the 'train table' or 'test track' which gives children a chance to bring in their own '00' engines to run on a large layout track and new for 2012 will be an interactive layout with locos, a fairground and helicopters for children to control.

Nearby Llanberis Lake Railway is open for business too with train rides along the beautiful Llyn Padarn (*additional charge) making a visit to the event a complete rail lover's dream and a great day out for all the family!

The Model Railway Show runs from February 16 - 19 2012 between 10am and 4pm. Entry is FREE. For more information contact the Museum on 01286 870630.

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For more press information and photographs please contact Julie Williams on 01286 873707 julie.williams@amgueddfacymru.ac.uk. Photographs are available from the National Slate Museum.

Entry to all Amgueddfa Cymru —National Museum Wales sites is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government. Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales: National Museum Cardiff / St Fagans: National History Museum / National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon / Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon / National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre / National Slate Museum, Llanberis / National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.