Ashford celebrates 180 years of the railway | So Good News

Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre invites you to join the celebrations to mark the 180th anniversary of the first train arriving at Ashford in November 1842.

When 18 – 19 November 2022

The venues and events take place between the city center and Newtown over a distance of 1.4 miles, as follows:

Ashford Museum – Open days, displays of local railway history and related exhibitions.

Ashford Gateway – Photographic Exhibition from 1st to 30th November featuring Railway Photographic Society exhibits from the NRM Shildon “Rail Cameramen” exhibition together with Railway Scenes of Ashford from the 1940s to the present day taken by local photographers.

The Elwick Club* – Two floors of model railways curated and mostly built by AIMREC’s volunteer team, including first-time layouts built by our Saturday morning group of junior modellers, new layouts celebrating the classic years of Tri-ang and Hornby Dublo as well as a stunning recreation of Lenham Station. Special guests bring layouts to inspire and entertain, including the classic narrow gauge ‘Dovey Valley’ by Dick Wyatt enjoying just its second outing in eight years, a charming Emett themed railway from the amazing talent of Chris O’Donoghue and for for the very first time on display together a collection of scratch-built layouts by Nik Wilson of Railmen of Kent with his very unique China Station waterfront tramway – don’t miss

Ashford College* – Heritage railway and preservation Society stands, model railways, model engineering and exhibits over two floors, including Mike Turner GRA premiering his specially commissioned Ashford180 artwork, Bob Pryor’s superb large-scale models of famous locomotives and legendary Ashford filmmaker Sonny Hanson’s record of a visit to Railway Works in 1947. Confirmed participants: 4Sub 4732 Association, 4253 Preservation Group with Kent and East Sussex Railway, Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, Southern Electric Traction Group, EPB Preservation Society, NSE Railway Society & East Kenent Railway Institution, Perman, Romney Marsh Model Engineering Society and Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway; Wellum Hill Model Railway.

Body Works – Beer festival with a range of railway-themed real ales, music and perhaps live steam from a visiting Traction Engine.

Alfred Arms – shows about the history of Newtown, Ashford’s own model village for workers, compiled from the dedicated work of Ann Austin of stories from the tracks, which will also provide guided tours of the Newtown area.

The SWAN Center* – Ashford Model Railway Club presents a model railway exhibition supported by well-stocked trade stands.

Callum Laing will use his Volvo B10M PS bus* which is normally based on the East Kent Railway to provide a regular service connecting the venues and helping people who might otherwise struggle to cover the 1.4 mile distance.

Venues marked with * require a wristband to enter and are available at the venues. Wristband prices are adults and over 14s – £10, under 14s – free.

For more details visit the AIMREC website