Railway Models UK

Pete Waterman and Andrew Wilsher with the model locomotive

Music producer Pete Waterman has added a miniature version of the touring exhibition train "Inspiration" to his model railway.

The real train is a free-to-visit travelling exhibition that tells the story of railway history through artefacts and interactive games. It is part of the Railway 200 programme, which celebrates 200 years of the modern railway.

The tiny replica was crafted by rail enthusiast Andrew Willsher. At just over 2 metres long it is 76 times smaller than the 159 metre real thing.

Waterman, who was born in Coventry, and his team of rail fans, the Railnuts, will run the model on their portable railway all year round, including during Inspiration's stop in Crewe this weekend.

The full-size train is in the Cheshire town until Monday. After that it will travel to Bury, East Anglia and the south coast.

Willsher spent 300 working hours on the model. He matched every colour, 3D‑printed custom parts, and used tiny tweezers to apply nearly 350 graphics – some of which are only 1mm tall.

Waterman said, "Railway 200 is about people, 200 years of people giving dedicated public service. If you want a fantastic day out, come down and see Inspiration. Best of all, it’s free – there’s some inspiration for you."

Willsher added, "It’s an amazing project to be involved in, and I’m really chuffed with the positive response it’s received."

Nearly 60,000 people have visited the real exhibition train on its 60‑stop tour of Britain. It has travelled more than 7,000 miles, visiting the Cairngorms, Southampton, Cambridge and many other destinations.

Andrew Wilsher displays the ful-length model on the layout

The real thing is touring stations across the country

Pete Waterman's model railway gets a little extra inspiration

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