Event Types and Information

Model railway events listed on this site are categorised as one of six types:

• Model railway exhibition - a standalone event that's exclusively or primarily about model railways. Most events listed here fall into this category. Model railway exhibitions are further categorised into small, medium or large depending on the approximate numbers of layouts expected to be on display.
• Embedded event - a model railway exhibition that's held within another event or attraction. For example, an exhibition held within a museum where you have to pay to enter the museum in order to visit the exhibition.
• Clubroom event - a smaller, more informal event, such as an open day or public running session. These often take place at the organiser's own premises, but may be at a small hired venue.
• Combined modelling event - a modelling event that covers a wider range of modelling types (for example, military modelling or ship modelling) as well as railway models.
• Swapmeet or toy fair - an event aimed primarily at buying and selling models.
• Other event - anything that doesn't easily fit any other category!

Event listing policy

Event listings are from four main sources:

• Information submitted directly to this website via the online form
• Information obtained from official event publicity materials, such as exhibition websites or fliers handed out at other exhibitions.
• Information posted by event organisers to public Internet forums such as RMweb.
• Information published in major UK modelling media, such as Model Rail, British Railway Modelling, Hornby Magazine and Railway Modeller.

Where possible, we prefer an event to have an authoritative external source of information that we can link to or display. That generally means at least one of these:

• The organiser's own website
• The organiser's own social media
• An active discussion topic on RMweb in which the organiser (or a representative or the organiser) participates
• An event poster available online or in printed form

In some cases, we may list an event if it has multiple secondary sources, such as listings in more than one magazine's event guide. But we don't list an event if the only online source is another listings website. We do keep an eye on other modelling websites, and if an event is listed somewhere else that we don't yet have details for then we will try to track down a primary source for it and add the event if possible. But a single, unverified listing on another secondary website is not sufficiently reliable information.

Venue and show icons

The event listings use these icons as a shortcut for some common features.

The venue has free parking on site or immediately adjacent. Please note that for small exhibitions in community venues (eg, church and village halls), this may mean on-street parking.

The venue has paid-for parking on site or immediately adjacent.

The venue is acessible to those with disabilities.

The venue is within comfortable walking distance of the nearest railway station.

The venue is close to a tram, metro or London Underground station.

The venue is served by a regular scheduled bus service. (Not a dedicated shuttle bus, that has its own icon, below).

Popular event, as calculated by listing and website views.

Refreshments are available at the event.

The event features demonstrations of modelling techniques and skills.

There is a club sales/information stand at the event.

There are activities specifically designed for children at the event.

The event organisers are running a shuttle bus between the venue and the nearest town centre and/or railway station.

There are other, non model railway attractions on site. This is often found at embedded events, as above.

Please note that all of this additional information is subject to change and may not necessarily be accurate. As far as possible, we take this from the event's own publicity, but in some cases it may be inferred from external knowledge of the venue, personal experience of the show or information posted on discussion forums. We would always advise you to check with the organiser's own website before making a decision on whether to attend an event.