Manchester Model Railway Society (MMRS) will hold its 2023 show on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December at the Sugden Sports Centre.

Last week, the Society launched its exhibition website with full details of the show, and made tickets available to buy in advance. They will remain on sale until midnight on December 7.

The large venue is in central Manchester, and has excellent transport links, including being easy to reach from Oxford Road and Piccadilly stations. The Society first held its annual show at the Sugden Centre last year, and enjoyed its large size and good accessibility.

Manchester MRS has invited good-quality model railway layouts from around the country, many of which have appeared in the national modelling press. This year’s show will include twenty four layouts in a variety of scales from Z to Os.

The Society is hoping to also include static exhibits in some even larger scales.

Formed in 1925, MMRS is the third oldest model railway society in the world, and has its clubrooms in Sale, South West Manchester.

The full list of layouts at the show is:

• Ballykeale N 1985-2005 Eire
• Beijiao HO 2001 China
• Blakecaster (TBC) On16.5 1940s Staffordshire
• Bury, Thorn & Sons O 1955-65 W Yorkshire
• Copper Wort OO 1900s Burton on Trent
• Dovedale O 2000-2003 Derbyshire
• Eaglesham OO 1912 nr Glasgow
• Euxton Junction OO 2000-2010 WCML
• Feldspar N late 1960s Midlands
• Hakuho Z 1960s Japan
• Happy Valley (TBC) OO Island of Sodor
• Hironocho N 1960s Japan
• Kirtley Bridge O 1930s Yorkshire
• Kyle of Macallan EM 1966 Western Scotland
• Lisworth Bay N 1960s BR(S)
• Raven’s Ravine OO9 Fantasy
• Reevy Road West OO 1976-85 BR(M)
• Slattocks Junction P4 1950s Manchester
• Smethurst Junction OO 1990-2020 North West UK
• The Andeer Line HOm 2009-2022 south east Switzerland
• WC Boggs & Sons O 1890-1932 Factory
• Winter Overcotes OO9 1952 Barsetshire
• Wolfe Lowe O 1920s Staffordshire
• YORK 2FS 1937 York

Exhibition Coordinator, Philip Sweet, said: “Last year’s exhibition was very well received by our visitors, and we are working hard to improve still further. There are some very unusual layouts appearing this year, including one for the adult visitors to operate. We always have activities and attractions for children, but why should they have all the fun!

“The exhibition is the first time that our brand new, long awaited, P4 layout, Slattocks Junction will be shown at a major exhibition. The MMRS has a long tradition of quality and innovation, and Slattocks Junction carries that tradition forward, with superb laser cut buildings, 3D printed components. and, probably a first on model railways, moving clouds and weather effects.

“Another innovation is our experiment this year of having cheaper prices on Sunday than on Saturday. We hope that this will encourage visitors to attend on the less crowded of the two days. At only £10 for advance adult tickets, it represents excellent value – and, of course, children are free on both days.

“Our exhibition website contains full descriptions and photographs of the layouts, together with detailed instructions of how to reach the venue, and information about the many other attractions.

“Advance tickets are already on sale; not only is the price cheaper than paying at the door, admission is from 09:45, rather than the 10:30 opening time for tickets bought at the door.”