Catral is now host to a new and unique visitor attraction in the Costa Blanca region, and possibly the only one of its kind in Spain.
The Model Railway Exhibition Centre, located in the Polygon Poniente Industrial Estate in Catral has been set up by The Catral Model Railway Group, and had its official opening in November 2007. The Exhibition Centre is open to the public on Thursdays and Fridays from 11.00 to 14.30hrs and 17.30 to 20.30hrs and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11.00 to 14.30hrs. Whilst admission is totally free, voluntary donations will be gratefully accepted.
Anyone who would like to volunteer to help ‘drive’ the trains during these days, are more than welcome to come and join in. Full operations procedural instructions and tuition will be given.
The Catral Model Railway Club caters for and welcomes model railway enthusiasts of all persuasions, neither age nor gender being barriers. They meet on Tuesdays between 10.30 and 18.00hrs at The Exhibition Centre located in The Polygon Poniente Industrial Estate close to junction 730 off the AP7.
For those of you who don’t have sufficient space at home to build your own layouts The Model Railway Centre offers an ideal solution. You will meet people with similar interests either build your own layout and or help maintain and expand the existing resident model railway exhibit, ‘The Four Mills Model Railway’ which is 24 metres long and 4 metres wide, and continues to expand, with 26 trains running in sequence. This is the resident feature of the exhibition. The model is based in the period when steam and diesel trains ran throughout the UK between the 1950s and late 1970s. The numerous scenic settings have been inspired; (with a little imagination for good measure) by real life locations and features from all around the UK.
For 2008 a new feature is planned and will be of Spanish orientation. An operating, model replica of San Isidro station as it was years ago, with all the track-work and architecture faithfully reproduced in scale.
The School of Model Railways offers all year round tuition in the many skills and techniques of railway model making, including outline planning, baseboard construction, track laying, wiring, kit building, soldering, detailing, airbrush painting, architectural modelling in card and plastic, scenic construction, realistic tree making, water features, final detailing and operations. More information can be found on the website
www.schoolmodelrailwaysspain.com. The course schedules are split between the Exhibition Centre for layout related construction and The School studio for specific model making such as locomotives and rolling stock and architecture. Both venues are located in Catral.
For further information about any of the above please contact Mike on 662 022 190 or John on 671 291 783.
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Model railway exhibition in Catral 
