FOLLOWING the success of its first show some two or so years ago, Newton Abbot Library hosted its second Railway Studies and Modellers Show and it certainly did not disappoint.

Spearheaded by the Railway Studies Collection, the show brought railway enthusiasts from across the county together on Saturday, December 9, for a day of locomotive appreciation.

The show was not just an opportunity to view model railway layouts, of which there were several, but also to meet the very people who created them, view rare books, photos and artefacts from the archives of the Railway Studies Collection, and shop for railway related merchandise.

There were a total of eight model layouts: Rob Wish's 'Upwey Junction', Barnstaple Model Railway Society's 'Nictun Borrud', Dartmoor 009 Railway Group based on 'Lynton & Barnstaple', Culm Valley Model Railway Club's 'North Park', Tom Whittington's 'Oswestry Road', Doug Tomkins' 'Dügelshausen', Eric Bird's 'Zweinuck' and Garry Morris' 'Central Depot'.

Secretary of the Friends of the Railway Studies Collection, Graham Walker, gave a talk entitled 'History of the Collection', while professional railway photographer, Jack Boskett, entertained an audience with his talk 'From Railways to Royalty'. And all the while the library's in house café, the Owl and the Pussycat Coffee House, was on hand to serve up hot and cold drinks, cakes and, of course, bacon sandwiches!

Members of Newton Abbot Community Shed were also present, working their magic in Room C1 of the library, as they do each Saturday.

The Railway Show was made possible by Emma and Matt from Newton Abbot Library.

Emma said: 'It is not your average railway show!

'We had our first show just after coming out of lockdown, it went well and we knew we wanted to do another one and we thought we'd put a twist on it, so we had Fiddle and Rhyme performing railway-themed Irish jigs.

'There is two aspects to it: we had a suggested donation on the door, but it was really important to us that any of our regular library users could feel they could come and enjoy it even if they are on a lower income, so it is trying to channel the library's ethics into it.'

Matt said: 'The reception has been really positive.

'The library is the perfect place for a show like this' he added.