Chatham model railway exhibition lines up more than 50 layouts for 2026
More than 50 layouts will fill Chatham Dockyard in July, with Cardiff Canton, Conyer Creek and Natford Traction Maintenance Depot among the biggest draws.
More than 50 layouts will pack the Chatham Model Railway Exhibition when it returns to the Historic Dockyard Chatham on July 18 and 19, giving the show the sort of line-up that makes a weekend trip worth the fare. The strongest pull is not just the headcount but the range: exhibition favourites, magazine regulars and newer names are all on the board, alongside traders, societies and working displays.
The layout list alone is the sort of thing that sends modellers hunting for a programme. Chris Fordham’s Cardiff Canton, Greg Coomber’s Conyer Creek, Martin Clitheroe’s Cromer, Lincoln and District Model Railway Club’s Five Mile House, Malcolm Rochford’s Gresten, Andy Stephney’s Hatch End, Ian Forsythe’s Marley Potts and Witherwack Sidings, Nigel and Darren Glasson’s Newvaddon Parkway, and the North of England Line Group’s Scarlington are all named for the show. Addleford Green, Bristol Harbour, Dinsdale 1830, Hassell Harbour Bridge, Japan in Bloom, Llanwyddon, Oak Lane TMD, Stoney Shaw, Tan Y Coed and Wordsley Wharf round out a list that should give visitors something in almost every direction, from urban scenes to freight work and preserved-era modelling.
The practical value is in the mix of eras and presentation. Natford Traction Maintenance Depot will be on display with the Hornby Magazine editorial team, while the Key Model World Shop will bring show-only deals on subscriptions, bookazines, books and PJM laser-cut kits, plus exclusive limited-edition OO gauge models. Accurascale and the Bachmann Collectors Club are also due to bring latest releases and in-development projects, which makes the show a decent place to compare what is coming next rather than just what is already on the shelf.
The trader list is just as useful for anyone looking to spend money where it counts. C&L Finescale, Cambrian Model Rail, Coastal DCC, DCC Model Railway Signalling, Harveys Hobbies, JS Models, Invicta Model Rail, Leigh Models and Hobbies, Railstuff, Ron Lines, Roxey Mouldings, Roxley Models, Sawyer Models, Trainsporters, WM Collectables and 12A Models are among the names set to trade. That is the kind of spread that can cover track, signalling, kitbuilding, detailing and DCC in one visit instead of turning the weekend into a series of separate orders.
The show hours are Saturday 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 16:00, with early entry from 9:30am and advance tickets listed at £10, or £11 on the day. Under-16s are free, and ticket holders get 50% off one-day Historic Dockyard admission across the weekend, which makes the dockyard setting part of the bargain rather than an extra hit.
Chatham and District Model Railway Club has been building toward this for decades. Formed in 1953, the club first staged the Chatham Show in 1985 in the Fitted Rigging House, and this year’s return to the Historic Dockyard Chatham gives the event a homecoming feel that matches the scale of the line-up on offer.
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