New Forest Model Railway Society Announces 46th Annual Exhibition for May 2026

Twelve layouts, four named traders and a club member stand are set to turn Brockenhurst Village Hall into a wide-ranging showcase when the New Forest Model Railway Society stages its 46th annual exhibition on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May 2026. The selling point is not a single headline model but the spread, from N and OO through O, with enough variety to reward anyone who likes seeing how different builders solve the same problems of space, traffic and atmosphere.

The layout list is the sort that tells you immediately this is a browsing show rather than a one-note sales room. Claygate TMD and Hells Glen bring N gauge into the mix, while Crosscombe, Foxwood, Lockton Lane, Seaford Road Brighton and Shawton Town give the O gauge end of the hall real weight. Falkirk Road, Hollybank Depot, Melangoose, Milford-on-Sea and Ropley keep OO strongly represented. The range also points to a show that crosses British, American and freelance modelling, with eras stretching from the 1930s through the 2000s, so there should be something for fans of steam-age depot scenes, post-war branch line work and more modern operating practice.

The trade presence is practical rather than flashy, and that is part of the appeal. Model Railway Bits, Model Railway Solutions, Terry Dawe and Wheels of Southsea are all named, alongside the club member stand, which gives the exhibition a useful balance of retail, advice and home-built inspiration. For visitors looking to pick up details rather than just watch trains go by, that mix matters almost as much as the layouts themselves.

Brockenhurst Village Hall should also make the day easy to plan. Free parking is available on site, though visitors now have to enter their vehicle registration on arrival, and the hall is a short walk from Brockenhurst Railway Station. Admission is £8 for adults, with accompanied under-18s free. Hot and cold food and light refreshments will be available, while disabled visitors will not have access to the stage. Those practical details make the show feel geared toward a full visit, not just a quick look in and out.

The exhibition also lands within a long club story. The society marked 50 years since its founding in 2025, and earlier listings noted that 2018 was already 40 years since the club began hosting exhibitions in Brockenhurst. That history gives the 46th show a settled confidence. It is the kind of event that suits visitors who want ideas, suppliers and club conversation in one place, with enough breadth on the floor to make the trip to the New Forest feel worthwhile.