Stalham model railway show offers layouts, repairs and family fun

Stalham is getting a model railway show that feels built for the community first and the display case second. The Broadland Model Railway Club will bring its event to the Stalham Poppy Centre on Sunday 24 May, from 10am to 3.30pm, with a line-up designed to give visitors something to see, something to buy and something to fix.

That practical edge is what sets this show apart. Alongside the layouts, the club will have its Loco Doctor on hand to diagnose problems with visitors’ own locomotives, a useful service in a hobby where wiring faults, poor running and decoder issues can stop a model in its tracks. A second-hand models and books stall will add the chance to pick up bargains or hard-to-find items, while refreshments and free parking make the day straightforward for families and casual visitors alike. Admission is £5 for adults, with accompanied under-16s admitted free.

The event also carries a strong local identity. Broadland Model Railway Club is based in nearby Catfield, about three miles away, and the show doubles as a public showcase for the club’s work and an open invitation to meet the members behind it. The club says it has been going for more than 40 years, first forming in 1982 at RAF Coltishall as the RAF Coltishall MRC before taking the Broadland name in December 2004 when Coltishall was listed for closure. It moved to Catfield in December 2012, where its premises now include a large layout room, workshop area, benches, tools and a running-in track.

For visitors, the layouts are the real draw. The club’s 2026 exhibitions calendar lists Stalham layouts including Broad Oak, Herrington, Snowy Pines, Hamstal Green and Clearpoint Haven, giving the show more variety than the modest scale might suggest. Broadland itself is intended to reflect the Norfolk Broads region and the landscape of Norfolk Broads National Park, so the club is bringing a distinctly local flavour to the hall.

That mix of close-up modelling, repair advice and easy access is what gives the Stalham show its appeal. It is not trying to be a giant national exhibition; it is a hands-on day out where a faulty engine, a second-hand find and a child’s first look at model railways can all fit under one roof.