Gresley Beat to go on public display in 2025 in new building for AIMREC
The Trustees of Ashford Model Railway Museum, the Charity behind Ashford International Model Railway Centre (AIMREC) are pleased to announce that they have secured the lease on a building adjacent to the existing location in Bethersden near Ashford in Kent, adding an extra 2,400 sq ft of space to more than double the display area currently available.
The new building will provide a permanent home for well- known layouts in the AIMREC collection including Gresley Beat and Pempoul. These layouts were last seen on public display in early 2020 before COVID forced the closure of AIMREC’s temporary display in Ashford’s town centre. Plans are being developed to display former exhibition favourites Melton Mowbray North, Wouldham Town and Ravens Rock alongside more recent additions such as Wishton from the book “The Professional Approach to Model Railways” by John Wiley and elements of David Deere Jones’ O Gauge layout Coventry. A growing collection of historic model railway artefacts and models in larger scales will complement the layouts and there will be temporary exhibition space for visiting layouts and displays. The existing building at Bethersden which has welcomed 3,000 visitors through the doors since opening in November 2021 will be retained and continue to display layouts from the Great Model Railway Challenge and Channel 4 along with improved shop, café and event area. AIMREC’s 5” Gauge miniature railway “The Spitfire Line” which has just celebrated its first anniversary of opening will benefit too, as there will be sufficient external space to create an engine shed, workshop and running loop.
The expansion is being funded by a substantial donation from Gresley Beat creator and AIMREC founder Cliff Parsons. Completion of the building works and installation of the exhibits is expected to be towards the end of the Summer in 2025. An entrance fee will be charged to contribute to running costs and funds generated by the AIMREC-organised Ashford Festival of Railway Modelling being held on April 12/13 in Ashford Town Centre will go towards the project.
Contact: fred.garner@aimrec.co.uk / friends@aimrec.co.uk.