FOR THE first time in UK model railways an official World Record attempt recognised by Guinness World Records is being made by Pete Waterman and the Railnuts at Model World LIVE on April 27/28 2024 at the NEC in Birmingham.
Above: Pete Waterman and the Railnuts are attempting an official World Record with Making Tracks to create the Largest Portable Model Railway. Mike Wild.
The newly extended Making Tracks: The Final Frontier ‘OO’ gauge layout will be entered for the Largest Portable Model Railway record title and, if successful, the 208ft x 14ft layout will be officially recognised by Guinness World Records.
Making Tracks has to meet a number of criteria to qualify as a Guinness World Record including being measured to within 0.001m, being a single scale model, prove that it is portable, be built to a professional standard as well including details of the number of trains, loops, track length, concurrent locomotive movements and all tracks being used.
Making Tracks creator Pete Waterman said: “Extending Making Tracks for Model World LIVE at the NEC has been a huge challenge and the Guinness World Record attempt will be a fantastic achievement by the Railnuts if we are successful. The Guinness World Record attempt will prove that model railroading is still alive. “
Above, Pete Waterman OBE is laying track in the new platform for Bushey. This will be the third station of three that will form part of Making Tracks: The Final Frontier display for Model World LIVE. Mike Wild.
Model World LIVE Exhibition manager Mike Wild said: “The Making Tracks 152ft layout for the 2023-Great Electric Train Show is a stunning achievement which has had an enormous impact on modelling. The Model World LIVE is a very special event for us. We’re proud to host the World Record and share it with modellers across the UK. The full layout of the West Coast Main Line will be modelled between Hillmorton Junction and Bushey, including Hillmorton’s grade-separated junction, Kilsby Tunnel and Blisworth. It also includes Tring Cutting and Northchurch Tunnel. The layout will have a main four-track line with an option of passing trains through Milton Keynes Central Station. Above: Making Tracks, a 152ft long layout that combines the three previous layouts in 2023’s Great Electric Train Show was shown as one 152ft-long layout. The
World LIVE extended layout is 208ft long, and increases the scenic area of the train by 100ft. It wraps to the back at the southern side. Jonathan Newton.
The World Record layout features 100ft new scenery over the Model existing. New scenes include Watford Tunnel, Carpender’s Park Bridge and Blisworth. The full layout will feature three stations. It will take a minimum of four operators per circuit to keep trains moving and is set to feature fully working signals which the driver’s can follow along the line to recreate the West Coast Main Line in miniature.
Above: Making Tracks: The Final Frontier models the West Coast Main Line in ‘OO’ gauge featuring highlights between Hillmorton Junction (Rugby) and Bushey to the south of Watford Junction. The Caledonian Sleeper is led by a Class 92 through Tring Cutting during the Great Electric Train Show in 2023. Jonathan Newton.Making Tracks 1, 2 and 3 layoutsThe layout of the record attempt will be displayed throughout the weekend in the Hall 12 at the National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, on the 27/28 April. The
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World LIVE in 2024.