Sarah Brealey From historic steam locomotives to modern electric engines, every type of train was in Southwold at the weekend. The town may not have had a railway since 1929 but model enthusiasts made up for it in numbers, if not in size.

Sarah Brealey

From historic steam locomotives to modern electric engines... Every type of train was stopping in Southwold.

The town may not have had a railway since 1929, but model enthusiasts made up for it in numbers, if not in size.

Waveney Valley Model Railway Club's annual exhibition attracted well over 2,000 visitors at the weekend.

There were 21 layouts for them to admire, based on real and fictional railways from across the country and the past century. Traders and railway groups, including the Dereham-based

Mid Norfolk Railway and Southwold Railway group, were also well represented.

The display filled two halls and a marquee, and outside there were model engine rides from Halesworth and District Model Engineering Society.

Exhibition manager Rob Bishop said: "We have had a good turnout, up on last year. It has been ideal weather for us, because when it is too hot people stay on the beach."

One of the most impressive layouts was arranged by the Gauge One Model Railway East Anglia Group. Some 50 hand-made trains whirred around 100 feet of track, some even powered by tiny pieces of coal.

So, what's the attraction to enthusiasts? Richard Hill, 68, from Wattisfield, near Diss, explained: "We are just big kids, really. It is just going back to your childhood."