MORE than 1,600 model railway fans made tracks for Kendal Leisure Centre to marvel at a dozen lovingly created lay-outs.

From 18-month-old toddlers to grandparents in their 70s and beyond, visitor numbers were up on recent years at Kendal Model Railway Club's annual event.

Exhibition manager Ian Conway said the showcase "went very well indeed", thanks to the quality of the model railways displayed, decent advertising and rainy weather on the Saturday.

Among the highlights was Karolina Falls, an American logging-train lay-out made by enthusiast David Bailey, of Nottinghamshire. The 0n30-scale railway features a real waterfall cascading into a ravine at 2,000 litres per hour, and oversized stock on narrow tracks.

The eight-feet-long oval layout scooped both the Conway Trophy, chosen by last year's winner, and the Broadhurst Memorial Trophy, voted for by the public and awarded in memory of past club chairman Jack Broadhurst. More than 20 per cent of visitors chose Karolina Falls as their favourite.

Mr Conway told the Gazette: "It attracted a lot of attention. I think it was the actual size of it, which fits into a small bedroom so it's not too big, and the waterfall is something different."

Blackpool and North Fylde Model Railway Club brought along their Whispering Hollow lay-out, set in an imaginary, snow-covered location somewhere on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in Colorado, USA, in the 1950/60s.

Meanwhile, exact-scale replicas of the Furness Railway's heyday - four locomotives, five carriages and several wagons - were displayed on the Cumbrian Railways Association stand.

Kendal Model Railway Club chairman Dave Grime said many of exhibitors and trade stallholders had travelled from far afield, adding: "One of the traders comes from Bognor Regis and you can't get much further than that."

Kendal club members showed their own 00 gauge layout, named Polveryan, depicting a 1948-50 Western Region seaside branch line terminus. Bequeathed to the club, members are close to completing its refurbishment, including the addition of a small creamery.

The club, formed in 1963, has around 22 members and received inquiries from seven potential new members over the weekend. It meets most Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Bryce Institute in Burneside, 7.30-10pm. For more, visit www.kendalmrc.org