Goulburn Railway Station diorama by Guilford Model Railway Group. Other layouts at the Goulburn Model Expo this year will show Crookwell Railway Station in the 1960s, Binalong and Central Station. Photo: Leon Oberg.
Train fanatics love numbers. Georges River Model Railway Club has been adding them up happily since 2024 when it chose Goulburn to host a modest display of 30 model train sets over a spring weekend.
The numbers have been growing ever since. Later this month, Georges River will host more than 50 model railway layouts, many replicating miniature dioramas of train stations in NSW, and more than 30 trade stands related to model hobbies.
In doing so, they will fill up with rail layouts the Veolia Arena, Ross Whittaker Stadium and the Peden Pavilion. The venues will be known as Buildings 1, 2 and 3 for the weekend. Thousands of people from all over Australia are expected to see them.
Chief expo organiser Peter Tonks said they were helping David Xuereb, who has steered his passion for model trains into helping the Kids with Cancer Foundation, to raise more money.
At last year’s model expo in Goulburn, David’s barbecue raised more than $10,000, a total they want to surpass this year.
“They cooked 41 dozen eggs, 31 kilos of bacon, 1200 sausages, 123 loaves of bread and 26 kilos of onions,” Peter said.
The Picnic Train will be running from Central Station to Goulburn on both days of the weekend. On Saturday, 29 August, a steam loco will run for part of the journey and will make part of the return journey the following day from Goulburn.
A shuttle bus will take passengers to the venues and the Goulburn Roundhouse for activities, including a light and steam display on the Saturday evening.
Peden Pavilion will accommodate a 35-metre-long by 14-metre-wide FREMO exhibition, run by the Illawarra Model Railway Association.
FREMO was coined for the friendship association of European model railroaders who formed in 1989. They adopted a modular rail transport modelling standard for individual modules to meet construction criteria for width, length and height.
That allows like-minded people to build their own modules that can be connected to form a much larger model train layout.
Kookaburra Park layout by Darryn Coulston, one of the exceptional displays at Goulburn in 2025. Photo: Leon Oberg.
Illawarra Model Railway Association president Michael Holden said several members were building modules.
“We have a base set up, which is a fiddle yard and return loops, and what we’re hoping is once it is all set up, we’ll have about 40 metres of track in an L-shaped formation,” he said.
Displays are expected to include a cement works module, an outback country station and a couple of shorter modules with bridges. All the models must knit together mechanically and electrically.
Members hired BlueScope’s Visitors Centre to trial their set-up and iron out any problems.
“Hopefully, by the time we get to Goulburn it should be ready to go,” Michael said.
Among other displays will be one by retired train driver, rail researcher and diorama builder Mick Bindley depicting the Crookwell railway precinct.
The former president of Goulburn Crookwell Railway Heritage spent three years building the diorama from leftover model train parts. Measuring 5.5 metres long, it shows the precinct in the 1960s.
Task Force 72, an international association of radio-controlled model boat builders, will be coming with 31 models of ships, along with a model railway layout made of Lego and Little Big Rigs Sydney, a group of radio-controlled truck and digger enthusiasts.
Peter said Goulburn Mulwaree Council had provided invaluable support.
Mick Bindley takes a strong interest in rail heritage and spent three years building a diorama of the Crookwell Railway Station as it appeared in the 1960s. Photo: John Thistleton.
“This year their Youth Council will be involved,” he said. “Some of their people will volunteer and help us. It is helping us to meet our aims, one of which is to promote not so much a train hobby, but a hobby for youth, because you learn other skills with that.”
Local businesses, the Goulburn Men’s Shed and Goulburn Show Society are keen supporters.
“A lot of the community groups down there have been very good in supporting us and of course, it helps them as well. It gives them exposure,” Peter said.
Goulburn Model Expo will be held at 45 Braidwood Road, Goulburn, on Saturday, 29 August, from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday, 30 August, from 9 am to 4 pm. Tickets are adults $15, family $25, seniors/pensioners $10, 12 years and under free.
