Pop-up railway is a 'big train set you can ride'

Martin Paling has described the project as a “big Hornby train set that you can ride”

A group of miniature train enthusiasts have built what they say is "the biggest pop-up ride-on railway seen in the UK for nearly 30 years".

Construction of the 1,100ft (350m) long track began on Friday at Quorn station yard in Leicestershire, part of the Great Central Railway (GCR).

The Portable Railway Club is behind the project, which took about six hours to complete and saw four miniature railways join together.

Martin Paling, one of the organisers, described the railway as a “big Hornby train set that you can ride”, which people could do over the weekend.

The railway has been constructed at Quorn station yard

The club is made up of miniature railway fans who meet to build and operate large pop-up railways for fun.

Organisers said they had been planning the project since January and that the GCR had been "fantastic" in giving them the space to build the railway.

Mr Paling said the ride was enormous fun to go on.

He added: "It’s almost like being on a little miniature motorbike or horse, it’s quite a strange experience to run around."

Daniel Mason says the group's last three meet-ups have been "successful, fun, social events"

Enthusiasts have brought their own track along, with some also bringing locomotives, including a number that are capable of carrying trains of up to 20 people.

Daniel Mason, the group’s chairman, is responsible for the track's design.

He said: “We are designing the railway to be complex.

"We can theoretically have four trains running in opposing directions at any one time, all on a railway built only the day before.

“We’ve run our annual meet for three years now and they have been successful, fun, social events.

"Having the Great Central Railway - one of the country's most famous heritage railways - as host really raises our profile.

"It’s going to be quite a sight to see our miniature trains running next to the full-size Great Central Locomotives.”

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