Owner seeks maker of quirky suitcase railway model

Andrew Sargent, owner of ADS Truck Parking, with the suitcase railway

The owner of a model railway inside a suitcase is hoping to track down the person who made it.

Andrew Sargent, owner of ADS Truck Parking in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, bought the unusual miniature railway set from the brother of his accountant after hearing it was set to go up for sale.

“We did the deal there and then, I rushed home and got the cash for him,” he said.

Mr Sargent said the model was a great addition to his truck stop, and had become a talking point for people who visited.

The railway runs around the perimeter of the suitcase, with a moving locomotive

“Everybody loves it, they really do,” he said.

The model shows some of the iconic potbank chimneys which Stoke-on-Trent is famous for.

There is a pottery factory, named Salt & Sons, and a series of buildings - including a locomotive shed.

The lining of the suitcase shows a map of the Longton area of Stoke-on-Trent.

The lining of the suitcase shows a map of Stoke-on-Trent

Mr Sargent said he now hoped to find who made it, so he can discover more about the model and allow its creator to see it in its new home.

“It’s in a respectful place, it’s on show for everybody to come and see,” he said.

He added: “We want to know why they did it, what gave them the incentive to do it, and hopefully they want to see where it’s ended up,” he said.

The model is very intricate – Mr Sargent said one of his clients had taken the train off the tracks, and it had taken him a lot of effort to get it back on again.

The suitcase contains an intricate model, complete with pottery factory and railway