Pete Waterman rejects claims that model railways are dying out

Pop producer and rail enthusiast Pete Waterman has rejected claims model railways are dying out.

His comments came after the cancellation of the UK's biggest model train show and the closure of one of its largest model railway shops.

Waterman said he he was seeing more young people interested in model railways than ever before.

"I'm 77 years old, and for 57 years of my life I've heard that model railways are dead," he said.

'Next generation'

Pete Waterman disputed claims model railways are dying out

When the Warley Model Railway Exhibition due to be held at the NEC in Birmingham was cancelled in January "for the foreseeable future", the organisers said they believed the pastime to be "alive and well at grassroots level".

But they said "the next generation of younger enthusiasts required to take over the staffing and running of such prestigious events does not seem to be materialising".

Waterman said organisers of events need to focus on engaging young people.

"They say [young people] are going to go and play computers.

"I'm seeing more children and youngsters wanting to get involved with us than I've ever seen before."

Waterman has organised his own model railway event, to be held in April.

He said his team of modellers will unveil the world's biggest layout, which is currently under construction.

"You don't build them a layout and say, 'that's for you' - that's the wrong thing to do," he said.

"You build them a big layout that's proper and say, 'Do you want to play with it?" and of course they do.

"Let them get on with it and you've got them for life."

'Heart-breaking'

The managing director of Hatton's says the hobby doesn't have the same appeal that it had in the past

In January, Widnes-based Hatton's, one of the UK's biggest model retailers, announced it was closing after 77 years.

Its managing director Richard Davies said he didn't believe the hobby to have the same appeal it had in the past.

"It's heart-breaking to close down a business you love," he said.

"There aren't as many people coming into the hobby as there were 20 or 30 years ago.

"Nowadays, I suppose, there's lot more competition for people's attention, digital devices mobile phones.

"And so even though model railways have still got some very enthusiastic followers, we haven't had the sheer number of customers that we did have five or ten years ago."

Hatton's was one of the UK's largest model railway shops

He said Brexit and the cost of living crisis also contributed to the shop's decline.

"Brexit did rock the European customers.

"A few years on, things are running smoother, but we lost a lot of customers in those years who we never won back.

"The price of model railways is comparatively still the same. However, the cost of living has increased, so much so people don't have the same amount of money in their pockets."

'Young customers'

The owners of Widnes Model Centre said they have more success on the high street than the internet

The owners of niche railway model shop Widnes Model Centre said it still had plenty of young buyers because of its presence on the high street.

Owner Tom Gomez said people liked to buy from the shop "because you know what you're buying, you know the size".

He added: "That's the way a hobby works really, it's easier to see in person rather than over a computer."