25 November 2019
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Deeping Model Railway club layout
Model railway that was destroyed by thugs goes on display after being restored with £100k in donations from well-wishers including Rod Stewart who gave £10k
A model railway exhibit which was destroyed by vandals during the summer has gone on display after it was restored thanks to hundreds of donations.
Members of the Market Deeping Model Railway Club said a life's work had been ruined after youths trashed the £30,000 display at Stamford, Lincolnshire, on 18 May. Donations from the public, including £10,000 from singer and model railway enthusiast Sir Rod Stewart, allowed the club to raise more than £107,000 to go towards repairs.
The sets are now restored and were on display at the weekend at the Warley National Model Railway Show at the Birmingham NEC.
Market Deeping Model Railway Club chairman Peter Davies said that he was delighted at the restoration of the display. He continued: 'We had to rebuild from the platform up. As chairman of the club I am proud of all of the guys. It took 25 club members 1,000 hours of work to restore the models by hand, with some of the originals having taken years to build’.
Commenting on Sir Rod's donation, he added: 'It's amazing and truly humbling. This kind of thing doesn't happen, model railway exhibitions don't get trashed. To have that sort of donation has enabled us to get back on track’.