The Great Model Railway Challenge - Season 2
The Great Model Railway Challenge is back! Last year saw the first series of this exciting programme air on Channel 5 to much acclaim, with teams of model railway builders from across the country taking part to produce fantastic layouts based on a variety of themes. The show returned on Friday 13th September, airing weekly for its second series, with longer episodes and even bigger challenges for teams to face!
Series 2 sees fifteen teams compete over eight episodes, creating layouts to both traditional and more wacky themes. The overall winner will once again be on show at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition on 23rd November 2019.
Stay tuned to this page and find links to watch each episode on demand and round-ups after each one has aired.
Special Bookazine
Can't wait for the new series of the Great Model Railway Challenge? Get your fix with this new special bookazine! Find out all you need to know about the show, meet the teams and explore more great modelling content.
The bookazine includes:
- Details on the 2019 teams
- How the 2018 teams constructed their layouts
- Guide on how to build your own layout
- The who's who guide on celebrity modellers
- Companion guide for the new series
GMRC1 - Great Model Railway Challenge Special Bookazine - £4.99
GMRC (Final) Episode 8 - "Surprise Surprise"
The Great Model Railway Challenge Season 2 came to an exciting conclusion with the final episode "Surprise Surprise". The remaining four teams who had made it all the way to final - Railmen of Kent, Who's Counting Rivets, The Rail Riders and Team Grantham needed to bring their A-game and prove to the judges they had what it takes to win, in the most difficult test yet. The final would see them produce yet another awe inspiring layout, complete with animations and fascinating scenery - but this time they would need to couple all of their previous layouts together into one "super layout" and have a special train work right the way along each section.
The Teams
Model railway exhibition stalwarts "Team Grantham" achieved near-perfect scores in both their heat and in the semi-finals and remained confident coming into the final. The team had produced both a realistic Swiss-themed scene for their heat as well as a more unusual layout for the semi-s, which saw locomotives work as tools rather than the star attraction.
Tech-savvy team "Who's Counting Rivets" were ecstatic to have made it right up to the finals and hoped their experiences throughout the previous rounds would put them in good stead. In previous rounds they impressed the judges with majestic animations and they aimed to showcase a new way of modelling.
Family team "The Railmen of Kent" were narrowly beaten to the No.1 spot in their semi-final but were determined to up their game for the final. The team made an impact with their wonderfully crafted scratch-built scenic items for their previous layouts and they hoped to pack a punch going into this last episode.
Sci-fi and fantasy fans "Team Rail Riders", who joined forces just for the competition, were excited to be facing off against the creme-de-la-creme in the final. In the previous heats they dazzled judges with some impressive scenery, smooth animations and creative ideas.
But who would have what it takes to come out on top?
The Layouts
As the highest scoring team in the final, there was a lot riding on Team Grantham as they entered the final. For their layout "Fun of the Fairground", the team wanted to capture the feel of a classic British fun fair, complete with twin choreographed trains, a trackplan inspired by roller coaster designs and even working rides including a log flume, go karts, ghost train and more. The layout would be built to the "rabbit warren" design style, with trains disappearing and reappearing of different parts of the layout.
To adhere to the Surprise Suprise theme, Who's Counting Rivets wanted to pay homage to one of the world's most famous model railways - Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg. "Miniature Miniatur Wunderland" hoped to continue to defy conventional railway modelling with a miniature train, automated bus and working aircaft circling a mountain high above multiple railway lines. The layout would also include pyrotechnic special effects and wireless control.
Railmen of Kent took a leap into the near future with their environmentally friendly themed layout "Green Research Centre". Complete with a figure of 8, the layout would see visitors arrive by an automated bus to view a working video screen inside one of two gigantic transparent domes before heading over to a naming ceremony for a new locomotive at the adjacent railway station.
Team Rail Riders were the underdogs of the final but hoped to impress with their recreation of Dr Evil's Volcano Lair from Austin Powers. The layout would be centred around the eponymous giant volcano itself which would be filled to the brim with features including Dr Evil's face, a rocket launchpad and sharks with laser beams! The team hoped to come together and improve their coordination to produce a jaw dropping scene with impressive animations.
Exclusive Interview with Team Rail Riders (SPOILERS)
We caught up with Team Rail Riders to discuss the final and their experience on the show. Please note that this video contains spoilers so make sure to watch the final episode of the show first!
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GMRC (Semi-Final 2) Episode 7 - "Blockbusters"
The penultimate episode gave three teams one more chance to push for a place in the final. Two teams would be going through to the next episode this time round, but there was still plenty of pressure to succeed! Each team was presented with an identical baseboard, pre-fitted with track - ready to produce their masterpieces. The theme of this episode "Blockbusters" pushed the teams to create layouts based on their favourite films, with Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and James Bond all being placed in the limelight. Teams were pushed harder, with pre-built items banned from being used and the judges introducing a special operational challenge.
The Teams
The first to return in this episode were "Railmen of Kent". This family team from the garden of England shone through in their heat with a layout focusing on the Festival of Britain. Their captain was committed to get through to the finals and insisted it wasn't just walk in the park for his team!
Second up were "Who's Counting Rivets?" who took a journey to the centre of the Earth in their heat layout. Their layout was packed with detail but they faced criticism for not fully delivering on some of their animations, something they were sure they would not be repeating in the semi-final.
The final team in this semi-final were "Muddle and Go Nowhere" who took a psychedelic look at Mars with their heat layout. They were pipped to the post by Team Grantham in their heat, but made it through to the semis thanks to being the highest scoring runner up of the show.
The Layouts
Railmen of Kent chose a film series known for its iconic railway scenes for their layout "Harry Spotter and the Anorak Prince"! Their work put a Jacobian twist on the short-sighted wizard's story, with the Glenfinnan viaduct placed at centre stage. The layout would feature hand-painted Hogwarts liveried trains running past the castle whilst Mr Weasley's Ford Anglia flies overhead. Also featured was a rotating statue and a Quidditch pitch, complete with flying wizards on broomsticks. For their operational challenge, the team would transport school supplies across the layout.
Muddle and Go Nowhere focused on Britain's favourite spy, James Bond, for their layout. They aimed to recreate some famous trains from the films such as the Circus Train from Octopussy and Goldeneye's armoured train, the latter colliding with a tank - homaging a scene from the film. Other scenes included a car chasing a train along the tracks and a bus careering into a crowded town square. Their operational challenge would see Bond jump into a pool from a moving train!
Who's Counting Rivets focused on the Jurassic Park films for their layout. While a keep is consumed by a velociraptor, a T-Rex would escape through an electric fence to attack visitors on animated tour vehicles. They also aimed to recreate the scene where young Timmy is electrocuted whilst trying to climb the fence to safety. Their operational challenge involved delivering cows around the layout for the dinosaurs to feast on!
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GMRC (Semi-Final 1) Episode 6 - "Myths, Monsters, Legends & Fables"
The first of the semi-finals saw Great Model Railway Challenge teams return from their heats to create epic layouts based on folklore, legends and stories. Three teams would be pitted against one another on a fresh theme, with the chance for two of them to progress on to the next round. The teams all have a baseboard fitted with a double loop of track to provide a level playing field but they were now disallowed using pre-built items. The semi-finals also feature an operational challenge where teams must load an item at one end of the layout and transport it to the other without touching it.
The Teams
Corby MRS shone in their heat thanks to some fantastic animations, such as a landslide and an earthquake scene. However there were some issues with derailments. The team remained confident into this first semi-final and were committed to win!
Second up in this heat were the Rail Riders, who dazzled the judges in their heat with their War of the Worlds layout, which you can see more about HERE. Their highly impressive build quality and creativity put them in good stead but the judges remained tentative.
Team Grantham returned after a stunning success in the previous episode "The Sky's the Limit". Their layout scored a perfect 10 for its flawless functionality and truly won over the judges. However, it was still all to play for in the semi-final with a new theme and ideas required for success.
The Layouts
For their layout, "Terra Fabulis", Corby MRS showcased a whole host of classic monsters! While a T-Rex goes on a rampage, the Loch Ness monster is transported across the layout for a battle with both King Kong and Godzilla. Whilst this plays out, the Lady of the Lake ascends from a misty pond as Adam and Eve approach. The team also included a second operational challenge, to double up on their chances of a load reaching its destination.
The Rail Riders chose some wacky features for their layout "Halloween". Set in a child's bedroom which has become possessed by a demonic tree, the nightmarish layout aimed to feature a haunted toybox, a spooky raised track area and an operational challenge involving a hearse being delivered to a graveyard to be unloaded by a skeletal hand.
Team Grantham went for a totally different approach in their layout "Knights of the Roundabout Table"! Locomotives would be used as 'stage hands' to rotate a backdrop, allowing for different scenes. As the Lady of the Lake arises with Arthur's legendary weapon, the man himself will be hoisted onto a horse in order to battle with the Black Knight. Following a jousting match, he would then be transported by a carefully concealed road system back to the castle for a feast!
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GMRC Episode 5 - "The Sky's the Limit"
In the second of two episodes shown over this period, the Great Model Railway Challenge set its focus on all things sci-fi in "The Sky's the Limit". Three more budding teams put their skills to the test creating epic layouts featuring miniature aerial acrobatics, towering peaks and even space travel!
The Teams
The first of the three challengers this week were Team Grantham, a group who are well versed at building layouts thanks to their experience on the exhibition circuit. Named after their layout seen at various events, which showcased Grantham station in the 1930s, the team brought varied skills to the table.
Second up were the Railway Sleepers! This team comprised of a group who have been away from the model railway hobby for many years, after enjoying it as children or when they were younger. The team name shows how they have awoken and returned to modelling!
The final team were "Muddle & Go Nowhere". This family & friends team aimed to produce a memorable layout with some innovative ideas on show. Their team name referenced the Midland & Great Northern Railway which built a line that managed to avoid any major towns or cities!
The Layouts
Inspired by Swiss railways for their layout, Team Grantham tried to feature as much elevation as possible on their model to adhere to the theme of the episode. The layout featured a grand homage to Switzerland's iconic Landwasser viaduct, a train hauling a rocket to the summit of a mountain, beautiful waterfalls, an animated radio telescope as well as a funicular taking visitors to the rocket launch site.
The Railway Sleepers went for a futuristic vibe on their layout "Planet XVI". Set on another planet colonised by humans following increased pollution making life on Earth impossible, the layout featured a gigantic Space city and a scratch-built suspension bridge complete with futuristic cars. Angry aliens looked on as a train brought fuel to a spaceship launch site.
Muddle & Go Nowhere set their layout "Forever Autumn" on Mars, with references to HG Wells' "War of the Worlds". The layout featured a scratch-built city "New London", a gramophone based listening dish, rocket silo and even a Martian tripod facing off against a space plane! All of this was set to an eerie Martian landscape. The vast majority of their construction was scratch built due to the obivous lack of Martian railway scenery!
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GMRC Episode 4 - "Uncharted Territory"
The Great Model Railway Challenge spoiled us over the weekend with not one but two new episodes! Episode four featured the theme "Uncharted Territory" with teams tasked with building railways through unusual locations, not often set foot in by humans such as jungles or even the centre of the Earth itself!
The Teams
First up on the GMRC this week were the "3 Millers" This team of traditional and experienced modellers aimed to employ some "risky" techniques with their layout, to produce a historically accurate model. The team are so named as they are all TT-scale modellers, the "millers" meaning 3mm.
Secondly were "Who's Counting Rivets?", a tech-savvy team with some younger modellers in their ranks. Their team aimed to push the boundaries of traditional modelling, introducing some innovative techniques into their layout.
Finally, the "Titfield Thunderbolts" hoped to impress, with their varied skills and high levels of confidence. This was their first time working together as a team and their ideas for the show proved to be extremely ambitious.
The Layouts
The risk-taking Three Millers wanted to make model railway history with their layout, recreating a historical situation using real water to simulate tidal forces! Their layout "Luctor et Emergo" focused on the 1953 floods, which greatly affected both the UK and the Netherlands, destroying part of the railway network in the latter. Their model featured a historically accurate flooding system, re-enacting how the line was reopened in real life.
Who's Counting Rivets? set their layout at the dawn of the 20th century where British engineers had been tasked with being the first to dig to the centre of the Earth. "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" (aka The Deeping Project) featured a massive hole, complete with a glowing molten core. The operation via an animated platform is cut short by an underground explosion, which reveals some mysterious hidden treasures and endangers some local industrial sites.
The Titfield Thunderbolts paid homage to the highly popular "Uncharted" series of video games with their layout "Drake's Lost Treasure". The layout featured a massive jungle and a crash-landed Tigermoth plane. The "heroes" of the layout would secure treasure from a sunken galleon and then using forced perspective with an N gauge locomotive, escape fighting between British and Nazi forces.
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GMRC Episode 3 - "Best of British"
On this episode of the Great Model Railway Challenge, three new modelling teams were tasked with creating layouts that celebrated everything British! UK culture was the focal point of each layout, with the challengers putting their own unique spin on what it means to be British.
The Teams
The first team on GMRC this week were "Railmen of Kent"! This family team were certainly committed to winning and hoped that their close dynamic spanning several generations would give them an advantage in the competition. This experienced team have a multitude of layouts at home and hoped to employ their tried and tested skills on the show.
Second up were the Cambrian Coasters - a group who became friends whilst volunteering together on the narrow gauge Corris Railway in Wales. The team hoped to change from "average modellers" into something truly special and with their weekly modelling meetups and months of preparation, they hoped to have an edge on GMRC.
Finally, team three comprised of an all female squad - a first for the Great Model Railway Challenge. The "Loco Ladies" aimed to smash stereotypes on model railway enthusiasts and were led by Captain Carol - whose family have been modellers for four different generations. With plenty of experience on their side, this team hoped to excel!
The Layouts
The Railmen of Kent created some very ambitious scenes for their layout "Boadicea Park". This multi-layered railway featured iconic British trains passing such sights as the Skylon from the 1951 Festival of Britain and huge models of the iconic St Pancras & Kings Cross railway stations. The layout would also include smaller details such as a working wagon hoist, moving cars circling a roundabout and a flypast from the RAF!
The Cambrian Coasters chose to focus on the culinary delights found in the British Isles, with their layout "A Festival of British Food". The model featured a Farmers Market, a duo of factories producing pasties and soup (the former complete with a working crimping machine!) as well as an animated truck attempting to move a giant yorkshire pudding off the line and a fresh Haggis unloading facility.
The Loco Ladies paid attention to the wonderful British countryside in their layout "Bucolic Britain". Set in a rural area during the summer, the layout featured a number of scenes including a coastal area, an estuary with fishermen and a classic village green setting. The layout also aimed to pay tribute to the emergency services - with aniamted scenes including a fire brigade fighting a blaze at a barn, an ambulance rescuing cave explorers and a lifeboat rescuing a stranded yacht.
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GMRC Episode 2 - "Classic Books"
This week on the Great Model Railway Challenge, the teams set their sights on classic novels. Three teams were tasked with creating layouts that referenced their choice of books or authors, with all the fantastic animations and exciting scenery we've come to expect from the show.
The Teams
The first of this heat's teams were the Rail Riders! This group of four experienced modellers and artists brought a lot of different skills to the table, with speed-building a specialty.
Second up were the Scarborough Flyers, who entered the competition with high motivation. The team originated from a group called "MATES" (Men and Tools Enjoy Sheds), which aims to provide a social space, particularly for older isolated men.
The final team was Team Phoenix, who interestingly had only met a couple of times before entering the challenge. Their combination of different abilities put them in good stead for the heat!
The Layouts
The Rail Riders chose HG Wells' infamous "War of the Worlds" for their theme, taking inspiration from not just the books, but the film adaptations and the Jeff Wayne musical. The model featured; scratch-built martians, with working laser weaponry; smoke effects; an incredible viaduct scene and a model of the HMS Thunderchild in a state of distress.
The Scarborough Flyers chose "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" by T.E Lawrence. They had their work cut out for them to produce a layout with gradients and looping trackwork, the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre, a mirage making machine, a platform with disappearing passengers, T.E Lawrence himself leading a camel charge and more!
Team Phoenix focused on the novels of Agatha Christie and chose to recreate several famous moments, including "Murder on the Orient Express", the DC-3 from "Death in the Clouds" and the Steam ship from "Death on the Nile". Their layout also incorporated scenery made from physical books, a recreation of the River Nile with scenic water and a snowy mountain.
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Exclusive Interview
In a special exclusive interview, Jennifer Kirk from the Rail Riders team gave us a tour of their fantastic "War of the Worlds layout" and spoke to us about their experience on the show and what it took to build an incredible layout in such a small time-frame.
GMRC Episode 1 - "The Restless Earth"
The Great Model Railway Challenge returned with a bang for its first episode of Season 2! Three teams were challenged to create disastrous scenarios with the theme "The Restless Earth", with epic natural disasters including volcanos, geisers and even seismic activity.
The Teams
First up were Fancott Miniature Marvels! This family team were brought together by railway modelling. With some great experience on the team thanks to a son who is a fanatic for the hobby, the team played it safe with some low risk, "low-fi" effects.
"The Train Set" consisted of a group of chemists. Although they were novice modellers, they utilised some alternative techniques to bring their layout together and attempted to produce some beautiful scenery.
Finally, Corby Model Railway Society featured members of their club, which is home to modellers aged from 16, right up to those in their 60s. This experienced team utilised meticulous planning and classic modelling techniques on their layout.
The Layouts
For their layout "A Fracking Disaster", Fancott crafted a village by the name of "NIMBY", overlooked by a controversial fracking operation. They aimed to produce both an earthquake as a result of the fracking, as well as a draining lake scene.
The Train Set's "Beagleton's Seismic Shakedown" aimed to feature epic scenery, focusing on crafting huge volcano and coastal scenes. Features were to include a collapsing house, working geisers, earthquakes and even a large mountainous surprise.
Corby's "Terra Profugus" layout also featured a number of different apocalpytic scenarios, with the team working to produce a working volcano with lave mine railway, eathquakes and even a landslide.
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