All Aboard! Model Railways in Action
Ambassadors Room
As part of the nationwide Railway 200 celebrations, Lightbox Gallery & Museum in Woking will host a special model railway display from 22–26 October, 10.30am–4.00pm daily, in the Ambassadors Room.
Presented in partnership with the Guildford O Gauge Group (GOGG), this event offers a rare chance to see dynamic model railways in action. Visitors can experience trains from across Britain’s and the world’s railway history – from the nostalgia of steam to the excitement of modern high-speed travel – all recreated in fascinating miniature.
Built to 7mm scale – where 7mm represents 1 foot on the real railway – these O Gauge models are larger and more detailed than the train sets many people remember from childhood, making the display both impressive and nostalgic. The Guildford O Gauge Group was formed in the mid-1960s to promote modelling in 7mm scale and today is a vibrant, well-supported organisation with members from across the south of England. Meeting weekly at Normandy Village Hall, the club is proud to be part of the Railway 200 celebrations at Lightbox Gallery & Museum, Woking.
With thanks to Paul Bridger, John Scott Morgan and the operating team from Guildford O Gauge Group; funding from the Community Rail Network, and support from Paula Aldridge, Community Rail Manager, South Western Railway; Lightbox volunteers Richard and Rosemary Christophers, and Neil Burnett.
Tracks Through Time: Woking and the Railway
Woking's Story - Until 2 November 2025
In 2025, Railway 200 marks the 200th anniversary of the world’s first public steam passenger train, which first ran on 27 September 1825. Pulled by George Stephenson’s Locomotion No.1, the train carried over 400 people along the Stockton and Darlington Railway, attracting crowds of up to 40,000 and ushering in the era of modern passenger travel.
As part of the Railway 200 celebrations, displays in Woking’s Story explore how the arrival of the railway in 1838 transformed Woking from rural common land into a bustling commuter town. The station quickly became a key junction, sparking growth and development across the region.
2025 also marks 140 years since the London and South Western Railway Servants’ Orphanage was founded in 1885. Moving to Woking in 1909, the Orphanage cared for children of railway workers. Today, Woking Homes continues to provide residential and respite care for those aged 65 and older.
Also featured is Local Hero Freeman Munday, a Woking-based railwayman and World War I hero. Munday’s bravery earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and he dedicated 49 years to the railway, retiring in 1968 after serving in both the military and the Southern Railway Home Guard.
With thanks to funding from the Community Rail Network, and support from Paula Aldridge, Community Rail Manager, South Western Railway; Lightbox volunteers Richard and Rosemary Christophers, and Neil Burnett; and Daniel Ball, Learning & Outreach Coordinator at The Watercress Line.
Join us to celebrate 200 Years of Train Travel Since 1825.
