Next stop, Inverness Victorian Market as public invited to get on board model railway experience.
With over a year in the planning and many volunteer hours already undertaken, work is starting on the installation of a new model railway in the Food Hall at Inverness Victorian Market.
Depute Provosts of Inverness and Area, Cllr Jackie Hendry and Cllr Morven Reid met with the Railway Delivery Group today (25 August 2025) who are working on the highly detailed, meticulously designed to scale railway, which will herald the future return of a model railway service in the Victorian Market.
(left to right) Dave Constable, UHI Inverness; Anni Sutherland & Karl Stevens, KMS RAILTECH; David Haas, Highland Council; Graeme Swanson and John Featch Inverness & District Model Railway Club; Robert McCubbin, Highland Council and Depute Provosts Morven Reid and Jackie Hendry.
Depute Provost Hendry said: “Generations of locals and visitors have fond memories of previous model railways in the Victorian Market, and I am delighted that this highly anticipated new railway will return a first class service to the Victorian Market.”
(left to right) Karl Stevens, Director KMS RAILTEC; Depute Provost Jackie Hendry and Graeme Swanson, Chair Inverness & District Model Railway Club
Thanking all those involved for their passion and commitment to detail in every aspect of the project, Depute Provost Reid said: “Not only will the railway delight customers to the Market and increase footfall it will also attract model railway enthusiasts from afar. The project also has much wider possibilities for the future including new volunteering, and sponsorship opportunities and supporting special events in the Market.”
Depute Provost Morven Reid and Robert McCubbin (Highland Council) Project Manager
Supported by the Inverness Common Good Fund, this once beloved attraction will run again due to the mammoth efforts of Highland Council and Victorian Market staff; Inverness and District Model Railway Club; KMS Railtech; and students at UHI Inverness, part of The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
A generous donation of tools and materials from Highland Industrial Supplies Ltd. (HiS) has been welcomed by the team modelling the railway.
Garry Mackintosh director of HIS arranged a generous donation of tools and materials for the team modelling the railway
Key features of the planned model railway design include:
- approximately 110m length O gauge railway track on an elevated baseboard above head height in the Food Market Hall.
- a backscene which will connect with Highland scenery outside of the Market.
- Computerised Digital Command Control (DCC) operation of the railway lights, points, signals, and multiple locomotives planned to run simultaneously in action.
Project Manager, Robert McCubbin, Highland Council’s Senior Maintenance Officer said: “The approach we took to designing the railway was the same as any other architectural or engineering project - just miniature in scale - but still requiring a great level of detailed, precision, care and attention.”
“The railway delivery group is highly committed to their endeavours, added Cameron McFarlane, Victorian Market Manager. I’d like to thank the Market tenants for their support while the group will work around them and hope that once completed the railway will bring lots of joy to existing and new Market customers.”
Inverness and District Model Railway Club Chair, Graeme Swanson said: “It has been an absolute pleasure for the club to work on the planning for the installation of the Victorian Market model railway. We are also very pleased to have been commissioned by the Inverness Common Good for the future running and maintenance of the railway and look forward to keeping it on track and to timetable once it is open.”
Track and control equipment advice and supply for the model railway was contracted to KMS RAILTECH directors Mike Sutherland and Karl Stevens, who said: "KMS Railtech have been delighted to work alongside the Inverness and District Model Railway Club to provide the challenging specifications for this unique model railway project.
“We hope the people of Inverness and all the Victorian Market visitors can enjoy this wonderful endeavour for many years to come."
Lecturer in Engineering Technology at UHI Inverness, Gregor Thurlow-White added: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for our students to work on an engineering project brief to ‘bring the railway down to the public’. This will involve designing and installing video cameras at different locations to broadcast the railway and its trains onto screens in the Market Hall but also in future hopefully on the internet which people can connect to through their phones.”
The Victorian Market model railway is not only a demonstration of the dedication of the project team but is also supporting local businesses including HHM Ltd electrical contractor; Graham Fraser (Joinery and Building); and Caledonian Sheet Metals who are being commissioned to supply the project.
To catch a view of the Model Railway construction as it progresses, visit the Victorian Market, in Inverness which is open daily (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm) and on Thursday and Friday from 8am to 8pm. For further information on the Victorian Market visit www.thevictorianmarket.co.uk and on Facebook www.facebook.com/victorianmarketinverness/