Model Railway layout and trailer stolen off Cheshire motorway

Picture of Michael Holden

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Model Railway layout and trailer stolen off Cheshire motorway

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Picture of Michael Holden

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The layout that has been stolen
The layout that has been stolen // Credit: Wrenbury & District Model Railway Club

The and District Model Railway Club has put an urgent appeal out to the public after a model railway layout and trailer was stolen off a motorway last weekend.

UPDATE: We have received an update from the WBMRC, who have provided an image of the layout that has been stolen (pictured above). They have also said “The layout is called St. Margaret Grange, it is 009 gauge and 8’6” x 2′ wide. Missing are the 2 main boards. We still have the backscene and some parts of the scenery as they were in the tow car together with rolling stock

Two of the club members were travelling to a show in on the 18th January 2025 when their trailer had a puncture on the M6.

Due to puncture, they headed onto the M56 at Junction 9, where a Highways Agency Patrol stopped and saw what the problem was.

They were told by the patrol vehicle that they had two hours to sort it before being towed off the motorway.

The pair then removed the trailer wheel and drove into Warringotn to purchase a new tyre.

However, on their return, they found that the trailer had gone.

The Motorway control centre had it logged as being on the motorway and the Highways Agency had not towed it.

THe trailer is a 4×3 camping trailer with sides but the tailgate was removed as it is fitted with a frame, which an exhibition quality 009 layout was in. The layout has two boards and makes up 8ft 6 by 2ft and was covered with a blue waterproof cover. The registration on the trailer was DA73 EJO.

The original fault on the trailer looked to be a seized wheel so whoever moved it would have struggled, even if they did have a spare wheel.

The police have it logged as a crime but the trailer is not insured when not attached to the car, but the layout has great value.

If you know anything or saw anything, please contact the Wrenbury & District Model Railway Club via their Facebook page.

Responses

  1. Question…. it mentions they! So did both of them have to leave the trailer unattended, couldn’t one go sort the tyre out while the other stood guard with the trailer, a sensible thing to do. Or did they have to hold hands .. sounds like victims of their own stupidity.

    1. Thats’ a very unhelpful response showing a complete lack of feeling in the circumstances. People make mistakes, would you have been prepared to sit on the side of a motorway for several hours?

      1. I’m not here to help them with a positive response well here you are sorry for your loss i will spend my time looking out for your stolen trailer and model layout. and to be truthful yes i have been in this situation with a boat which tyre blew out, i stayed while my wife was able to go get a spare, i stood the other side of the barrier for safety.. why was that cos I was worried someone would come along and take the trailer with expensive boat onboard.. wasn’t prepared to make a mistake and trust thieves

  2. I had the same type of insurance problem towing a caravan and was concerned aS to responsibility of A runaway caravan on a campinG site. Found An insurance company that has this un attached type of cover with contents without any problems.

  3. The sad part of this is that someone has stolen just the trailer and will probably dump the contents. It would be worth keeping an eye on eBay for both the trailer and the layout as stolen goods are sold on there.

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