A POOLE company has played a role in a televised record attempt to create the longest model railway in the world.

Model Railway Solutions, at Alder Hills, was consulted as part of Channel 4’s hit series ‘The Biggest Little Railway in the World’.

This show, fronted by Dick Strawbridge, is currently enjoying critical acclaim, as a team of model railway enthusiasts attempt to build the record-breaking railway - 71 miles across Scotland, from Fort William to Inverness.

Model Railway Solutions was approached by Channel 4 so they could use footage of one of their model helix’s.

Company director Martin Forder explained: “We produce what they call baseboards, which are the tables that you run your layout on. A helix, which is a spiral, is one way of getting a long train up to a higher or lower level.

“They wanted to use some footage we had from one of our previous exhibitions, they wanted to use the footage in the show.”

The remit of the Channel 4 show is to construct a track that will carry the Silver Lady, a 7lb miniature steam engine, the length of the Great Glen Way.

Filmed over a two-week schedule, the programme’s final episode is set to screen at 8pm on Sunday.

The track was 0 gauge, and had to cross streams, rocks, town centres and climb hills. Martin said: “It was great to be involved even in a small way.”

Meanwhile, a Model Railway Solutions spokesman explained: “Our baseboards were first developed by Steve for his ‘Kensal Green’ layout.

“Recently perfected they are quickly growing ever more popular with model railway enthusiasts around the country and even worldwide.

“We currently produce 27 sizes in each of the two ranges, the ‘advanced’ and the ‘premium’ and if that not enough we also offer the service of making bespoke sizes, a service available to order via the website.

“They are easily constructed from kit form and are supplied with simple instructions, glue and all other fixings required to make assembly as painless as possible.”