Pendon Indoor Model Village and Railways

Highly realistic models recall the landscape of the period and trains provide a fascinating record of the railways of the time and how they operated. Enjoy an informative and interactive 90 minute tour covering three indoor galleries.

You can watch a fascinating collection of model trains go by on the Dartmoor Scene, or spend hours taking in the detail of the model village in the Vale Scene. Highly realistic models recall the landscape of the period and trains provide a fascinating record of the railways of the time and how they operated. Volunteer staff is there to make your visit as enjoyable and informative as possible, and will be only too happy to tell you more about anything you see at the Museum.

Enjoy an informative and interactive 90 minute tour covering three indoor galleries.

You start with a general introduction to the origins and aims of the Museum together with the history of the exhibits.

Madder Valley Railway pioneered scenic railway modelling and dates from the late 1930s. Because of its fragility we can only run it on a few pre-announced days during the year. When its not running there is a short video and copious annotation to help you appreciate every nuance.

The Dartmoor Scene features a variety of trains running through a West Country landscape across a classic Brunel viaduct. You can get very close to the models and admire the level of detail. There is always a live commentary and opportunity to ask questions of our knowledgeable guides.

The Vale Scene occupies most of the upper floor and is one of the foremost models anywhere. It is truly a benchmark for all finescale modelling. The buildings, scenery and railways are built to meticulous standards of accuracy. It is populated with highly realistic people, machinery and wildlife – and we provide binoculars so you can see the smallest of them! Guides are on hand to help provide background information on the models and their historical, geographic and social context.