ALL aboard!

When steam lovers across Oxfordshire promised their families they were taking a small railway journey this weekend, they could never have guessed how small it would be.

However, as the saying goes, the best things often come in small packages, and this tiny track has a genuine claim to fame.

Built in the 1940s and 50s, the Madder Valley railway at Pendon museum in Long Wittenham is widely believed to be the first 'fully-scenic model railway' ever built.

As a special Easter Treat, the volunteers at Pendon not only opened it to the public but stoked the engines and got it up and running.

There are more treats coming up at Pendon tjhis week and next.

Today and next Wednesday the museum is holding free, drop-in children's modelling sessions, with the promise that every child leaves with a completed model.

These days are run on a first-come first-served basis starting at 11am.

See pendonmuseum.com