IS your little one Britain’s biggest train fan?

Hornby is on the lookout for Britain’s biggest little train fan to become a “Mini Conductor”.

The competition taps into the growing popularity of young railway enthusiasts, with children gaining attention online for their love of all things locomotive, from spotting trains and learning routes, to recreating the sounds and theatre of the railway with their own announcements.

The model railway experts have released new research showing that for many kids train travel is not just about getting from A to B – it’s the whole story along the way.

From spotting landmarks through the window to the thrill of arriving at the station, children see rail trips as a rolling adventure, packed with little moments that spark big imaginations.

This summer holiday, Hornby is inviting kids to bring those experiences to life by entering their contest.

Spokesperson Martyn Weaver said: “Our research shows that children value spending time with friends and family above anything else when they play (49 per cent), and there’s nothing quite like the hands-on magic of model railways to fire up the imagination and banish the holiday boredom.

“The Mini Conductor competition is a brilliant opportunity for families to celebrate curiosity and imagination that train travel inspires, while giving one young rail fan the chance step into the conductor’s shoes for the day.”

Open to children aged 4–10, one lucky winner will get to spend a day alongside the LNER team as a ‘Mini Conductor’ visiting the train cab, greeting customers and making announcements, as well as starring in a Hornby video advert.

Four runners-up will also receive a Hornby Playtrains prize bundle worth £100.

Parents and guardians can enter by sharing a video of up to 90 seconds explaining what their child loves most about trains and why they should be Hornby’s Mini Conductor, tagging Hornby and using #HornbyMiniConductor, or by uploading their entry at https://hornby.com/miniconductor

The competition entries close at 11:59 pm on August 2.

For more information, visit https://uk.hornby.com/