AT Crewe Nub News we aim to support our community. We promote shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We have been profiling some of these businesses and organisations as well as some of the people and personalities who make the town special in a feature called 'Up Close in Crewe'.

We caught up with Rachel Cope , whose passion for her town's most famous industry has seen her transform her dining room into a miniature model of Crewe Rail Station.

Lockdown restrictions have meant more time for Rachel, 44, to work on the intricate detail of an eight ft by six ft layout, which is a faithful reproduction of the station, its surrounding tracks, sheds and works, along with notable bridge and road landmarks

Now the backdrop, and taking pride of place, is the former station sign she recently won at a charity auction.

"Fortunately, the dining room doesn't get used, but I have taken over it anyway," laughed Rachel, who despite Covid-19 has still managed to get out onto the real Crewe Station's platforms to check out the latest arrivals and departures.

Trainspotting is alive and well in Crewe we're happy to report. In fact, it never really went away from the days when local hotels offered a packed lunch to keep rail devotees fed and watered after an overnight stay.

Rachel frequently joins the regular crews and her live streams on her YouTube channel called 'Mini Wistaston Junction' have become something of a legend in trainspotting circles, in particular those featuring night-time Scottish visitor, the Caledonian Sleeper.

Her live events regularly attract thousands of viewers to the social media channel, where she has built up close to 4,000 subscribers with some impressive video work and a down-to-earth chatty style.

Back at her home in Wistaston Road she has recreated that special Crewe Station atmosphere in an expansive N gauge model layout.

"It's not quite complete yet. I'm in the 16th and 17th phase of the build at the moment. I've got the rail station all up, the industrial estate and I've done Basford Sidings too," she explained.

"I build it as I go. There's a bit more ballasting to do on Basford and more work on the Freightline Depot, while a bit of extra lighting is needed as well.

"There's people on the platforms and even a "mini-me" at work with my tripod at the end of platform 6 which is where the Caledonian Sleeper comes in!"

Rachel's successful bid of £186 landed her one of eight Crewe Rail Station signs up for grabs in an online auction organised by charity Railway Children as part of its Rail Aid fundraiser.

"I was going to put it on the wall, but it is quite heavy so I've placed onto the back of my layout," added Rachel, who admits the current restrictions have made her outdoor hobby somewhat less sociable.

"It's lovely when people say hello, but you are having to keep your distance at the moment. I'm still live streaming for my channel and the last one I did got 800 people watching.

"When things ease, and I can, I'm planning to travel around again and get to different stations.

"My granddad used to take me to the station years ago and I love it. It has taken over a bit but I am passionate about it. With my two children growing up I can get out and about more.

"I go two times a week to catch the Caledonian Sleeper. I'm normally in place for when it comes in between 11.30 and 11.45pm. I live stream its arrival and that has been really popular."

Why not capture the spirit of the railways at Mini Wistaston Junction.