Roger Daltrey is backing plans to create an international model railway museum in Ashford, Kent.

Daltrey says the proposed museum would be a way of celebrating the fact that the railways were a British invention.

“We’re trying to start a model railway museum down in Ashford, me and a few pals down in Kent,” he told Radio 2‘s Chris Evans. “Britain forgets that we invented the railway and it conquered the world. The railway was the first thing to open up the world in a big way for trade. We invented it, and we should be proud of that. The model making side of it, it’s enormous.”

The singer revealed his interest in miniature trains in a conversation about his hobbies. Daltrey said: “I hate watching the TV because there’s nothing on and I like listening to the radio. The great thing about model railways is you can be doing a bit of woodwork, a bit of painting, a bit of this, a bit of that, and having fun with your mates and you can listen to the radio.”

Kent Online reported on Tuesday (July 22) that Daltrey visited Ashford Borough Council to discuss submitting an application for the museum, which is proposed for the Klondyke Railway Works site in Ashford’s Newtown.

A council spokesman said: “Roger Daltrey attended a meeting at Ashford Borough Council with the leader of the council Cllr Gerry Clarkson and chief executive John Bunnett about a proposal to locate an international model railway museum in Ashford. The meeting was attended by the group working on putting together the proposals for this exciting project. This was a preliminary meeting to discuss certain aspects prior to a formal planning application being lodged in the very near future.”

“We were delighted to welcome Mr Daltrey and the other guests, who are all supporting this proposed project, and we had an excellent and productive discussion.”