Category Archives: Layout design

Jon’s modules (and layouts) – A new(ish) layout

As I write this, I’m looking at a large black box parked in the lounge, and waiting to go into the loft.  What could it be? Kuritu.  At our 2017 show in April, I noticed that Ian Milroy had a … Continue reading

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Isle of Wight railways

The railways of the Isle of Wight have always fascinated me.  Not least because of the concentration of lines on a small island – three companies pre-1923 before they were amalgamated under the Southern Railway. And the Isle of Wight … Continue reading

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1971 – July – Birdcage discomfort

Also in the July 1971 edition of Railway Magazine was an interesting article on the Oxted line of Southern Railway and BR Southern Region.  This line branched off the main Brighton line at East Croydon, wound its way through Oxted … Continue reading

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Shunting ad infinitum

You may recall that I found this plan of a small urban goods yard in Brighton, and commented on its suitability for a model. (All maps from the National Library of Scotland site, under creative commons.) Wandering around south London, … Continue reading

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Book review – Creating cameo layouts’

We all get older.  Even Iain Rice gets older.  That young whipper-snapper with radical ideas on P4 modelling and on layout design is now an elder statesman of the hobby.  Fortunately he writes in just the same style as he ever … Continue reading

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Off my trolley – North Hollywood yet again

Noticed recently that the restoration of the old Pacific Electric / Southern Pacific depot at North Hollywood has been completed and reopened as a commuter café on the Metro Orange Line.  This article gives the details, including: The official grand … Continue reading

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Book review – Model Railroad Planning 2017′

The new year has come around again and it’s time for this year’s ‘Model Railroad Planning’ from Kalmbach.  I get this annual publication every year, and it is almost always worth a read.  There are usually too many (for me) … Continue reading

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Minories, Minories everywhere…..

Once you start looking for ‘Minories’ type layouts, they seem to be everywhere.  I suppose this is hardly surprising, as the layout of crossovers and a point to reach three platforms is a simple, intuitive one.  So here’s another attractive … Continue reading

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Another prototypical Minories…..

Reading the July 2011 Railway Modeller, I came across another ‘almost’ Minories design, and a very attractive one at that.  This is the ex-LSWR station of Windsor and Eton Riverside.  Windsor had an LSWR and a GWR terminus, both angling, … Continue reading

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Tonbridge MRC show 2017 #2

Now for the larger scales.  First off is Mers les Bains, French metre gauge in 1/32 scale.  Some typically French buildings (including the town brothel on the right) and all the engines and stock scratch built.  There are also plenty … Continue reading

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