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This is the blog of the East Surrey N Gauge model railway club. Find out about our club activities here, as well as news and views on N-gauge railway modelling.-
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Category Archives: Layout design
Jon’s modules – should I make some changes?
Over the past three years or so, my N-club modules have made slow progress. Totalling 3.6m in length, along the loft wall, they represent Rochelle Park on the Lehigh Valley. The layout has got to the point when it is ready … Continue reading
The Patch
An interesting part of the Los Angeles railway system was ‘The Patch’, an industrial area near downtown Los Angeles, served by the Santa Fe. The area contains many old buildings and industries, served by a patchwork of tracks down streets … Continue reading
Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design
Tagged inspiration, layout design, model railway, small layout design
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That was the week, that was…..
Well, it’s been quite some week…… The new budgie has been named ‘Busta’, as he spends his whole time trying to break out of his cage….. And sit on the lampshade….. Chantelle, my youngest, completed her music course at the … Continue reading
Posted in Jon's layout ramblings, Layout design, N Club International
Tagged ESNG, Layout design, modular layouts, N-Club International
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A couple of quotes
A couple of quotes from the Model Railroad Hobbyist forum that caught my eye….. “Watch out for rabbit holes”: One of the reasons model railroading is the World’s Greatest Hobby is that it’s actually a number of different hobbies, all working … Continue reading
Posted in Inspiration, Layout design, Weird and wonderful
Tagged humour, inspiration, model railroad
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A small shunting layout
Model Railroad Hobbyist has a very nice ‘shunting plank’ in its October edition. It’s in ‘O’ gauge, but the dimensions are a very reasonable 11’- 6” x 17’–19” with a 6’ removable extension for operation. Note that this converts to … Continue reading
Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design
Tagged inspiration, layout design, model railway, small layout design
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Playing or creating?
Model Railroad Hobbyist is a bit of a mixture – I suppose like any periodical – but at least it’s free! However, issue 80, October 2016 has some good things in it. The editorial has some good words on model … Continue reading
Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, Weird and wonderful
Tagged Hints and tips, inspiration, Layout design, model railway
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Jon’s modules – retirement projects?
As my income drops dramatically, here are a few additions to the gloat box….. A very neat sheet metal bending tool, for those etched brass kits. Supplied quickly and painlessly by this on-line shop. I never remember what I need … Continue reading
Respect the scale
More on the size question, this time from the OST blog. It’s aimed more at ‘O’ gauge, but a lot of these thoughts can be factored into any scale. Many of the layout design conventions we take for granted were … Continue reading
Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, Weird and wonderful
Tagged Hints and tips, inspiration, Layout design, model railway
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Off my trolley – wig wag’s
And our UK readers will say, “What’s a wig-wag?” Well it’s not related to a wigwam, or even to wiff-waff (better known as ping-pong or table tennis. It’s s visual and audible signal for ungated railroad crossings. The … Continue reading
Posted in Inspiration, Layout design, Prototype, Traction
Tagged inspiration, Layout design, N gauge, Pacific Electric
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The switchback – a long run in a little space
Reading the Freeonrail blog – a European site looking at “How to squeeze big trains into tiny spaces”, I was reminded how good the “Gum Stump & Snowshoe Railroad, conceived by the recently deceased Chuck Yungkurth (also an expert on … Continue reading
Posted in Inspiration, Layout design, N Club International
Tagged ESNG, inspiration, Layout design
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