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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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