Category Archives: Layout design

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 , , , | Leave a comment

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 , , , | Leave a comment

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 , , | 1 Comment

London to Brighton train line opened 175 years ago this week

From the Surrey Mirror, written by John Capon, who knows all there is to know about Redhill and its railways.  Read more there…. A new era for local travellers dawned exactly 175 years ago next Tuesday. For on that day … Continue reading

Posted in ESNG, Inspiration, Layout design, Prototype | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Redhill Platform 0 – found!!

Finally, I’ve worked out where Platform 0 at Redhill is going to go.  Of course, the answer was buried on RMWeb, and a thread on Rebuilding London Bridge (station.)  So, the answer is that platform 0 is going to be … Continue reading

Posted in ESNG, Inspiration, Layout design, Prototype | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Miniatur Wunderland – 4 – Rural and coastal

Mainly pictures out in the countryside and down by the sea…..

Posted in Exhibitions, Inspiration, Layout design, Out and about | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Letter to the editor – Two steps to save our hobby

This post is hi-jacked, with apologies, from the Model Railroad Hobbyist forum.  It’s worth a read and seems to make a lot of sense to me.  It’s another, if lengthy, plea for small model railways….. Letter to the Editor Reversing the Decline … Continue reading

Posted in Inspiration, Jon's layout ramblings, Layout design | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Reigate 2020

I have failed t0 date to track down a plan showing where platform 0 at Redhill is going to be.  However, I did find this plan from 2014 by Mark Townend, showing Reigate modified to take 12-car trains and also … Continue reading

Posted in ESNG, Inspiration, Layout design, Prototype | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Martin’s layouts

Martin was involved in a good number of projects, and I’ve tried to describe some of his model railways below….. (Update:  I’ve added the missing photos!) Corfe Castle N-gauge Layout: Martin’s home layout, not seen by many club members, is a … Continue reading

Posted in ESNG, Layout design | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Some interesting quotes….

From ‘Achievable Layouts’: If you want to do this (build and achievable layout) as well, I think the first step is self-awareness. Be honest with yourself about how prolific you are in the hobby. At the same time, be honest … Continue reading

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Jon's layout ramblings, Layout design | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment