Category Archives: Layout design

Book review – ‘Planning your model railroad’

Posted on December 30, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Of all the writers and ex-writers in Model Railroader, Tony Koester has always been a good read.  High quality modelling, interesting and sometimes unconventional ideas, and an occasional whimsical look at our hobby makes him someone worth listening to.  His latest … Continue reading →

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San Fernando Valley Branch, 1973 (Part II)

Posted on December 22, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Originally posted on Rails West:
In an earlier post, I shared B. Smith’s excellent coverage SP action in the San Fernando Valley in the early 1970s.  In this post, we will drill down a little further into the nuts and bolts…

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Off my trolley – Southern Pacific San Fernando Valley branch

Posted on December 13, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Not quite ‘Off my trolley’ but in the vicinity.  Some while back I looked at the Pacific Electric station at North Hollywood as a potential modular layout.  Running closely parallel to the Pacific Electric at this location is the Southern … Continue reading →

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Model Railway Journal no. 243

Posted on December 11, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

The Model Railway Journal was once a regular read for me.  Nowadays, as I am less a scratchbuilder, I just pick up the occasional copy when it looks interesting.  Issue 243 was one such issue, with a lot of interest … Continue reading →

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Folding baseboards from down-under

Posted on December 3, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

I do enjoy exploring modelling sites from other countries.  Invariably, they approach the hobby rather differently, and give new ideas for a UK based modeller.  Following links between sites, I came across Gav’s Workbench, Gavin Thrum’s site.  Gav has built … Continue reading →

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The wonders of Warley

Posted on December 1, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

The big Warley MRC show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham didn’t clash with Stuttgart this year.  So less than a week after returning from Germany, I was off to Birmingham. I forgot my camera, so I’ve no detailed … Continue reading →

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Jon’s modules – Fiddle yard finally complete

Posted on November 23, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Well, we’re back from Stuttgart, and I’ll be posting some pictures over the next few days.  And next Saturday, I’m visiting the Warley show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham (a bit like the Stuttgart Messe, really), so there … Continue reading →

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Tolworth 2015 #3

Posted on November 21, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Last but not least, a quick look at some of the British layouts on display at Tolworth.  Best of them was the large Old Elms Road layout.  Set somewhere near Reading, it has a mixture of BR Western and Southern … Continue reading →

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Tolworth 2015 #2

Posted on November 19, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Derek and Allan reached Stuttgart on Tuesday, and unloaded the truck.  The first hints of a show were already taking shape.  And soon to be part filled with lots of lovely ‘N’ gauge. The earth is for the radio controlled … Continue reading →

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Tolworth 2015 #1

Posted on November 15, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Fraternite et Solidarite avec La France! Can it really be a whole year since I was extolling the virtues of the enormous 2mm layout Fencehouses at the Hampton Court MRS show at Tolworth?  It seems to have come round very quickly, … Continue reading →

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