On my way up to the doctors for a flu jab this morning, checked the London-Brighton main line. No trains, I’m afraid, but I saw that fall autumn has arrived in the creeper along the retaining wall. A good model in the making? Also, I liked the high concrete retaining wall, probably dating from Southern Railway days. A simpler alternative to brick arches?
My visit to TINGS and the various forum discussions that followed provoked a certain amount of thought. The NGF threads on the exhibition really just showed that everyone is different, and different people like different things. So some people disliked the large N-Club modular layouts; others really liked it.
Perhaps one common thread that came out was the large number of ’roundy-roundy’ layouts, basically consisting of a through station with storage loops behind. Of course, that description covers a wide range of layouts, including the accurate scale representation of Melton Mowbray (North), and the scratch-built diesels and electrics on Burshaw North Western. And of course the magnificent (and enormous) ‘Fencehouses’ in 2mm finescale is basically a continuous run. However, they do seem to get a bit ‘samey’ after a while.
There are, however, good reasons for modelling this sort of layout in ‘N’ gauge.
Also, maybe the layouts tend to look the same due to the relative lack of RTR and kits in ‘N’ gauge. We have been really well looked after by the trade, but it is undoubtedly easiest to model green diesels, blue diesels, or the modern railway. You have to be something special to model pre-grouping steam. Here the larger scales win out – there are many kits available, and scratch-building, although it seems to be getting rarer, is perhaps easier and commoner. (Although some 2mm modellers claim that 2mm is easier than 7mm, as you can leave off most of the detail in the smaller scale.)
I then picked up a copy of October’s Railway Modeller. Tucked near the back was the ‘Comment’ column, by John Rodway. A couple of quotes from his article follow, though I’d recommend the whole thing.
There was always [in the 1970’s] anticipation on the way to such an event [exhibition], and so much to take in while studying the exhibits. On the way back home I would ponder on which ideas were applicable to my own project? How many improvements could I include and what innovations might I incorporate?
He goes on to comment that in that era, the standard of the layouts and of the models were often much lower than today, without the wide range of accurate RTR models available. He then states….
Using just bought-in items, anyone is now able to assemble a very passable layout without recourse to craft skills honed over decades and a burgeoning box of expensive tools.
Interestingly, ‘Wenlock’ at TINGS was a GWR branch line terminal built on exactly that premise. But it received lots of favourable comment because it was a small terminal with shunting, and was different from many other layouts. Rodway continues….
But has this resulted in models of railways becoming more uniform? Are they now becoming formulaic? In its extreme form, do visitors to a show see models of the same loco running on several layouts, pulling exactly the same wagons, and carrying identical loads past repeated copies of stations houses and shops? Is the grass invariable in its shades and textures?
The million dollar question…..
But does this sameness suggest that railway modelling has become a mature technology.
By ‘mature technology’ I mean that for any particular situation, there are a number of tried-and-tested solutions between which the practitioner has only to decide between the most appropriate for his/her particular project.
And my view of TINGS (and others too, I think) is summed up by….
Over the past few years, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to find layouts that stimulate my wow-factor. Perhaps I’ve seen so many layouts and read so many articles that my threshold for wow-inducement has got too high? Or conversely, has innovation and improvement flat-lined?
Perhaps this is why I often buy Model Railway Journal? He concludes…..
I urge every modeller to strive hard to include and perfect at least one unique feature on every layout he/she builds.
How can we continue to be innovative in ‘N’ gauge without resorting to ‘jokey’ or ‘gimmicky’ layouts. (I’m afraid that I’ll walk straight past models of railways on other planets, clever as they may be!) I have more thoughts on this, but will leave it here for today.
If you have ever been berated by some ‘expert’ at a show, that some part of your layout has the wrong livery, take comfort in what recently happened in real life.
To Cathay Paci(f)ic – with a large airliner…..
If you are going to get it wrong, do it in style…..
I keep returning to Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, as a near perfect small branch line terminus. A scale model fits within 4′ in ‘N’ gauge.
And with the beach directly to the left, a sea backscene would be needed.
The only difficult bit is building the little end-on-line turntable.
Terrier Loco W.9 as operating in Southern railway days, being turned at Bembridge Station
Ronald Shephard Railway Collection
West Sussex Record Office Ref No: 1/25/79
What is there not to like????
Burshaw North Western is set in BR blue days, in the north west of England. I was pleased to see this layout at last, as I had booked it for an old ESNG show, and the builder then had to cancel as he moved north for work at short notice. The early pre-TOPS era might not have been that auspicious for the railways, but it makes for interesting modelling.
More overhead electrics on the West Coast Main Line, but this time at Hatch End, at the London end of the line. Here we have four main line BR tracks, and two underground lines.
Langston Bridge, on the Hayling Island branch, is very long and very simple, but an ideal spot to watch a succession of Terrier tank engines amble across the bridge.
Wenlock is a small BR (WR) branch terminus in the 1950’s. Built from readily obtainable items, it shows how a realistic layout can easily be put together.
Annston again visits northern England in BR days, but this layout is an end-to-end model.
New Dalby – Research Division was one of the ‘different’ layouts on display, modelling a modern railway technical test centre, and offering a chance to run all those luminous yellow items of rolling stock.
Whartson Hall offers three main lines and their associated infrastructure and a chance to watch the trains go by.
Wickwar, modelling the early 1950’s, offered some excellent buildings and scenic modelling.
Another of the more ‘unusual’ layouts, Ballykeale models Irish railways at the end of the last century.
And they really are coming soon!! Farish SECR Birdcages in full colour, and now under production, plus the C Class 0-6-0 to follow. And expensive treat, hopefully starting later this year!
As always, I missed a number of layouts in my photographs, but I hope that I picked up many of the best ones on show. We had a pleasant day out, helped by the relatively clear roads for the journey. I managed to do some essential shopping (well, essential in my eyes). This included another Dapol Terrier, and also a set of American baggage cars. I had vowed not to add to my USA stock, but these were just too nice, and reasonably priced, to ignore. I also came away with some more blue boxes for my stock (thanks, Jon), and some bits and pieces from N Brass.
What was unusual was that I spent most of the morning talking to old friends, and rather less looking at the layouts. What with the ESNG members exhibiting, and a surprising number encountered wandering around the show, plus our N-Club German friends, plus all sorts of other acquaintances, and traders that I know, I seemed to have talked my way through the morning.
As for the show itself, I thought that there was plenty of very good modelling to be seen, but perhaps not as much that stood out as ‘different’ or ‘ground breaking’ as in some years. Some shows I come away inspired (not that it has much effect). On Saturday I came away content, but not moved to build anything.
That probably says more about my taste (or lack of it) than the modelling. Perhaps the problem was that it is ‘TINGS’. All ‘N’ gauge might actually be a mixed blessing, as some of the best inspiration comes from layouts in other scales – whether it’s the realism and even beauty of fine scale modelling, or the wider range of prototypes modelled in other gauges. Perhaps ‘N’ gauge layouts have tended towards large ’roundy-roundy’ layouts, often in city outskirts. These offer good operation potential for exhibitions, and for the sort of ‘N’ gauge stock currently available, but there may be too many of them around these days.
But will I go back next year – of course I will!
Off to The International N Gauge Show on Saturday, with a car load of club members. 110 miles to get there, almost all on motorway, and the roads were delightfully trouble free – the early start was worth it. ESNG were well represented at the show, with Sean’s Forrestone and Martin’s St Elizabeth Street placed next to each other. Allan, Geoff and Neil were ‘helping’, though the Cha(I)rman was a bit confused operating the layout off an iPad.
It was also good to see some friends from N-Club International, with groups from Germany and Austria forming a large modular layout, including a narrow gauge N-m interchange and branch line.
Ollie was there in the setup with his modules.
And Duncan with his N-m layout.
Elsewhere in the hall, ‘Bear Creek’ is set in Western Canada….
Into the mountains with the ‘Black Diamonds’ N-track USA modular layout. This layout was more compact (large rather than enormous) than in previous years, and they kept a regular stream of trains running through spectacular scenery.
A quiet corner of ‘Atlantic Road’.
Melton Mowbray (North) is an accurate model of this long-gone station, showing it in its former glory in the 1950’s. This layout was certainly one of the best on display.
Finally for today, ‘Depot de Camion’, a busy little layout set in Switzerland.
More layouts next post.
Thank you Brian, for links to your videos…..
Dear All,
I’ve just returned from a RailTrail trip to Frankfurt and Meiningen for the Meiningen Steam Locomotive Works open weekend.
If you’ve never been here’s a small flavour of the 6 hour double-headed steam train ride to the site, and the range of locomotives on display that day. A steam train from Frankfurt (Main) Sud to Meiningen – September 2018
Meiningen Steam Locomotive Works 2018 –
There are also films on my YouTube account of Frankfurt trams – both historic and modern, including a steam hauled tram ride – that was very different, plus other steam jaunts – narrow gauge and standard gauge during the 5 night trip.
Cheers, Brian
We’d just about recovered from Gaugemaster, and it was time to set up another layout for Thursday’s club night. A small circuit duly appeared, and eight members enjoyed running time. One or two of the weekend’s bargains were tested out…..
Not much else to report, but a busy railway weekend follows….
And more video of the weekend at Gaugemaster…. See 8:00 minutes.
Next to us was the ‘OO’ modern image Oak Road. Based on Castle Cary station, the scenery captured the local Shepton Mallet hills very well. Lots of HST’s running by (but not photographed), and some fine modern diesels. We commented that Allan’s ‘N’ DB 66 looked very small compared to this ‘OO’ one!
Gas Works in ‘O’ was an impressive shunting layout. Notable was the fact that the layout made up for its (relatively) short length with plenty of height. It was mostly operated with grimy LMS locomotives, but this pristine Terrier made regular appearances. It’s such a lovely livery, the owner couldn’t face weathering it!
Glb Bitterfeld was a small HO layout, really built to display operating modern PW stock. All the tampers, cranes and other odd pieces of rolling stock had moving parts.
Wentworth Yard had large numbers of LNER locomotives passing through the shed.
Burnham was a fairly standard branch terminus, but set in East Anglia rather than the inevitable GWR territory, and with this lovely coaster model on display.
Ian Milroy was there with his Spanish layout (with a very long name.)
There were other layouts, but these were the ones that caught my eye. So finally, I was very taken by Mill Falls, ‘HO’ American with some lovely craftsman buildings on display. Plus lots of detail, such as the manhole covers and litter in one of these photos.
We’re at around 19:30 on the video….
We took a 3×1 modular layout to the Gaugemaster show. This really seems to be an optimum size, easy to transport and set up and large enough to impress at the show. The only drawbacks are the duck-under (crawl under for us oldies) and the lack of space at the centre of the layout. It all worked well, and we kept four trains running for the two days.
As ever, the layout was well received, and we had some good conversations with the punters passing buy. Two persons thought they might visit ESNG, two offered layouts for the NGSE show, and we even sold four wagons. We also spent more money than expected, as there were a few good bargains tucked away in a Gaugemaster storeroom. And I thought that I was saving my pocket money for TINGS….
The rest of the show was of good quality, it was a very friendly time, and Gaugemaster were good hosts. The weather was perfect, sunny but not too hot in the marquees. The layouts were a little tightly squeezed in, but perhaps my only complaint was the plumbing – portaloos and hand sanitizer is not ideal for a long day on the south coast!
And a quick snippet of the layout in action….
The West Sussex Group were also there, with a small display of Gilly North’s modules.
I was pleased to meet Tim Hills, who is bringing ‘TENAC’ to NGSE next April. A French SCNF layout is quite rare here in the UK!
And I liked the notice Tim had added to the layout…..
Smallest layout was the ‘Z’ gauge Kenstadt. Easy to pack up after the show, just fold up and walk…..
A bonus of the Gaugemaster site is the procession of full-sized trains next door in Ford station. The coast line has several services along it, and the level crossing seems to be closed as often as open (at least it always closes as you approach it.)
Pictures of some of the other layouts next time.
 | Allan Dawes on On my workbench – module… |
| “Stuttgart 202… on Stuttgart 2025 – 4… | |
 | Jonathan Caswell on Stuttgart 2025 – 4… |
 | Chuckster on Brockenhurst show 2025 |
 | snitchthebudgie on Potpourri #1130 |
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