Damn these N-Gauge manufacturers! I start getting interested in running long trains and a mainline layout, and suddenly the shops are filled with the best looking set of modern image DMUs I've ever seen! Unfortunately I'm weak-willed when it comes to good looking, Yorkshire area suitable, releases. So I now have a number of these lovely DMUs, and will have a few more when Dapol gets round to releasing their latest set of liveries, and I've not got a layout to run them on (well, not without them looking all lost amongst HSTs, 225s, and 8ft long freight trains). So, with trains starting to run on the mainline layout, my thoughts have turned to the next project, and a layout suitable for running these DMUs on. I've also started getting the bug for exhibiting again, so it'll need to cope with the stresses and strains of exhibition life.

Unfortunately the only space I have available to put a layout is a shelf on one side of the railway room (once I clear a few magazines off it). It's not too bad for size (about 6ft long by 1ft wide), so there is scope for an interesting layout. I think platform length has to be around 2ft - which is a 4-car 158 or 156, or with a slight stretch, 2 2-car units. A quick play with xtrkcad gives the following plan (setrack only - I'm still trying to figure out how to use it to produce flexible track):