An important point was made in the comments below my previous blog post by @AndyB that is worth highlighting before I start: thinking through ideas for a Standard Gauge layout is not the only thing I'm doing.  I'm not a quick modeller, but my workbench has some narrow gauge scratch-aid kits and scratchbuilds in progress:

 

 

And earlier this year I completed five different station model kits, (one in TT I began last year and four new builds in HO):

 

 

The advice I often pass on to others thinking about a layout is to get started modelling something, don't just wait.  As I explained in a previous blog post, it can help form or shape an approach to modelling when it comes to layout building.  So I thought it might be helpful to flag up that I do some modelling as well as having fun thinking about new projects I can start.

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Although I have plenty to be getting on with (including another dozen or more structure kits in the stash) I begin this post with a familiar planning dilemma: the concept I was keen to develop won't fit easily into my space.

 

Am I sure?  In the case of overhead electrics, there's a simple question that tests this:

 

Am I sufficiently invested in a plan to commit to building the catenary it will need?

 

Without a layout plan I was sold on, I had to admit I wasn't convinced.  This was not what I'd imagined of course - look back through the previous blog entries and just about all of them include photos of European HO models.  Similarly, images of European HO models have appeared in both my Narrow Gauge and North American project threads this year as well.

 

But it was time for another visit to the well of inspiration...I thought I'd take a step back once more and have a good think:

 

1.  What kind of layouts inspire me (British Outline)?

 

I've stated frequently that I'm as much influenced by other model railways as I am by the prototype, so it took me no time at all to draw up a list of four favourites.  All have appeared in BRM:

 

• Hammerston Wharf (BRM Feb 2007) - a linear O scale exhibition layout by Macclesfield Model Railway Group,
• Hudson Road (BRM Jan 2013) - a linear OO gauge exhibition layout by @Jon Grant 4472
• Tawcombe (BRM Feb 2013) - a home layout in a loft with a linear scenic section by professional modeller David Wright,
• Up the Line (BRM June 2015) - a linear O-16.5 Narrow Gauge exhibition layout by @KH1

 

What all four have in common (apart from superb modelling I could never hope to emulate) is that while all allow trains to pass from one end of the scene to the other (or, in the case of 'Up the Line', to transfer onwards), none are continuous runs.

 

And if I think of British Prototypes I find inspiring, and rule out the likes of Birmingham New Street (1970s) or Liverpool Lime Street (contemporary) as too big for me to tackle, then the three places that easily top my list are:

 

• Ashburton GW (despite its operational limitations as a model railway, we used to holiday nearby)
• Fairford GW (a particular favourite I explored for a OO gauge project in 2020)
• Welshpool WLLR (as it is today, another holiday destination)

 

All these of course are branch terminii.   It suggests my plan for a TT:120 GW Branch Line Terminus is good, but raises the question as to how committed I really am to continuous running, when I'm happy to watch trains in other ways too?

 

Continuous running is what I grew up wanting, and still very much enjoy, but might other alternatives help me to get building now?

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2.  What inspires me (European outline)?

 

Looking at European railways, my prototype knowledge outside of Narrow Gauge Lines is really limited to Railfanning videos of mainline trains, so model railways are influential here too.  Again, drawing up a list of those layouts I keep returning to is not difficult, and most are on RMweb:

 

• Hufeisental  in HO by @Alan Kettlewell - while it wasn't finished, I still found it an inspiring project
• Neustadt an der Suedbahn in HO - an incredible Austrian layout built up to the ceiling that I follow on YouTube
• Obermatt in N scale by @Frutigen - which is a Swiss outline continuous run layout
• Gelternau also in N Scale by @cornish trains jez which is a spacious through-running slice of Switzerland
• Wolfstatt a new Austrian HO exhibition layout by @duff man and team with a long linear scenic section

 

Again, these have plenty of space for trains to run, but other than Obermatt all are big schemes (and even Obermatt would scale up to more space than I have in HO).  That's what I didn't consider when I bought my HO Taurus class 1016.  As I discovered when I looked at the Glacier Express in H0m last year, my European Dreams cry out for more space than I have.

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3.  What about smaller layouts?

 

Are there smaller layouts that I also return to frequently, and why do I find them fascinating?  Two on RMweb are:

 

• Exhill Works by @John Besley which featured in BRM earlier this year, and
• Obbekaar & Ribe Skibbroen by @Middlepeakwhich is a beautiful example of a simple 'run-through' layout in P87

 

Both are simple linear layouts displaying wonderful modelling (and miniature engineering) in less common scales.  To me, they tap into a leisurely world in a different way.  I could list other examples of European branch lines / tramways too.

 

4.  What about something I could aspire to?  

 

One example comes straight to mind:

 

• Kinross by @James Hilton, an HO Canadian Micro-Layout, also with a 'run-through' design.

 

In  space only about 1m x 25cm, an incredible sense of spaciousness has been achieved through very careful planning by the master of small layout design.  Given this, and the amount of US HO I already have (and am keeping), why don’t I take this on board and think again about North American HO after all.  Switching layouts and shortlines (or industrial spurs) have endless possibilities for any space.

 

And if I choose the right concept and era and I could still run passenger trains after all:

 

 

 

We all have our own inspirations, and there are plenty more I could mention, particularly when it comes to North American modelling.  What I need to do is to see if something sparks my interest with a flame that doesn’t quickly burn out.  Modelling American HO has always been a long term aim, but my thinking was initially along the lines of a garage-sized retirement project.  I’ve had a couple of goes at getting started, but not managed to complete a project design to the point of construction.  Why not look again?

 

As I mentioned near the top of this post, I hadn't anticipated heading off in this direction, so I'll see next time where my ideas take me.  In the meantime, I do hope my ramblings here might help others not yet building a layout to think more widely about the alternatives.  Like me, there may well be things we've missed. 

 

All that remains is for me to say a big and heartfelt thank you to all those modellers whom I've referenced in this blog post.  I don't know any personally, so I hope it's OK.  Your work inspires and encourages me, and I hope it does others too.  Thank you, Keith.