If anyone has links to their inspirations - it would be great to see some online if possible.
Strictly speaking my main inspiration was Reading Station in real life, which is what I am modelling, but being a new N-gauger and short on experience of what can really be achieved at this scale, I definitely benefitted from seeing other people's layouts.
My three are:
Kinlet Wharf
Ring Road
David Shepherd's layout
I saw Kinlet Wharf at the 2009 N Gauge Show and was definitely inspired. I had in mind that I wanted a long run through countryside on an elevated section, and I also wanted to model a river or canal. This super layout showed me just how good it could look and helped galvanize my ideas and my track plan. It is by Wakefield RMS.
http://www.wakefieldrms.org/Exhibition2002/Exhibition2002J.html
The other layout that captured my imagination was Ring Road by David Lund, also in N gauge. It is a modern image elevated section running through a town and this inspired me to see what a unique layout can be created by scratchbuilding the modern buildings, and made me think seriously about recreating some of Reading town's 1970s concrete. It was shown in Model Rail 145 (July 2010) and will be at Trainwest in April 2011.
http://www.n-gauge.org/
I also loved the article on David Shepherd's TT-gauge layout in Model Rail 132 (July 2009). The scenery is exquisite and I really like the idea of balancing trains and landscape - having the trains fit into the landscape. That is really inspirational modelling.