nest

Aha! This is very useful thank you! Nestor

Been a little while but here’s something I’ve been working on. It’s based on Bramber and Steyning on the former Shoreham to Horsham line and follows an out and back design. I quite like the combination of out and back operation with the option of a Roundy Roundy route if wanted. The stations provide quite an interesting contrast from a modelling perspective with Bramber acting as a nice scenic diorama and Steyning the shunting spot with goods yard and cattle market. It was also home to one of those lovely two storey Goods Sheds (if anyone knows where to obtain drawings of one it would be greatly appreciated!). I grew up in Brighton and have cycled part of the old line so it’s always held a fascination for me, especially these two stops being so close together. I have included a small corner of the castle just north of Bramber for interest. As with all the sketches on this thread, this would LBSCR in about 1905-1910 and is based on OS maps from the period. Nestor

Had a very pleasant weekend on the demos stand with my little landscaping demonstration. I hope it was useful to those who stopped to ask questions. Didn’t get much time to look around but Hope-Under-Dinmore remains a highlight wherever it goes. Nestor

Many a happy hour spent train watching from my buggy in the 90s from that exact location!

It’s a shortened version of what was at Littlehampton prior to the additional platforms being added. There’s some great photos on this website plus old ordnance survey maps available on the national library of Scotland. I have linked the Littlehampton one I got the above from below. https://thesussexmotivepowerdepots.yolasite.com/littlehampton.php https://maps.nls.uk/view/103673725 Nestor

Happy weekend all! This is the most recent version of a plan I’ve been working on for some time (see above). It’s loosely based on the original trackplan at Littlehampton. Buildings would be taken from various locations around Sussex - station building from Kemp Town or Seaford, goods shed from Littlehampton or Seaford - whilst the line itself would be the Cuckmere route described above. For a relatively simple layout there would be good space for operation with local trains, occasional London and longer distance trains, goods trains and the harbour branch. As before, the fiddle yard could easily be replaced by a traverser or cassettes. All for now! Nestor

Two home based termini for Sunday evening. The first is based on the original Bognor layout. Could be just called Bognor or adapted from the aforementioned Cuckmere Haven nonsense. I quite like this as a possible smaller room operating BLT. You can fit in interest with the loco shed and goods yard. I drew both of these prior to the previous conversation regarding traversers et al but does include one as the fiddle yard. The second pushes the boat out a bit. I’ve taken the layout from East Southsea and added a few more sidings and an engine shed. I’ve also included a halt between the station and fiddle yard for added interest. You can also run both Brighton and South Western stock on this although the branch in reality was pretty limited to motor trains. Both of these would make for interesting home layouts with some operational interest. Nestor

Yes but set much earlier and based on an actual location. I do like Thornbury Hill. Also see Brighton Road in P4. Nestor

Some more exhibition ideas. First off an end to end based on Wandsworth Common. I like this one as it could be used for a whole range of time periods. In Brighton years you could include the overheard wires, or push the time period forward to Southern days and include third rail. Either way, a nice parade layout for a whole host of stock. The second would either be end to end or Roundy Roundy. Based on Singleton, there would be a lot of traffic from race day services plus interest from the royal train. All for now. Nestor

Yes most definitely the Berwick in East Sussex, just a little north of the A27 and Drusillas Zoo Nestor

Writing this post as I rush through Berwick on my commute home. This appropriate as here is a suggestion for an exhibition layout based on Berwick prior to the installation of the brick works. Again the fiddle yard is not set in stone. The Lewes to Eastbourne line had ample interest in terms of trains and would make for an enjoyable parade layout for a show. This in addition to the attractive Weald scenery. I have put the whole section on a curve but could also be straightened out into an end to end layout. Nestor

Of course this would never happen. In the grand alternative history of this line there was always a harbour here that expanded somewhat to justify the building of the line. It would certainly have been built as single line at first before doubled due to demand. Nestor

My preferred way of designing layouts for sure. I did have Anyrail for a bit which is useful when it comes to plotting out sizes of things but pencil and biro is much more fun!

Just one this evening, a proper operating layout based on both stations on the proposed route. The layout of the station and hidden sidings is taken from David Jenkinson’s “last great project” Kendal. Still envisioned as 4mm and 1900-1910. This one includes a cassette behind Alfriston. Alfriston’s layout is based on the original at Berwick prior to the brick works being added. The route during full operation would be as follows - Hidden sidings - Alfristion - Cuckmere (or whatever it would end being called). There is also the option for continuous running through Alfristion and the hidden sidings. Oh wouldn’t it be nice… Nestor

That’s a fascinating selection of stock, what layout is this please? When drawing these out I have included on other plans cassettes and traversers. I’m quite keen on Cassettes as when I was a member of the Brighton MRC I was involved in building a bunch. They are simple to build and require minimal wiring, they do however come with the risk of dropping… I’ll share some more plans a little later today. Thanks Nestor

Oh yeah absolutely could do. The fiddle yards are the least set bit of these. For home layouts I’m quite keen on permanent fixtures so to speak but for exhibition layouts I am definitely an advocate for cassettes and traversers. Nestor

A couple of exhibition layout ideas now. Sticking with the loose LSBSCR plans here’s a BLT version of Seaford prior to the addition of the much larger goods yard. I particularly like the turntable at the end of the passenger road. I’ve always been a fan of Kingscote station so here’s a reversed version of that. I’ve changed the curve but kept the sidings as they were late 1800s/early 1900s. Plenty of space for scenic showing off. Both I think could be interesting in different ways. The Kingscote plan would of course be quite large unless done in a smaller scale. The country scene could lend itself quite nicely to 2mm. Nestor

One of the very few advantages of not currently having space for a layout is the ability to let one’s imagination run wild. With this in mind, here are some sketched out “maybe one day” layout plans based on LBSCR practise. I’ll start with two based on variations of the same idea; a branch off the line between Lewes and Polegate down to a totally imagined town in the vicinity of Cuckmere Haven. The first is loosely based on a cut down version of the original Littlehampton with a branch to an imagine harbour coming off the back of the goods yard. The second is based on some ideas from Eastbourne serving a much more tourist based sea side town rather than a small harbour town. I’ve been drawing variations on the first one for a while and once a proposed house move is completed (hopefully) this year may move to being built… Both are absolutely home based layouts with an emphasis on operation. They would be set firmly in the pre grouping period around about 1900-1910. If there is sufficient interest I shall share some further drawings. I think track plans may be a bit too flattering to these sketches. Nestor

I’m certainly not suggesting that social media replace clubs. I am however suggesting that for many who have neither the time or desire (for any number of reasons) to join a club are now in the fortunate position of not having to go at it alone. I loved my regular club nights whilst still living in Brighton and was very proud to have got the club into Facebook which greatly broadened the interest. The hobby must move with the times to survive. Nestor

A wonderful bunch of chaps who I am extremely grateful for knowing!

Just to add; hurrah for social media! It’s allowed this conversation to be taking place here rather than us all happening to be at the same show. It’s allowed the hobby to reach a generation of people in a totally new and exciting way. It’s allowed me to stay in contact with train friends around the country and the world! The internet will be the absolute future of the hobby whether we like it or not and I for one am very pleased with this. Instagram, Facebook and YouTube all have very active groups and circles of all ages happily not being club members but enjoying modelling. We even have a host of increasingly niche forums to chat about any number of specific aspects of railways. Embrace the changes or get left behind! Hurrah, hurrah! Nestor

Oh the old young people and club membership debate. I’m still under 30 (just!) so assume in Model Railway years I count as some sort of baby! Up until two and a bit years ago I was privileged to be Chair of the Brighton MRC. This was a delightful small club made up mostly of people who had been members for donkey’s years. I joined at the first opportunity when I hit 18 and dragged a couple of other people from college along with me. It was wonderful. I moved towns to Hastings a couple of years ago and have had zero interest in joining the local club here. Not for any fault of the club itself although it is quite some distance from my home and already commute for work. The reasons I’ve come up with for not joining are “it’s my hobby and I no longer have to be involved in club politics”, “I have enough modelling friends already thanks” and “I am part of enough online forums and a distance member of the MRC at Keen House”. The online forums and emails and texting and instant messages with established modelling chums is quite sufficient to keep me interested. I think essentially what I’m trying to say is that club memberships may dwindle but it’s in no way an indictment of the hobby, it’s just changing. The majority of the aforementioned modelling pals live quite some distance from me, the furthest being Newcastle, but we are still able to communicate about our latest projects, share news, discuss all things prototype and the rest of what one may get out of Club Membership but without being charged for it (which during a cost of living crisis is a boon, especially in a hobby like this). I love this hobby and always will. I demonstrate scenery making at Ally Pally most years and always encouraged by the amount of children and teenagers who seem to be keeping the flame alive. It’s the hobby Jim but not as we’ve known it. Nestor

Very sorry to hear this news. I’m less active on this site these days but always enjoyed seeing what Adrian was up to. My thoughts are with his family. Nestor

Conversation for another time Phil but was briefly interested but have since moved on. Oh the joys of being between layouts! Nestor

Railways of that era really are quite something. This really is a beautiful layout, is there any further information about it anywhere? Nestor