Hibelroad

US box cars attract graffiti, add some and use weathering to cover up the rest.

Long enough for a loco and 4 carriages would be a start, but that length depends on era, pre grouping would be shorter than modern era.

Living Wreck - Deep Purple

On the other hand, back when I were a lad, electricity was called juice ( as in “turn the juice on”) so it could simply be a reference to energising the rails.

Sadly all hobbies and pastimes are plagued by self appointed police, I spent some years dabbling in ham radio and it was awash with legal experts, to the extent that it finally put me off. Being older and wiser I ignore them now and if they become too insistent I would simply say sue me then. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so copying should be seen as a compliment, after all most kit or scratch building consists of copying methods developed by some of the hobby’s greatest characters in the past.

It’s very difficult to come up with a truly original idea for a layout, I would argue that Peter Kirmond has managed it with his York layout but other than that layouts are variations on a theme, roundy roundy or terminus to fiddle yard. But each one is unique, non are exact copies but they draw inspiration from what others have done. If I want to make an exact copy of Copenhagen Fields at home and call it Copenhagen Fields then there is nothing to stop me ( apart from infinite time, skill and modelling ability). However if I were to exhibit or publish it then it would be a very different matter. Everyone will have favourite layouts and grand schemes to replicate them at home but in most cases the end result (if it happens at all) will be a N gauge shunting plank called Danish Meadows.

It’s all a matter of current, how many amps will be drawn at maximum. With the micro layout described only one small engine and a light load will be controlled at any one time so max load is unlikely to be much more than one amp and any controller designed for 00 gauge layout use will be perfectly adequate. The heavy duty controllers and boosters are only needed for large layouts where there are multiple trains moving and heavy loads. Some old 0 gauge models had rough and primitive motors which draw a lot of current but it sounds unlikely that you are going to be using those.

I was at the York show some years ago and rather surprised to find what appeared to be a copy of the MRJ Inkerman Street layout in 4mm scale. I asked if it was copied from Inkerman Street but the operator at the time was rather non committal and largely ignored me. However there is something to be said for copying what you know works, no need to reinvent the wheel.

Correct, they have bought the brand name and internet database, that’s it.

Got it! They forgot to fit the outrigger legs! Still they did bounce so confirming the old saying that where there is no sense there’s no feeling.

Make/buy new brake blocks. Research the model you want and modify what you need. Hand line it if cost is that important but the fact remains it’s 95% of the model you want at a rock bottom price.

That looks like a part made by the original layout builder so the only solution would be to repair the broken joint or make a new part from 1mm brass wire. Both would require an element of soldering, but help it at hand! Macclesfield has a great model railway club so why not ask them for help, I’m sure they would make you very welcome.

I've only just spotted this, astounding value for money and a good model for anyone tempted to dip their toe into the 0 gauge water. I would think it could easily be turned BR with transfer lining and numbers etc, easily got from the Fox and other sources and a great little project.

The British are always at the forefront of engineering innovation.

Some people are easily pleased.

Well I make it about 21 billion years which is 5 times older than the age of the earth, unless the earth really is 5000 years old which would then make it lots of times more.

Killing poor defenceless animals (hope my opinion isn’t too obvious here ) is considered a sport by some but I think the OP has nailed it with his definitions. Vivian Stanshall’s ( Bonzos) song about the odd boy pretty much sums up my experience of sport at school, and my attitude to sport.

It’s interesting that there are a few comments on here from those who have only a passing interest in real railways but enjoy the craft of model making and scenery construction. Personally I never had a train set but started with a few cast off oddments donated by school friends, perhaps a topic for a new thread.

I would think that a train set becomes a model railway when the owner starts to take an interest in it as a model rather than it being just another toy. However ownership of a train set is not the only route into the world of railway modelling.

Come on hurry up, it’s not going to light itself.

I can imagine that happening in our house, the world revolves around George.

What happens in Gomorrah stays in Gomorrah.

The thing is about a first layout is that it is just the first, more will follow in due course. So play about with it, see what works, make as many mistakes as you like, that’s part of the learning process. For further info browse the forums on here, visit shows and definitely join a club if there is one near you.

I spent years working in financial services and pensions are a law unto themselves. At regular intervals the government of the day decides to simplify them and just end up adding another layer of complexity. As regards the state pension I don’t think anyone understands it, I started on a reduced amount but after a few months got the full amount, my own back of an envelope calculations tended to indicate a reduced amount but only by a little bit. Non of this helps the original question but if you cannot make sense of pensions then you are not alone.

Good news indeed, DJH were well made and easy to build kits and it good to know that the range will be in safe hands.