Zomboid

I definitely notice myself being in a minority (being in my 30s). Todays young railway enthusiasts also have the draw of Train Simulator (and whatever else is knocking around these days), in which it is possible to build much larger "layouts" than the average suburban bedroom can hold. I wonder how much of a drain on actual modellers that new rail-related hobby is. Personally I tried Microsoft Train Simulator about 15 years ago, and it bored the pants off me, but I'm just one person. And it did open my eyes to North American railroads. Saying that, the club I've been getting involved in has a fair few people involved who are reasonably young, at least in the railway modelling sphere (i.e. 20s, 30s & 40s), at least in the diesel & electric group. I haven't met the kettle brigade yet, so I don't know about them.

They certainly were. I wore out the tapes we had of them (Saw one of the recent CGI ones a couple of weeks back, and was appalled; I don't remember a 9F called "Maurice" or whatever they've added since I moved on from Thomas. I'm probably just getting old). The "modern image" at the time I got into railways was BR sectorisation, and what I got to see at my local station were the NSE lines out of Waterloo. I wasn't really aware of what was going on until things like the REPs and Loco Hauled trains were a thing of the past, and for me a 455 was an exciting novelty. I suppose it's hardly surprising that I've subsequently gone through being interested in BR Blue era, and now American railroads...

I'm not sure you'll ever find an emotional attachment to a track plan. Just doesn't sound like the kind of thing that would happen... I guess the question is what do you enjoy about this hobby?

Not messing about, I see. Like it.

If shunting a goods yard is your thing, how about switching it around, and having the BLT with some rudimentary facilities next to the FY, and the line continuing past there to a larger freight only facility. If its large enough you may even be able to justify the 8/9F showing up.

I like the idea of a "system", rather than just a station. A very similar vein to something I'd like to build some day (though mine will be American HO). I'm only really replying to get a little star next to the thread so I know to look at it when it updates.

How much spare space under there? I only ask because my GP60 is a little taller than those boxcars, so they may not be the best choice for checking clearances. Though your traction may be smaller than that.

Awful when that happens, isn't it? Model junction is pretty local to me, too. Should go for a "browse" sometime...

I'd love to see a southern pacific cab forward running tender first. Apparently they were built in response to the train crews trying to get their locos running tender first to avoid asphyxiation in the long tunnels and snowsheds on the sp route. I imagine there would have been some huge locos on huge trains running tender first...

Liking it. The idea of not having a run round seems odd to me, but I guess switching all the industries in one go is going to be impossible due to train length constraints anyhow.

Have to say I'm impressed with the rate at which you're creating buildings. You'll have a convincing urban sprawl built whilst I'm still planning my first warehouse

The Greys - Devin Townsend

I'd say if you feel you need a run round, put one in. It'll definitely be a feature of what I hope to build if I find myself blessed with sufficient space.

I caught BCB at railex, a very impressive piece of work it is, too. In fact the quality of show in general was quite something.

How is that not an "up to date switcher"? Looks to fulfill the brief pretty comprehensively to me.

Have to say, I'm falling for O scale, thanks to this kind of thing. At some future point, when I have more than 5 feet to play with...

Barnham has island platforms accessed via a subway, as is Portsmouth & Southsea high level. Micheldever too, though that's only happened since electrification I think. Plenty of examples with the platforms on the outside as well, though. So anything would be believable.

So is that a model or some real plants? Seriously.

It would have been "hilarious". Never mind. The moment's passed now.

A selection of things to put on the bridge http://www.chrispcollectibles.com/mycollection/cmw/

If you mirror the whole thing they become trailing connections. Or you could just have right hand running...

There's no reason why you should pay any attention to me (as I've got nothing more than a wardrobe door with some pencil lines on right now), but I would suggest less track. Both your plans have pretty much every square inch having track in it, which leaves no space for scenery. Less siding space will also give you more to think about when operating it. I'd recommend losing one of the top sidings on your second plan, and using the space for whatever loading/unloading you might imagine would be going on at that facility.

Inspiring. You've got that urban decay thing right down. The unmaintained-looking track is particularly impressive.

Brian, The possible issue I see with the yellow section is that you have to have it switched on to run a train between the two brown parts. Therefore you can't park a loco in the yellow section if you ever want to make that move. By putting the points on one or other of the brown bits and then just the one set of points and 2 sidings on yellow you can then make the move. Hope I've explained that clearly...

O (0?) is such a good scale. Even small things have presence (that somehow translates into a photograph on a computer screen...). I think the GWR was a minor branch from the LSWR at Exeter. Though I might be thinking of Yeovil. Utterly inconsequential either way