Southern_Trains_Fan

Hi glorious NSE, Yes, the pre-war/pre 21st century look of buildings toward the Southern region of London (particularly places such as Brixton and Bromley) is very clear. I think in terms of capturing this South London feel, flats and 3+ storey terraced houses (with the firebreak wall as you mentioned) will certainly be included. Hopefully by mixing all of this in together with more modern buildings (apartments, retail, warehouses etc.) I should just about be able to capture the setting that I'm after. Thanks for taking the time to comment in such detail, much obliged! Matt

I'm looking to build the layout eventually into a size of around 12-14ft in length, and roughly 2.6-3ft wide. It would probably be divided into 3 or 4 sections of around 3 ft long, and maybe a large fiddle yard at each end or around the back to make it easy to move if necessary. I'm beginning to feel as though Penge West or Olympia would be a better option than Willesden actually for the exact reason that you have listed. Cheers for commenting, Matt

Hey, Yes, I have seen 'Loftus Road' many, many times and often turn to this layout for inspiration. I admire it greatly, especially the new scratch built houses that he/they installed! Olympia does stand out to be the best option, although Loftus Road is also based on Olympia, and I wouldn't want to be stealing any ideas. I'm sure I'll be able to tweak it in my own way and make it unique. His electrostars are also superb. They are the perfect element to add to that London feel. Cheers for commenting, matt

I very much agree. I have travelled through London numerous amounts of time, being a Londoner myself, and there is a very clear mix of buildings as you have described. The layout wouldn't by any chance be Stoney Lane Depot would it? Only I have seen it online a few times and is another excellent example of a typical South London scene. Cheers, Matt

Thanks for your help Ben, some photo's would be a brilliant inspiration The rolling tock would certainly be an interesting variety to recreate. Cheers for commenting, Matt

Thanks for your help, I'll have a look Cheers, matt

Wow, I'm surprised that I've missed this layout so far! I currently live in Louth, which, as I'm sure you know, used to play a very large part in the East Lincs Railway. I have travelled through Wainfleet more times that I can imagine, so I'll be very interested to see how this layout 'unfolds'. Good luck, I'll be following intensely! Cheers, Matt

Hey all, My current layout is a rural/suburban based N gauge layout, set nowhere in particular. Because of an inevitable house move within 5-7 years, I have decided that in the future, 00 gauge will be my kind of scale (as I modelled in 00 gauge foe a good 7 years). My ideal layout would be an urban/suburban South London based layout, and in terms of track plan I would choose to base it on a similar plan to either Battersea Park Station, Penge West, Kensington Olympia or maybe Willesden Junction. I wouldn't be modelling these stations down to a T, but they would merely be used as a rough base to give me a decent head start on constructing the layout. I have tried to model London before, and failed miserably. I want this layout to be a clear representation of London, so that when you see it, you know straight away where it is supposed to be set. The problem I have found is that there is a general lack of urban-based modern image 00 gauge products, and a lack of buildings and details that represent that of features in London. I guess scratch building is an option, but I have never scratch built in my life! Well, I tried to scratch build a waiting room but it turned out looking more like a building that the bomb squad's had a go at! So, what products are available that would help represent a clear example of a modern image London/South London? Anyway, Cheers for any help/suggestions, Matt P.S. Lack of rolling stock for this area is also a problem, but I'm prepared to wait until an inevitable electrostar model is released, which I'm sure it will be at some point!

I reckon this is one of the best layouts I've seen online and at exhibitions looking at the photos of the layout! So realistic, something that I'm struggling to achieve on my own N gauge layout How do you achieve such good lighting in all of your photos? Do you have a light bracket above the layout or are you taking the photos in natural light? My layout photos come out all dark and artificial, although it's not as bad now that I'm using one of those ultra bright bulbs! Layout is superb, really is one of the best I've ever seen, if not thee best! Cheers, keep up the amazing work! Matt

It's been a while since I last updated the blog, and I have made some progress. I have layed most of the track, and tested some of it. A few dead zones need to be looking into but I do now have 2 full circuits on the layout. I've been giving the locos a well needed run! I've also been working on the road in front of the back-scene, and now I need to purchase some low relief shops etc. Anyway, I will posts some pictures at some point, when I get round to it. I have also started on the second platform, but it isn't yet complete. Pictures will follow soon!

You are most probably correct. East Midlands Trains was founded in 2007, and in 2013 I still saw an ex-central trains class 153, and this was 6 years after East Midlands trains was formed. Chances are there may even be the odd ex-central trains DMU around now.

The Dummy class 156 in East Midlands trains livery arrived two days ago! It's a beautiful model. Brilliantly detailed. I just wish I could get hold of a motorised version so I could run a four car unit. For now, I am pulling the unit with my London Midland class 153, but in the future, I hope to purchase a central trains class 153, as this would be a more appropriate livery, considering that old Central Trains loco's were used by East Midlands trains until they were repainted into the East Midlands trains livery between 2007-2008/9. Here are some pictures of the 156:

So, after a lot of thinking about how I'm going to have my station set out, I have decided that I will probably base the platform layout of Grantham Station. The image below shows the plans for the platform which I just quickly sketched out in Paint on my laptop: Ok, so the layout isn't dead on accurate to the real thing, but it's very, very similar to this. One of the only things that is missing is the sidings next to the station, but I have no room for these. Anyway, that's the plan! Wish me luck!

I have just ordered the class 156 East Midlands Trains dummy loco by Dapol (in N gauge obviously!). Been after this for so long. Doesn't really suit my layout, as it is set in the south, but I travel all to often on this train, and is by far the most common loco in my area. When it arrives (or if it arrives before I go on holiday), I shall upload some pictures.

Yes, once it's stuck, it's stuck for good! It's not too hard, just put the tape down where you need it to be, and lay the track on top of it. Just try to centre the piece of track, and push it down with a light amount of force. When connecting two pieces of track, just slip the rails/fishplates together (keeping the track off of the tape) then when you think you have just about centred the track/straightened it, place it on the tape and push lightly again. Really handy method!

So, this is the first ever post in my first ever blog! I've started laying track, and I have come across a very cheap alternative to securing down the track, and adding underlay. What I use means that you have secure track and track underlay/ballast shoulder all in one! What I have used is double sided sticky foam. The brand type that I have used is exactly the perfect width for N gauge track, it's very sticky so your track won't move around at all, and it is very, very cheap. I think it came to £1.00 for a 2.6M pack (made up of three separate rolls). I would recommend this method to anybody who is looking for a cheap, neat and easy to apply alternative for track underlay! See the attachments for images:

This exact thing has happened to my class 153 (London Midland) but the bogie tower hasn't snapped off completely, it is just very loose and delicate, but it still wont clip back into the chassis properly. I too was cleaning mine, and after taking it out I noticed it was loose. Whenever I put the bogie back in it just falls straight out again, and I haven't yet found anywhere that can fix this!