definate maybe

Hi, hope you have settled into the new job now I was only thinking yesterday that I hoped you would update us all soon!. The bridge is looking really impressive and I cant wait to see the finished signal box. Has there been any progress at the station end of the board? The station at Thurso is one of my favourites and it looks like your building wont be a million miles away from the general feel of that one.

Not really serving a town of a different name but the signs at Walton in Essex keep changing between Walton-On-Naze and Walton-On-THE-Naze.

Sounds an interesting and entertaining idea. I've always been a fan of departmental stock and Tonbridge West Yard has been a major crowd pleaser on the exhibition scene for a number of years. It will be interesting to see how an N gauge version works.

Thanks for the comparison picture. I think you have really managed to capture the feel of the place. The more humble aspects of a town's railway history appear to be becoming a popular modelling subject and I find it very interesting. Could the forgotten yard be the new depot/ blt? It certainly wouldnt bother me if they all incorporated the feelings of past glory you get from this and similar layouts

That looks like some very impressive modelling. Have you got any pictures that capture the whole of the model? It would be nice to be able to compare it to the link you posted.

Oh what a question that is! Only 3, not 30 or 300? There are too many possibilities. I'm sorry but I am going to have to cheat and group some together and even then narrowing it down to 3 is impossible 1) The Steve Flint layouts - Kyle of Tongue & Reighton. Both really capture the setting well. Neither are too busy and really do pass for believable locations and settings 2) The Ian Futers layouts - Too many to name but all very simple but highly detailed and makes you realise that less can definately be more 3) Nether Stowey, N gauge at its very best. Mentions have to go to Hursley, Pengwynn Crossing, Tonbridge West Yard, Invergeachy, Albannach and many many more that have given me pleasure, yet many have also made me rip up my own plans and start again in hommage to their wonder!

Stewart, I'm sorry to hear about the redundancy but are glad you managed to find a new job so quickly. Its a shame you no longer have space for the old bridge as I thought was a fantastic peice of modelling however, As BCN has already commented I dont think that loosing the run round is a major issue and I think it may even add to the sleepy remote scottish feel of the layout. I'm so glad to see you posting again and hope to see plenty more of Albannach on here over the coming months.

Hello, just seeing if there is any update on this layout. Have been looking out for updates for a while. Hope everything is stil going OK

There are two theme's that seems to be developing on this thread. The layout setting and the scenery, especially road traffic that are shown on them. On the subject of setting we have to take into account space available, our confidence in scratchbuilding or stock availability, how to keep us all interested in its operation and possibly access to books/ photos of the location to get the feel right. The run of the mill modeller doesnt have room for a main line and will rely on rtr or possibly kits. A branch line, minories based or depot layout can offer prototypical length trains, use of the stock available and an ability to run the layout in a way that is similar to how they run/ ran in real life. I'm sure we've all dreamed about the ideal layout and chances are what we have decided to build is not the same due to these constraints. Even if the loco's were available to model a non GW branch then the passenger stock hasnt been and you would hear moans about (for example) a ex LNER branch in early steam days where all passenger services are made up of Mk1's. The modern (or fairly modern) alternative is the scottish branch in the 90's with a 37 & 3-4 mk1s. Again an obvious choice but it can be completed fairly realisticly in a small space with out the need to worry about kits etc. With scenery we have the common problem of how not to make a space boring and how to make it look realistic in the same point. The road works/ crash scene gives a reason for non-moving cars (when else does this happen in real life), can add colour with flashing lights and gives you something to look at. The church scene on its own fills a gap but trying to make it interesting without giving a reason to add people/ colour etc is very difficult. If you consider real life for a second how many people would stand a stare at a churchyard for no reason. Some are interested in gravestones and will enjoy wondering around one but in OO scale making gravestone unique or readable would be very difficult and most probably wouldnt have the same appeal. A wedding/ funeral gives a reason for looking at this location. If you have very impressive modelling skills then you can WOW people with the craft/ skill that you have put in to making a setting look realistic but it is unlikely you will actually capivate them with the actual field (for example) itself. The ploughing team gives you a reason for keeping interest. In real life it is highly unlikely that you stand still and look at one location with nothing happening in it so why would you do so on a model. Some may lack imagination to move away from the norm, others may lack the skills required to build a dream layout or even a modest house/ point of interest to make their layout stand out but at the end of the day they enjoy operating their layouts and we enjoy looking at even the most ordinary and oft repeated layout at a show.

cant help as to what happened to it but I remember the RM article well. Still have that magazine at home, although it now has a well read feel to it and is a bit battered as a result.

That Sir, is first class modelling. I cant believe I have only just stumbled upon this thread but I will definately be making a mental note to visit on a regular basis

JimC, I dont think anybody is trying to belittle preserved railways in the 305mm to the foot world. The comments have come from a modelling POV and most people seem to think that trying to get the realistic feel of the subject is difficult. When people are talking about the 'tourist' only aspect I believe they are talking about the need to only keep 1 demographic happy for the line to be a success. Locals may use the services for convienence but I would imagine as a % of their revenue/ profit it is a small amount although as you point out they do give a greater input to the local community through bringing money to the area. With the 'mainline' a normal model subject would most probably have two or three traffic subjects on which to add interest whilst still maintaining a degree of realism whereas most freight or parcels traffic, for example, on a preserved line are still run for tourist interest measures or as photographic specials.

The main problem with the 'make believe' preserved lines I have seen is they all appear to be set in the middle of a steam gala with all available space taken up by Fairs, traction engines, buses and enough people to make Oxford Street on a saturday afternoon look empty. I wouldnt model one as its very hard to make it plausible but exciting. If your modelling the revenue earning railways then you can add a small piece of fiction and it doesnt look out of place. A L/L 50 on the Highland main line in 2010 with a mix of MK1's & MK2 in colours ranging from Choc & Cream to Virgin can easily pass for the state of todays charter services. By adding this kind of sight to a preserved line would just be seen as 'run what you like when you like' which isnt bad (its your model and you do what you want) but if your striving for realism it would be a very hard job to get the balance right

Leon, I believe the compatability is not for coupling but for multiple running. For some strange reason this country has run with 4 or 5 different multiple working systems. A full explanation can be seen here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_working It seems to be a bit of a nightmare for the planners!

Hi, I must admit that normally I dont follow any foreign prototypes so I cant comment on the realism your modelling but the quality looks very high and it also looks like you have a very nice modelling space there. With a photoshopped background the 3rd picture (from track height level) would look very believable. Any chance of a track plan appearing on here in a future post. I dont know if it is just me but I normally find it helpful to get a feel for the pictures being described.

WOW that looks an ambition plan. I dont think I could get my head around modelling anything like that but it certainly looks impressive. Good luck and I hope to see regular updates on this one. A nice mix of Loco's and rolling stock should be available for your chosen period so I would imagine there will never be a dull moment!

Hi, you seem to be making good progress on the layout. I love the latest two pictures. The grey backscene, especially in the first picture with only the water tower and grass for company really does make it seem like a sleepy outpost out in the middle of nowhere. I remember from my trip on the far north line a few years back, passengers seemed to get of at stations that didnt serve any visible houses (where do they all go?) and I can just imagine a lonely sole walking up that embankment on a long trek home, Coat collar up to keep the wind out!

Simply stunning layout. Cant wait until the finished view from the tunnel looking down into the station once the station building has been completed. The desolate tree and the station nameboard photos, although simple (as in non-busy, not to crowded simple) are just lovely to view.

Ive been reading the RMWeb forum for many years but for reasons unknown rarely comment (something Im in the process of changing) This layout is one of the ones I hope has been updated whenever I come on the site as I cant wait to see it evolve further. The scottish highlands have long been a highlight for me, which started of with the great Kyle of Tongue model. Mountains, wide open spaces, the sea and a speedlink or enterprise freight is a great combination IMO.

Not so much of a never built but back in the 1990's Railway Modellers inside back cover always used to feature an advert including Mehano's Blue Tiger, which in real life I believe was a demonstrator built by Bombardier. I often considered the possibility of this machine coming to the Uk for trials and an order being made, in a similar fashion to FY & ARC with the 59's. I think its a brilliant looking Loco and bring the idea up to date reckon it would look great in Freightliner livery, with possibly this class ordered instead of the revolting 70