Model Railways
Discussion
Keep getting ideas about building a model railway but wonder what i'd do with it once built.
Can't see me sitting watching the train(s) going round and round, I'd get bored (Said he in the process of extending his (sons) Scalextric.
What do most do, build then dismantle?
And do I try and replicate a real life scene or just make it up as I go along.
Sorry if this all sounds a bit odd, I love looking at other peoples model layouts, I love looking at old trains, in fact anything mechanical.
Can't see me sitting watching the train(s) going round and round, I'd get bored (Said he in the process of extending his (sons) Scalextric.
What do most do, build then dismantle?
And do I try and replicate a real life scene or just make it up as I go along.
Sorry if this all sounds a bit odd, I love looking at other peoples model layouts, I love looking at old trains, in fact anything mechanical.
I've been collecting Lego trains for years and currently have:
In the shed.
Yes once I'd got it all working that was phase 1 done...
Fortunately it's Lego, so my son (6) and I make videos and stuff and being it's Lego we can keep changing it...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2WDMLO3euGHjdMr2...
So what about building it and then make some videos etc...
Then you might show it, perhaps make it moveable??
In the shed.
Yes once I'd got it all working that was phase 1 done...
Fortunately it's Lego, so my son (6) and I make videos and stuff and being it's Lego we can keep changing it...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2WDMLO3euGHjdMr2...
So what about building it and then make some videos etc...
Then you might show it, perhaps make it moveable??
Why not focus on trying to replicate a particular stretch of line, watching trains go round and round, basically in a circle is OK for kids, but it hardly stretches your imagination.
Do you have a lot of space available? If not consider 00 or even "n" gauge.
Make no mistake, it can be an expensive hobby, and engine can easily cost £100 +.
I note you live in North Yorkshire, maybe consider replicating a small stretch of The North Yorks Moors line or The Wensleydale railway.
Do you have a lot of space available? If not consider 00 or even "n" gauge.
Make no mistake, it can be an expensive hobby, and engine can easily cost £100 +.
I note you live in North Yorkshire, maybe consider replicating a small stretch of The North Yorks Moors line or The Wensleydale railway.
Building a model railway can involve a number of skills - carpentry, artistic, electrics - which, for many, is reward enough when putting a layout together. If you want to take it a step further and extend your enjoyment of the finished article, try to come up with an operating schedule that mimics what happens on the real thing.
If your layout incorporates a goods yard somewhere, shunting wagons to be picked up by the local stopping goods service might give food for thought, as well as deciding where to put the wagons that were dropped off by the same service when it arrived. How many destinations are served by the station(s) on your layout? A small branch line destination would likely be served by a smaller train than somewhere bigger, which might justify an express.
A pre-diesel era layout might require you to have a motive power depot somewhere, where the locos are kept and serviced while they wait their call to duty. A larger mpd would probably also see a turntable in use. A terminal station would possibly see carriages being shunted in to the station to form a train by a small loco used specifically for that purpose. A larger engine would then be coupled to the train ready to make the service.
As with so many things in life, a bit of research and planning before getting on with the physical part of putting something together will more likely produce a layout that will give plenty of enjoyment rather than one that is consigned to early retirement because boredom with it's limited operational scope has set in.
If your layout incorporates a goods yard somewhere, shunting wagons to be picked up by the local stopping goods service might give food for thought, as well as deciding where to put the wagons that were dropped off by the same service when it arrived. How many destinations are served by the station(s) on your layout? A small branch line destination would likely be served by a smaller train than somewhere bigger, which might justify an express.
A pre-diesel era layout might require you to have a motive power depot somewhere, where the locos are kept and serviced while they wait their call to duty. A larger mpd would probably also see a turntable in use. A terminal station would possibly see carriages being shunted in to the station to form a train by a small loco used specifically for that purpose. A larger engine would then be coupled to the train ready to make the service.
As with so many things in life, a bit of research and planning before getting on with the physical part of putting something together will more likely produce a layout that will give plenty of enjoyment rather than one that is consigned to early retirement because boredom with it's limited operational scope has set in.
My Dad has always been into model railways, and has now taken over my old room to build his layout. He probably took about 18 months to build the base (about 8x4ft) and put down the basic track layout, then another 2-3 years to get all the scenery, buildings, props, etc to a "finished" state. And even now, he's always tinkering with it in some way or other. It's always made me want to build my own layout, but due to time/space/money factors I've never got round to it. If I do it won't be something I rush to finish as quickly as possible, but I'd take the enjoyment from building it rather than the finished product.
If you do want to do it, take your time on the build and aim for more accuracy/detail, rather than focusing on trying to finish it too quickly. As Wacky Racer suggests, go for a detailed replica of a stretch of line rather than a loop, and if space is limited I'd definitely suggest N Gauge as you can fit more in
(although it is more expensive)
So you probably won't get much enjoyment from something like this as it would probably be finished in a weekend:
But building something like this would be more satisfying:
Or this:
Or if space allowed...
If you do want to do it, take your time on the build and aim for more accuracy/detail, rather than focusing on trying to finish it too quickly. As Wacky Racer suggests, go for a detailed replica of a stretch of line rather than a loop, and if space is limited I'd definitely suggest N Gauge as you can fit more in
(although it is more expensive)So you probably won't get much enjoyment from something like this as it would probably be finished in a weekend:
But building something like this would be more satisfying:
Or this:
Or if space allowed...
Skyedriver said:
Keep getting ideas about building a model railway but wonder what i'd do with it once built.
Can't see me sitting watching the train(s) going round and round, I'd get bored (Said he in the process of extending his (sons) Scalextric.
What do most do, build then dismantle?
And do I try and replicate a real life scene or just make it up as I go along.
Sorry if this all sounds a bit odd, I love looking at other peoples model layouts, I love looking at old trains, in fact anything mechanical.
There is something zen-like about model railways. I think it's one of the most 'nerdy' hobbies by reputation, but I've never met anyone – male or female – who wasn't fascinated by them. My wife loves Pecorama in Devon.Can't see me sitting watching the train(s) going round and round, I'd get bored (Said he in the process of extending his (sons) Scalextric.
What do most do, build then dismantle?
And do I try and replicate a real life scene or just make it up as I go along.
Sorry if this all sounds a bit odd, I love looking at other peoples model layouts, I love looking at old trains, in fact anything mechanical.
It's a different kind of enjoyment to Scalextric altogether. My Dad used to say "a good model railway is never finished". And indeed his never was. I'm planning to put Broadstone Junction and environs in N gauge around my study wall, and to be honest I'm enjoying planning it as much as I will building it. Probably more, because so far it's cost me nothing.
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