'OO' gauge layout features
Shillinghurst - modelling the Southern Region in the '60s
New Southern Region and Somerset & Dorset models gave BOB PETCH the inspiration to shift the time period of his home-based 'OO' layout forward by 30 years and change the location from Great Western to Southern Region. As he explains, the changes were simple but have made a big difference.
BOB PETCHEast Quay
Small engines and short trains are the order of the day at this charming quayside station modelled in ‘OO’. CHRIS LANGDON explains the story of this compact exhibition layout which is now owned by St Neots Model Railway Club. Photography, Mike Wild
CHRIS LANGDONKirkby Stephen West
The ‘Long Drag’ pushed steam locomotives and their crews to the limits. MALCOLM ROCHFORD explains how he recreated a small part of the Settle & Carlisle line in ‘OO’ gauge.Photography: Jonathan Newton
Malcolm RochfordSt Judes - a Southern branch in OO gauge
Starting from a small Southern Region layout, CHRIS BONE explains how he developed and expanded his project to recreate the atmosphere of Devon and Cornwall’s railways in the 1950s and 1960s in ‘OO’ and ‘OO9’ gauges.
CHRIS BONEPorth Eithin - a Cornish branch line in OO gauge
A move to a new location promoted PETER MIDWINTER to begin construction of this Cornish theme ‘OO’ gauge branch line terminus. Here he reveals where the idea came from and how this BR Western Region layout developed.
PETER MIDWINTERHalland - Northern England in the steam era
The North of England near the Scottish border is the setting for JOHN GAY’s steam era ‘OO’ gauge layout which captures the isolation and beauty of this region to a tee.
JOHN GAYKilve - a Western Region branch line in 'OO'
A station that was could have been built in Somerset is the setting for Darren Berry’s ‘OO’ gauge exhibition layout.
Darren BerryWitham - a Western Region junction station in 'OO' gauge
Recalling happy childhood memories of holidays in the West Country, Martin Reynolds selected a fictional location in Somerset to relive summer Saturday traffic – and more.Photography, Mike Wild
Martin ReynoldsCanute Road Quay - a 'OO' gauge dock scene
Southampton Docks provides the setting for this compact quayside shunting layout set in the Southern Railway era between 1946 to 1949. Builder GRAHAM MUSPRATT explains all.
GRAHAM MUSPRATTHarford Street to Mile End Gate
Just because we start a layout with a design in mind, doesn’t mean it has to stay the same forever. JIM CONNER reveals the history of his second version of this East London-based layout and details the ‘route’ from Harford Street to Mile End Gate.
JIM CONNERCrossley Scrap - a 1990s shunting yard
A real scrapyard in West Yorkshire inspired Josh Lovell and Barrie Jones to recreate it in this compact but feature-packed ‘OO’ gauge micro layout.
Josh Lovell and Barrie JonesChinley - the Midland Mainline in 'OO' gauge
The Midland Main Line in the 1950s inspired HARRY FIELDING to recreate this famous location in ‘OO’ gauge. Read the full story here and watch our exclusive video tour.
Harry FieldingCadhay Sidings
The sleepy Southern Railway branch lines of South Devon are the subject of CHRIS GOUGH’s ‘P4’ scale layout, with high-fidelity track and prototypical operation.
CHRIS GOUGHHooper’s Aggregates
Redruth Model Railway Club’s latest ‘OO’ gauge layout is a present-day quarry scene set on the Devon/Cornwall border, offering a nod to the famous operations at Meldon Quarry, as ANDREW KEAST reveals.
ANDREW KEASTForest Gate Parkway - modern image OO gauge
An inadvertent visit to a model shop rekindled the interest of GRAHAM MANN, who created this stunning pastiche of the modern railway in ‘OO’ gauge, with sound.
GRAHAM MANNLlanbourne Junction - North Wales in the 1980s
The North Wales Coast line in the 1980s is the setting for PETER MANTLE’S ‘OO’ gauge layout, which was started in the UK but finished ‘Down Under’ where it is now based.
PETER MANTLETytton Hall Yard - modelling the 1990s in 'OO' gauge
Based on a around a main line with a colliery loading point, Boston Model Railway Club’s ‘OO’ gauge layout models the changing liveries of the 1980s and 1990s diesel scene as DAVID CURRIE reveals.
DAVID CURRIEMurton Hall - a North East colliery in OO gauge
Evoking the spirit of colliery and light railways in the North East, this home-based layout is the creation of DEAN ERRINGTON, as he explains.
MIKE WILDOld Oak Common in 'OO' gauge
The early diesel era of this famous Western Region maintenance depot has been recreated in ‘OO’ gauge by MALCOLM BENTLEY, oozing atmosphere galore.
BARROW HILL JUNCTION
The varied and intensive freight traffic around this Midlands junction inspired MICHAEL RHODES to recreate it in ‘OO’ gauge for his stunning home-based layout.
Loughborough Midland in 'OO'
Originally started by the late Dave Tooley as a diorama, this impressive ‘OO’ gauge layout has recently been refurbished and is now back on the circuit, as ADRIAN LAMBOURNE of the Ivanhoe Model Railway Society explains.
Oakenshaw - the North West in 'OO' gauge
Redditch Model Railway Club looked to West Yorkshire in the 1950s for their latest exhibition layout, which as GUY CRADDOCK explains, draws inspiration from across the region.
Guy Craddock.Collingwood - A 'OO' gauge Southern region model railway
The privatisation era on the West Coastway route is the setting for SIMON PALEY to showcase the variety of trains and liveries over the last decade in 'OO' scale on his model railway.
BOTTOM WORKS SIDINGS - A WOODHEAD SHUNTING LAYOUT
South Yorkshire is the setting for CHRIS MATTHEWS’ compact 'OO' gauge exhibition layout, depicting a set of British Steel exchange sidings in the 1970s. Read the full feature here with extra unseen images!
Harford Street - early East London in 'OO'
This outstanding urban scene has been through several rebuilds as CHARLIE AND JIM CONNOR aspire to create their definitive model of East London in the early BR steam era. Join us as we journey back in time to the London suburbs shortly after the Second World War.
Orleton Road - Western region in the 1940s
Recreating a famous layout by Peter Denny in ’OO’ gauge looked like an easy project for DAN EVASON. However, fitting it into a garage presented some intriguing challenges, as Dan explains.
Greenford Broadway - a London Underground Micro layout
TONY DEAN’s longstanding love of London suburban services set the stage for his fascinating compact micro layout in ‘OO’ gauge.
Sydney Gardens - Bath's famous railway line in 'OO'
One of England’s most iconic locations – the Western Region main line running through the heart of Bath – is recreated in exacting detail in ‘OO’ scale by ‘The Park Keepers’. Following its recent appearance at the Great Electric Train Show STEVE JONES explains how this exhibition layout was created. Photography, Trevor Jones.
PETE WATERMAN'S MAKING TRACKS II
This summer Pete Waterman and the Railnuts group are returning to Chester Cathedral to display a brand-new West Coast Main Line themed 'OO’ gauge layout for ten weeks. MIKE WILD reveals the full story behind Making Tracks II.
South Road Junction - Scottish Borders in 'OO'
The Scottish Borders is the setting for BOB BRUCE’s ‘OO’ gauge layout, capturing the last years of steam in this beautiful part of the world.