'OO' gauge layout features
Coniston Lake
Taking a beautiful location and giving it a railway, MIKE POWELL set this Lake District scene in the 1960s, with steam firmly in charge. Photography, Mike Wild.
Parkstone Goods
After hearing about a long-forgotten industrial railway in Poole, COLIN LOCKYER set about recreating some of it in ‘OO’ – with a 1970s twist. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Newpool-on-Trent
This multi-station, multilevel layout is ‘locked up’ in the former Police Station adjoining GRAHAM TAYLOR’S home. Discover how this enticing and busy ‘OO’ gauge steam era layout was built. Photography, Mike Wild.
The Gresley Beat
The East Coast Main Line around King’s Cross is the scene for this famous ‘OO’ gauge layout, which will form part of the future AIMREC venture in Ashford. Its creator, CLIFF PARSONS, tells the story of how it was built and developed. Photography, Trevor Jones.
BINNS ROAD EAST
Rather than aiming for realism, PETER BRACKENBURY sought to recreate the train set he never had in his childhood by restoring authentic Hornby-Dublo three-rail products. Photography, Mike Wild.
Railmen of Kent
The Great Model Railway Challenge has taken railway modelling to television screens around the country on Channel 5. FRED GARNER from the 2019 winning team, Railmen of Kent, reveals the layouts they created and what it was like to be involved.
Fenny Stratford
Now rather a backwater, in the 1950s, this pretty station was so much busier, like many others. PETER ELLIS describes how he and David Court recreated part of the ‘Varsity Line’ in ‘OO’ gauge for exhibition display. Photography, Mike Wild.
Gravesdown South
The transition from hydraulics to diesel-electrics is the subject of BRIAN TAMPLIN’S ‘OO’ gauge layout, which depicts the spectacle of the Western Region in the 1970s to grand effect in a modular format.
Twelve Trees Junction: the trains
Hornby Magazine’s busy Southern Region junction layout hasn’t been out on show for almost two years, but there have been plenty of new additions to its roster. MIKE WILD takes a closer look at the locomotives and rolling stock which allow Twelve Trees Junction to reflect the final decade of steam on the Southern. Photography, Mike Wild.
Middleton-in-Teesdale
This ‘OO’ gauge layout depicts a rural branch line in Yorkshire in the years before the Second World War. Built by the De Havilland MRS, MIKE WORSLEY explains its genesis and construction. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Eden Road TMD
Drawing on Direct Rail Services’ often eclectic fleet, RYAN GRAY of Cupar & District MRC created this ‘OO’ gauge depot scene which offers immense variety in its operation and fleet.
GORPETON BLYMEE
The Great Western Railway just before nationalisation is the setting for this atmospheric terminus layout in ‘OO’ gauge. GORDON EDGAR describes how he and Peter Wilson created it. Photography, Trevor Jones.
St Cuthbert’s
A sleepy termimus in the Scottish Borders just before the Beeching cuts is the setting for Thistle Modelmakers’ ‘OO’ gauge exhibition layout, which was designed for members of all abilities. STEVE BENJAMIN explains its creation. Photography, Mike Bisset.
Immingham Depot
The operations in and around the busy port of Immingham are the focus for this impressive ‘OO’ gauge layout at the Immingham Museum and Heritage Centre. STEPHEN RICHARDS reveals the story behind its creation. Photography, Mike Wild.
SHENSTON ROAD
Career railwayman GREG BROOKES set out to recreate the Midlands around Birmingham in the final years of the 1960s when BR green and maroon were giving way to corporate blue. Shenston Road is the result of an 18-year journey in 4mm scale modelling which continues to this day. Photography, Mike Wild.
BRADWELL POINT
Nuclear flask traffic is one of the railway’s more unusual loads. MARCUS LAMBERT created a stunning terminal in ‘OO’ to showcase the operation in the eras just before and after privatisation. Photography, Trevor Jones.
ILKESTON TOWN
Nottingham Model Railway Society set out to model a prototypical scene from the LMS era in ‘OO’ gauge. DAVEY JONES explains the story behind Ilkeston Town. Photography, Mike Bisset.
Yorkshire Dales Model Railway
Check out Lewis Bucknell's brilliant 'OO' gauge loft layout where we visited his 32ft long model to gather more information. Find out more here.
Cornwallis Yard
Cornwallis Yard models a fictional Great Western Railway setting in the Plymouth area between 1935 and 1936. DAVID AND ALISON BARKER reveal the story of this superbly modelled ‘EM’ gauge layout which was originally started by Bob Haskins. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Churminster and Stowe Magna, Southern Railway
The Southern Railway in the final decade before nationalisation is the setting for TONY TEAGUE’S huge 32ft long ‘OO’ gauge layout. In this introduction he reveals the first completed sections of his lifetime project. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Chilcompton Tunnel
A gorgeous recreation of the Somerset & Dorset Railway in 'OO' gauge was Steve Jones' aim, and this beautiful exhibition layout recaptures the days of the S&D before its premature closure. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Norwood Road
An unidentified operating incident has given SIMON PALEY licence to offer a wonderful variety of trains on this ‘OO’ gauge South London layout. Photography, Mike Wild.
Bournemouth West
The former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway southern terminus was selected by ROGER SUNDERLAND, DAVE BAYMAN and friends to create this stunning ‘OO’ gauge exhibition layout. Roger reveals its story and explains how it works. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Barmouth Junction Part 2
In the second part of our feature on Barmouth Junction, GEOFF TAYLOR takes us behind the scenes to explain how this complex railway system operates using digital control and computers.