LAYOUT FEATURES
Explore the amazing model railways built by talented individuals and clubs which feature in the pages of Hornby Magazine. This section covers 'OO', 'EM', 'P4', 'N', and 'O' gauge model railways and more in all eras. Plus many now feature exclusive online video content which you can only find here on Key Model World.
Peakton-on-Sea
The seaside town of Peakton-on-Sea is the setting for TIM LOWE’S latest ‘OO’ gauge Network SouthEast era layout. Tim explains his planning, construction and the layout’s operation. Photography, Mike Wild.
Waldbury
Drag racer BERNARD NEWBURY took the plunge to build his dream model railway when he retired. Waldbury is the result of three years work, but there is more to come. Mike Wild meets Bernard to discover the story of his layout with a full feature and exclusive KeyModelWorld only video.
Birch Hill
After thinking twice about a West Cornwall set layout, TED SCHOFIELD opted to base his slice of the 1950s and 1960s in the Bristol area, where Great Western and LMS locomotives ran side by side. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Newhaven Harbour
Needing a new exhibition layout, Wirral and Wigan Finescale Railway Modellers purchased a South Coast set ‘OO’ gauge project. TIM ROGERS explains how they upgraded and improved it to go on tour.
BSC Shepcote Lane Tippler Sidings
BARRIE JONES takes us to the Sheffield area where his compact ‘OO’ finescale layout plays host to part of a steelworks in the late 1980s.
Middle Elmton
Impressed by the quality of modern ‘N’ gauge models, PETER BRACKENBURY recreated the railway scene of the East Midlands for his latest exhibition layout creating a trackplan with subtle differences to the norm.
Pete Waterman’s Leamington Spa
It’s the model railway we all dream we could build if we had the space and time. PETE WATERMAN OBE invited Hornby Magazine behind the scenes to see the latest progress on his amazing ‘O’ gauge model of Leamington Spa, Hatton Bank and Brinklow. Join us for a full tour with exclusive KeyModelWorld only images and a full 30 minute long video tour inside. Photography, Mike Wild.
Bilston Road
Drawing on his memories of the West Midlands, GEOFF READ created this atmospheric ‘OO’ gauge layout set in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Photography, Mike Wild.
Marsh Chipping
DAVE WESTWOOD drew inspiration from childhood daytrips to create this wonderful pastiche of Cotswold railways in ‘N’ gauge.
Over Peover in the BR era
The East Coast Main Line has been a symbol of speed and power for decades with some of its most famous trains being its iconic streamlined ‘Pacifics’ and the legendary ‘Deltics’. MIKE WILD paid a return visit John Ryan’s outstanding 120ft long ‘O’ gauge layout Over Peover to capture it in the British Railways era.
Farbine Road
The West Midlands in the 1980s is the setting for NEIL WOODBINE and SUE FARMER’S ‘OO’ gauge layout -which captures the feel of those ‘blue and grey’ years brilliantly. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Britain's Biggest Model Railway goes on show
Britain's Biggest Model Railway - a near 200ft x 50ft model of Heaton Lodge Junction in West Yorkshire - launched its debut exhibition on December 3. Hornby Magazine visited to see the full layout in action. Watch our full video feature here with exclusive subscriber only images.
The Essence of Swındon
Instant recognition was first on the list for MARK WILSON when he started designing this compact slice of the Great Western Railway’s famous works in Swindon. This is its story with exclusive video for subscribers. Photography, Richard Watson.
Reading to Paddington
The Great Western Main Line from Reading to Twyford and beyond is the setting for this astounding ‘OO’ gauge model railway built by John Southern. ANDREW KEAST reveals its story and how this layout came to be. Photography, Mike Wild.
Tunnel Lane
This compact ‘OO’ gauge layout was DAN EVASON’S launch back into the model railway hobby following a chance purchase of Hornby Magazine and a visit to the Warley Show. Dan reveals the story behind Tunnel Lane. Photography, Mike Wild.
Heaton Lodge Junction: Full Circle
Britain’s Biggest Model Railway first featured in Hornby Magazine in Spring 2020 when it was only partly built, but now its builder has completed the circuit. Mike Wild pays a return visit to catch up with Simon George’s progress on the outstanding Heaton Lodge Junction in ‘O’ gauge. Photography, Mike Wild.
Lockton Lane
After building numerous ‘OO’ and ‘N’ gauge layouts, TIM LOWE took the plunge and moved up to ‘O’ for his latest layout. Lockton Lane is the result and it has been built over the past 18 months in just 10ft 6in x 2ft. Photography, Mike Wild.
HOLLY BANK GROVE MPD
The gritty North East is the setting for IAN FORSYTH’S ‘OO’ gauge depot scene which started out as an ‘L’ shape design, but has since been converted to a straight layout. Ian reveals the full story behind Holly Bank Grove MPD. Photography, Trevor Jones.
MAKING TRACKS for Chester Cathedral
Creating a brand-new model railway is one thing, building a giant 64ft long model of the West Coast Main Line for a three month long event in Chester Cathedral is quite another. PETE WATERMAN OBE relished the challenge and in our comprehensive guide to this fantastic ‘OO’ gauge layout he reveals the full story behind the project.
Rossiter Rise
Rossiter Rise is TERRY TEW’S second North London-based ‘OO’ gauge layout. In its debut feature, Terry explains why he decided to build a new layout and why he stayed with the North London theme.
Kirtley Bank
‘O’ gauge looks at best outdoors, and DON NEALE’S beautiful Settle and Carlisle inspired garden railway is still running almost 60 years after construction started. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Great Wakering Garden Railway: The first 40 years
It's more than 40 years since Hornby Magazine’s photographer Trevor Jones made the first steps towards construction of his inspirational ‘OO’ gauge garden railway. Trevor brings the story of this ever-developing scale 23/4mile long model railway up to date. Photography, Trevor Jones.
The Isle of Westland Railway
Andy Coward’s garden may not be the biggest in the world but it hasn’t stopped him building a stunning outdoor railway which enthrals both him and his railway modelling friends, as he explains in this feature from the Hornby Magazine Archive. Photography, Trevor Jones.