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.
Penmouth & Curzon Street
Unable to decide on one location, MARK WILSON set out to create an ‘OO’ gauge layout covering London, Birmingham and the South West – to grand effect. Photography, Mike Wild.
Fence Houses
Drawing on the heavy industry of North Eastern England, IAN FORSYTH created this atmospheric colliery layout in ‘OO’ which showcases a long disappeared railway scene. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Old Elms Park - The Yard
Having built a stunning ‘O’ gauge roundhouse to display his locomotives, MARK POLLARD created an extension to breathe new life into this BR steam era scene. Photography, Trevor Jones.
The Summit
With stunning Pennine scenery, this massive ‘O’ gauge layout rekindles the spectacular Settle and Carlisle in steam days, as BOB ALDERMAN explains. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Ashdan Junction
The West Midlands in the 1970s is the setting for BARRY PLATT’S ‘OO’ gauge digital sound layout – which recaptures the times wonderfully. Read the full story here, originally published in HM121, and watch the video too. Photography, Mike Wild.
North Cornwall Brewery
The brewery trade is the setting for MALCOLM BRIGGS’ superbly modelled brand-new ‘OO’ gauge exhibition layout. Discover its secrets and how this well thought-out project came together. Photography, Mike Wild.
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 Rainbow line
What better way to keep mind and body occupied during lockdown than building a new model railway? DAVID PRICE explains how he created his ‘G’ scale garden railway, with help from his granddaughter Chloe. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Kinwardine Wharf
Evoking the appeal of narrow gauge railways in an industrial setting, CHARLES INSLEY’S superb ‘OO9’ gauge layout captures the essence of a quintessentially West Midlands scene. Photography, Mike Bisset.
Barnetby to Wrawby
Barnetby in North Lincolnshire was known for its spectacular array of semaphore signals. STEPHEN RICHARDS explains how this ‘N’ gauge replica was built as a permanent exhibit at Immingham Museum.
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.
Ashbury Wharf
Lying almost forgotten for years, this vintage ‘OO9’ gauge layout was resurrected by its home club Astolat Model Railway Circle and is now returning to life for a brand-new audience. Photography, Trevor Jones.
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.
Best layouts of all time
More than 470 layouts have graced the pages of Hornby Magazine since our first issue in March 2007. For this special feature we went back into the archives to pick an outstanding crop of 10.
Theobald’s Yard
Orpington and District Model Railway Society chose a multi-gauge scenario for its busy 7mm scale industrial layout. MARTIN COOMBS and the operating team reveal how and why it was built - and what is next for its future. Photography, Trevor Jones.
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.
Pempoul
A diversion into the beautiful metre gauge railways of Britanny reveals a stunning layout created in 1:50 scale. Master model makers GORDON and MAGGIE GRAVETT explain the story of this outstanding model which is now on permanent display as part of the Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre. 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.
HEATON LODGE JUNCTION
Billed as Britain’s Biggest Model Railway, this epic ‘O’ gauge layout of a famous junction is nearing completion. Builder SIMON GEORGE explains the creation of this 1980s scene. Photography, Mike Wild.
Ambleton Vale
The transition years of the 1960s have been captured delightfully in ‘N’ gauge by RAY TAYLOR and ANNA BASS, who reveal the inspiration for their joint creation. Photography, Mike Wild.