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.
HALIFAX POWELL STREET
Competition between the pre-Grouping railways for access to Lancashire and Yorkshire’s towns and cities was fierce. PETER DURANT shows how he created this fictional station in Halifax which has a strong grounding in reality in ‘OO’ scale. Photography, Peter Durant.
MUCH WITHERING
The garden presented the perfect place for STEVE BOON to develop an ‘O’ gauge railway on which he could run his collection of Western Region hydraulics. Here he reveals the story behind the line and how it was built.
STANLEY JUNCTION
This famous Scottish location has been modelled before closures and rationalisation took place by the East Kilbride Model Railway Club. BILL CAMPBELL describes how this attractive ‘N’ gauge layout was built, and how it operates.
Newton Grove 19F
A visit to a friend’s ‘O’ gauge layout was all the inspiration JONATHAN NEWTON needed to switch scales and start a new collection. Newton Grove shed is the result – a compact portrayal of the final years of steam in the North West.
Roundtree Sidings
Summer 1985 is the setting for this super detailed ‘EM’ gauge exhibition layout built by the DEMU North East Area Group members. TREVOR SMITH reveals the detailed story behind this popular layout which features main line and Tyne and Wear Metro operations in 4mm scale.
Somerset & Dorset Celebration
The famous Somerset & Dorset Railway is a modeller’s dream with double-headed passenger workings, locomotives and rolling stock from across the regions and stunning scenery. MIKE WILD celebrates the S&D 55 years after its closure in March 1966 by recreating the journey from Bath to Bournemouth West in model form. Photography, Trevor Jones, Chris Nevard and Mike Wild.
Whiteacres
Originally developed as a transition era layout, Stafford Railway Circle recast this Midlands-set ‘OO’ gauge model railway to the early years of privatisation, as IAN RAE describes. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Mansion House
The hustle and bustle of South London’s railways in the 1950s is recalled by STEPHEN GRANT in this superb home-based ‘OO’ layout set in the era of Bulleid ‘Pacifics’ and third-rail electric units. Photography, Trevor Jones.
Lee-on-the-Solent
This wonderful London and South Western Railway era ‘P4’ layout models a real railway on the South Coast which had a short career, as PHIL CHUDLEY explains. Photography, Trevor Jones.
A Nod To Brent
The area around Brent, South Devon inspired Robin Sweet to create this atmospheric ‘OO’ gauge layout set in the last years of the Great Western Railway. See this superb home-based model railway in full in pictures and video. Photography, Trevor Jones.
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.