Layout features

Featuring
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Welcome to our collection of model railway layout features. Here you will find beautifully detailed model railways in 'OO' gauge, 'N' gauge, 'O' gauge, 'OO9' narrow gauge and more offering a huge variety of build designs and inspirational techniques. Plus our growing collection covers a broad spectrum of different periods in railway history as well as all four corners of the British railway network while many feature exclusive KeyModelWorld only video tours. Indulge and enjoy!

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.

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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.

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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.

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Burdale Quarry

Inspired by a visit to Yorkshire, this compact Scale Seven layout depicts a typical industrial scene of the 1970s, as its creator TONY KELL describes. Photography, Mike Bisset.

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Redhill

This famous Southern Region station is the setting for a spectacular homebased layout by RICHARD FOOT. He explains how and why he recreated it in ‘OO’ gauge. Photography, Trevor Jones.

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GRINDLEY BROOK

Fast running and a continuous circuit were essential criteria when it came to developing this ‘O’ gauge layout, which was one of the star attractions at the 2019 Great Electric Train Show.

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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.

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Mossdale

The spectacular scenery of the Settle & Carlisle line around Garsdale gave COLIN FISHER all the inspiration he needed to develop this impressive ‘OO’ gauge loft layout which models the route in the days of corporate blue. Photography, Mike Wild.

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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.

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Barmouth Junction

Barmouth Junction was a beautiful station in West Wales. In the first of a two part feature GEOFF TAYLOR explains how he created this impressive railway system in ‘OO’gauge which models three other Cambrian Coast locations in one layout. Photography, Mike Wild.

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Over Peover

The golden age of the LNER provided the inspiration for John Ryan’s glorious ‘O’ gauge masterpiece, which has been more than two decades in the making. Hornby Magazine’s MARK CHIVERS reveals all. Photography, Mike Wild.

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Vale of Oxbury

Taking inspiration from real locations in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds CARL WOODWARDS developed this stunning ‘N’ gauge layout which models the Western Region in transition in the early 1960s. Photography, Trevor Jones.

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Tonbridge West Yard

This inspirational ‘OO’ Southern electric layout was a popular exhibit of the 1990s and early 2000s show circuit. After a lengthy absence from the public eye, PAUL WADE reveals the story behind this fabulous layout, and of its recent and warmly welcomed revival. Photography, Trevor Jones.

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Bath Green Park at home

Taunton Model Railway Group is best known for its spectacular model of Bath Green Park which will be attending Hornby Magazine’s Great Electric Train Show. However, as DAVID BUTCHER explains, at its home base at Bishops Lydeard it forms part of a complete railway system... Photography, Trevor Jones.

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Melton Mowbray (North)

Steve Weston remembers the long gone LNWR/GNR joint station, and some years after building a beautiful 2mm scale diorama, he and John Spence turned still life into a moving recreation of the past.

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Pendon's Dartmoor

Pendon Museum is a ‘must visit’ for every model railway enthusiast, and the work of legendary modelmaker Roye England is open to the public throughout the year. MIKE WILD visits the museum and discovers one of the treats in store: the Dartmoor Scene. Photography, Mike Wild.