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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St Paddy - Cornwall in the 1990s in 'OO'

The Cornish china clay industry and holidays in the area were the inspiration for BRIAN TAMPLIN to build this multi-level ‘OO’ gauge layout. Photography, Trevor Jones.

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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.

HM173: Whithorn video Feature Premium

Whithorn - a Scottish branch line terminus

A teenage trip to Scotland’s most southerly station inspired ALISDAIR MACDONALD to build this fascinating replica of Whithorn in ‘OO’ gauge. Here Alisdair reveals the story behind the layout and how it was built. Photography, Mike Wild.

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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.

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Peaksdale

This magnificent and feature packed ‘OO’ gauge layout is the work of STEPHEN RICHARDS over the last four decades. We take a full tour of this complex loft layout.

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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.

HM172 Dragonby Feature Premium

Dragonby

In the beginning this outstanding ‘N’ gauge exhibition layout was known as Acton Mainline, but following more than 100 show appearances it was retired. GEOFF BUTTLER is now the owner of the renamed and restocked marvel of the 1990s. Photography, Mike Wild.

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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 garden railway Feature Premium

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.

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Chelagasa

The lure of main line diesels in ‘O’ gauge drew CHRIS SPRING to build a combined indoor and outdoor layout. Here he reveals the story behind its construction and explains how it works. Photography, Mike Wild.

Great Wakering Garden Railway Feature Premium

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.

Isle of Westland Railway Feature Premium

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.

Iden Railway Feature Premium

Steaming through the garden

Given enough space, many of us would love to build a long garden railway. Trevor Jones visits the Iden Railway which does just that and attracts visitors from all over the world. Photography, Trevor Jones.

HM170 Tal-y-bont Feature Premium

Tal-y-bont

North Wales narrow gauge railways and the Bachmann ready-to-run Baldwin 4-6-0T were all the inspiration STEVE JONES needed to build his first ‘OO9’ layout. Tal-y-bont is the result.

HM170 Little Burford model Feature Premium

Little Burford

Check out Mike Hickling's amazing unveiling of Dan Evason's work, representing 1930s rural Midlands in an incredible display of modelling. Find out more here.